In his five years filming and editing with Dude Perfect, Abilene Christian University alumnus Tim Holt has worked with celebrity athletes, spent three days filming on the U.S.S. Nimitz aircraft carrier, competed in trick-shot challenges for a YouTube audience of millions, and sometimes gets recognized in public, thanks to his occasional front-of-camera appearances.
Holt鈥檚 job 鈥� senior production editor for Dude Perfect, a sports and comedy group boasting more than 50 million YouTube subscribers 鈥� has an undeniable fun factor. Still, he said the best part of being on the Dude Perfect team is how faith impacts the way his teammates work and play.聽
鈥淚 am really blessed because we are all actively striving to live out our faith,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 feel really lucky to be in an office where people believe in conflict resolution, forgiveness and faith, and they own that. That鈥檚 been huge.鈥�
Holt earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in digital entertainment technology with a minor in digital media from 精东影业 in 2015 and began working for Dude Perfect just months after graduation. He credits his college experience with helping him find the right path for his future career, particularly his experiences with 精东影业鈥檚 Filmfest and the Los Angeles Film Studies Center through the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.
鈥淭hat was one of the biggest catalysts that launched me to my field,鈥� Holt said. 鈥淚t helped me grow my skills and try things and fail. I made a lot of bad films but I learned from it.鈥� He also completed two internships while in college, including working in 精东影业鈥檚 marketing and creative services office as a student photographer and videographer.
Holt recently spoke to a virtual audience of more than 300 students at 精东影业鈥檚 Young Alumni Forum and emphasized the importance of that type of practical experience for those looking for a similar career path.
鈥淕et your hands on cameras and equipment, and create as much content as you can,鈥� Holt advised. 鈥淕et your bad stuff out of the way while you’re in school. Don鈥檛 get hung up on technical errors, just keep honing your skills.鈥�
In addition to having hands-on experience, getting a job with Dude Perfect involved some initiative and some patience. After completing his time with the L.A. Film Studies in the spring of his senior year, he had a week before graduation and used that time to send emails to potential employers.
During college, a friend had shown him some of Dude Perfect鈥檚 videos. The group鈥檚 work appealed to his love of sports, particularly hockey, and was based in his hometown of Frisco. He sent an email with clips of his film work but knew it was a long shot and was surprised when he got a call inviting him in for an interview.
鈥淚 was freaking out, pacing back and forth in my room,鈥� he said.聽
Holt said the interview went well, and he expected a job offer to follow immediately, but the group called back to tell him they were already onboarding a film editor and simply said, 鈥淟et鈥檚 stay in touch.鈥澛�
That wasn鈥檛 what he expected but later proved to be providential.
鈥淚t really turned into a blessing in disguise,鈥� Holt said. He took a job doing video work at The Hills Church in North Richland Hills instead. 鈥淚t really was a great few months. It allowed me to grow, to learn what it鈥檚 like to be on my own out of school.鈥� By the end of the summer, however,聽 the call he had hoped for came through: a full-time job offer from Dude Perfect.聽
Now, more than five years later, he is married, and he and wife, D鈥橝nn, welcomed a baby girl, Everly, in late 2020. His days at Dude Perfect are a mix of filming and editing, tedious work and playful fun, late nights, early mornings and days that are more relaxed. Ultimately, however, Holt said he鈥檚 found that his identity must be beyond the ups and downs of a job.
鈥淚t’s been the privilege of a lifetime to get to work here with such a fun group of guys,鈥� Holt said.聽 鈥淏ut at the end of the day, it鈥檚 just a job and not where I find my fulfilment and hope. I tried that for a little while, and it didn鈥檛 go well. You get burned out and drained. It looks super fun, but it鈥檚 a lot more work than people imagine. I thoroughly love my job, but it doesn鈥檛 compare to the hope and satisfaction I have in my faith.鈥�
— Wendy Kilmer
Feb. 15, 2021