Media Analyst Flemming Sorvin is constantly learning new things, as his daily tasks vary widely based on client needs. On a given day, he may be producing a webcast for UVic’s president Jamie Cassels; working with the Resource Centre for Students with a Disability to ensure students can attend class remotely using videoconferencing software; or editing videos of lectures captured by casual AV staff.
Flemming is an alum of UVic’s writing program, where he studied fiction and drama. After graduating from UVic, he earned a film degree from Simon Fraser University, then spent some time working on the production crew for movies in Vancouver. He later moved to Victoria to work with Vancouver Island Health Authority, where he had the unique job of photographing strange findings during surgeries and autopsies.
Flemming calls the environment at UVic a “breath of fresh air.” Not only does he get to work with incredible people, but the UVic campus is famous for its natural beauty and abundance of local wildlife. A marathoner and triathlete, Flemming savours the running trails and pool on-campus.
While Flemming has worked on a variety of fascinating projects, his bi-annual work on convocation is one of his favourite tasks. For each of the convocation ceremonies (usually nine in June and four in November), Flemming is in charge of producing a live webcast and recording. These webcasts allow friends and family all across the globe to watch and support graduates. There can be anywhere from one to over 200 viewers tuned in at a given time. Though over a dozen ceremonies happen annually, each one is unique. “You never know what’s going to happen,” says Flemming.
The entire process of producing the convocation webcast and videos takes around two weeks and requires cooperation across several units. Ray Choo (Development Services) works on the software widget to display the webcast, and the Network Services team sets up the necessary network configuration. Outside of Systems, Flemming also has a chance to work with Ceremonies and Events and the production staff at the Farquhar Auditorium.
There’s “always new stuff” for Flemming to work on. He’s currently working on upgrading JW Player, the platform UVic uses for live and video-on-demand streaming. In the future, he also hopes to enhance University Systems’ video production capabilities by acquiring additional lighting and camera equipment. Flemming also anticipates changes in videoconferencing, as the focus shifts to software codecs, like Skype for Business. The use of software rather than hardware means that videoconferences can move outside of dedicated spaces, opening up opportunities for research and teaching.
Outside of work, Flemming builds traditional West Greenland kayaks out of driftwood and cotton skin canvas. In fact, he’s the world expert on Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nanson’s polar expedition kayak, which he helped document for the Fram Museum. Flemming also embarks on micro-adventures—brief trips camping, biking, building rafts, etc.—inspired by blogger Alastair Humphreys.
Audiovisual technology is an ever-changing field that requires a broad skill base to keep up with. Many of the things Flemming learned as a film student have helped him with the big picture, and close to seven years working with Systems have taught him plenty, but there is always something else to learn. “The more you learn, the more you learn that you don’t know,” he says. But for an adventurer like Flemming, greeting a day full of surprises is just another perk of the job.