Amidst various campus regulations and safety precautions, Video Production Coordinator Thomas Prettyman has been central to Hill’s movement into the digital era during the COVID-19 pandemic. With an abrupt shift to remote culture amid an unprecedented international response to COVID-19, work life looks drastically different for many people. In this new and constantly changing situation, video, and by extension Prettyman, have been thrust to center stage as a solution to every problem. 

From filming Chapel Talks and Convocation videos to working with remote speakers, Prettyman has been a trailblazing factor in Hill’s transition into an era of digitization when it comes to not only school marketing and communication but the community daily life as well. 

“There are so many things he has done to allow us to remain socially and emotionally connected to one another while remaining physically distant,” said Warner Associate Chaplain Reverend Anne Confer Martens about Prettyman’s assistance with the Chapel services this year. 

“We have gotten really good feedback from a number of people about how glad they are that we can still have weekday Chapel under current circumstances, and the main reason we can do that is because of Mr. Prettyman’s efforts.” 

Another colleague, Director of Web Strategy and Communications Jennifer Bechtel, stated that, while the COVID-19 procedures have been extremely challenging, Prettyman “ has stepped up and accepted the challenge with a positive attitude and humor. He has come up with creative ways to film while maintaining physical distancing. More importantly, he’s very flexible and easily adapts when the unexpected occurs, which is something I admire and appreciate about him.”

For Prettyman, who has toured with bands such as We the Kings for Warped Tour, the Maine, COIN, Neck Deep, Knuckle Puck, and Real Friends; shot for other musicians, including the X Ambassadors, 3Oh3!, Rae Sremmurd, and Twenty One Pilots; worked for well-known athletic teams like the Atlanta Braves; and done major marketing campaigns and commercials for Hard Rock Casino, the City of Miami, the City of Tampa, Bleacher Report, Tampa International Airport, Tesla, Lamborghini, Porsche, University of South Florida, and Duke Hill, working at a co-ed independent boarding school has been a major change in his typical work experience, presenting several challenges such as respecting physical distancing, occupancy limitations and campus health levels. 

 “Despite these restrictions, everyone has been extremely understanding and had a lot of grace and patience with me learning the ropes. Additionally, I rely on my past work experience, working with professional musicians and professional athletes where I only had one opportunity to get a specific shot,” Prettyman said. “ Overall, my time here at Hill has been very eye-opening as I have been able to get to know the Hill community and see how worldly and mature all of the students are. I truly appreciate how patient and welcoming everyone has been to me since I have been here.”

One can simply go on the Hill website, Instagram or YouTube to see the prevalent impact that Prettyman has had within the school.