Life & Work with Drew Duff

Today we’d like to introduce you to Drew Duff.

Hi Drew, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I got started working in sports by getting a bachelor’s degree in Digital Sports Production from Ball State University. My path to getting where I am was a bit more traditional. While in school, I produced video content for Ball State’s varsity athletic teams, and I also assisted with live productions of many Ball State varsity sports.

Upon graduating in May 2018, I began frantically searching for jobs while living with my parents in Michigan. In November 2018, I accepted a video internship with the Arizona Diamondbacks for the 2019 season and moved to Phoenix in January. I had essentially the same responsibilities as I did in college: producing video content for the team’s social media channels and assisting with live productions of games.

In February 2020, I accepted a position as a production assistant for 95.7 FM Arizona Sports Station, helping out during Diamondbacks radio broadcasts. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, I lost my position and drifted into unemployment for the next 4-5 months. In November 2020, I decided to move back in with my parents. I did not feel confident about jobs in sports coming back and was tired of working a job I didn’t like.

On my drive back, I stopped in Denver to visit some friends. What started as an innocent question from one of my friends (Why don’t you just move here?) turned into a serious plan to move to Denver. In July 2021, I moved to Denver with one of my high school friends to begin my new adventure. I used a connection I made at the Diamondbacks to link me up with the Colorado Rockies, and I was hired in August 2021 as a production assistant.

From there, I worked extremely hard and got to know people at such a fast rate that I was getting recommended to work at other places. My connections at the Rockies led me to work for the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, University of Colorado Buffaloes, Wyoming Cowboys, and the Denver Broncos. That’s where I find myself today: a full-time freelancer working in the Denver sports market.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been anything but a smooth road. The pandemic was especially challenging for me. At the end of 2020, I thought the job market in sports had completely dried up, and may not return for another year. I decided to move and regroup and figure out my next move. There were many times during the pandemic when I thought I would never work in sports again. I feel extremely grateful to be where I am today with my career. Since moving to Denver last summer, I have gotten the chance to do some cool things that I never thought I would get the chance to do.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I work as a freelance production assistant for the sports teams around Denver. One of the reasons I enjoy my career is that what I do varies from day to day. Last Saturday, I operated a camera for the Wyoming men’s basketball game in Laramie. This past season for the Rockies, I was a member of the graphics team and was in was in charge of sponsorship visual aids during (Rockies) home games. For Nuggets and Avalanche games, I also serve in a graphics position where I operate the court projection and crowd prompts.

I recently just started my own side business, Final Score Films. I have been shooting my video content for years now, and finally decided to start getting my own clients. Final Score Films is a digital media production company, serving athletes of all ages in the Denver metro area by providing graphics and video content. I hope to slowly grow my business and turn it into my main source of income. At the same time, I’m saying yes to just about every opportunity to learn as much as possible.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I think the future of sports video production and tv broadcasting is going to shift pretty dramatically over the next 5-10 years. I’m seeing virtual reality and artificial intelligence being used more and more. The biggest example of this I’ve seen is working Denver Broncos games. There is an Australian company called Girraphic that uses augmented reality during in-stadium shows to project things onto the field, and it looks incredible. The future looks bright for my field and I think it will create more opportunities and more jobs.

Pricing:

• 20-second or less highlight video: $250
• 40 seconds-1 minute highlight video: $350
• 1 minute-2 minute feature video: $425
• Still Graphic: $75

Contact Info:

• Website: https://finalscorefilms.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/drewduff96
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/drewduff96