From an early age EIT graduate Ryan Beaven knew he wanted to work in the film industry.

“As my mother says, I’ve always been good at pressing buttons,” the 18-year old from Whanganui observes of his aptitude with computer technology and electrical equipment.

Ryan is well on track to realising his ambition. On Friday, 25 March, he will be awarded his Diploma in Video & Electronic Media at the Eastern Institute of Technology’s graduation ceremony in Napier. And he is enjoying gaining further experience working on a variety of projects around New Zealand.

After finishing his studies late last year, Ryan went straight to work as an aerial camera operator flying in a helicopter filming the “Genesis Energy Lake to Lighthouse Challenge”, capturing contestants as they kayaked across Lake Waikaremoana, ran a tramping track in the Urewera National Park and cycled to Wairoa.

Currently he is in Auckland working for sportzhubmedia editing footage from the Speight’s Coast to Coast to make a documentary on the multisport race which will be televised internationally.

Ryan’s worked for TV1 news and sport programmes, and done live mixing onto big screens viewed by spectators at Whanganui’s cemetery circuit – a Boxing Day regular for motorcycle racing fans.

He’s keen to maintain a foothold in the film industry, whether that’s with a full-time job or developing his own business RB Productions.

As he says: “I’m mixing and matching at the moment. I don’t mind what aspect of the industry I work in.”

Ryan left Whanganui High School at the end of his sixth form year, and starting at EIT as a 16-year-old made him one of the youngest students in his class.

Acting programme coordinator and lecturer Claire McCormick remembers him as a person who loved to figure out how things worked, “so he enjoyed the hands-on nature of the EIT course where students get practical experience using professional equipment.”

Ryan checked out EIT after his uncle – who works at the institute as a mechanical engineering and welding tutor – suggested the video and electronic media programme. The family connection also extends to two cousins who graduated from EIT with computer systems degrees.

Having visited the campus, Ryan was satisfied that the video and electronic media programme offered what he was looking for and that there was a wide range of production equipment available for student training.

Claire says that, for an assignment, he cheerfully took up the challenge of scripting and producing a moving drama about a young woman struggling to come to terms with her parents’ separation.

“Ryan created a very memorable character, Rose, who was played by one of our first-year students from 2010, Ariana Mayor.”

His final project, an eight-minute short film, achieved some “stunning images” including of Rose walking along the Tutaekuri River embankment east of EIT.

Ryan’s introduction to filming was in Wellington, where he was involved with recording Christmas in the Park for his church. He left school confident that he was on the right track to do what he wanted with his life.

At EIT, he enjoyed learning all the aspects of his craft, including building and lighting sets, filming, directing and editing. He has the same flexible approach to his future direction.

Getting further work in New Zealand will be good on-the-ground experience, he says, “but if someone wants me overseas, I’m ready to go!”