Hononegah grad following dreams in art of videography

MARIANNE MUELLER PHOTO The Herald
Connor McCullough has produced many videos to date and has a bright and promising future in his Videography business. In this picture McCullough is wearing a necklace that was given to him by one of the children he had in a Video he made in Puerto Rico where hurricane relief was featured. The video is available on YouTube.

By Marianne Mueller
REPORTER
When Connor McCullough was nine years old he was gifted with a tiny camera. “I was trying to impress my parents by taking really cool photos,” McCullough reflects. “As a freshman in high school my interest grew when I took Photography and Advanced Production of video at Hononegah. Last Christmas I was given a bigger; more serious camera.”
“I first started filming things when going up to Wisconsin. That is when I first knew that I could affect how a photograph was taken.”
“I found through video that I could tell a much different story. I am capturing something that is becoming a moment in history. Due to the reaction from my videos I feel like I had a place. This came with a past struggle in school. I was lucky to find something that I love to do. I am always trying to tell a good story every time.”
“Brent Murray, “Owner of the Dairyhaus hired me as a sophomore to create a documentary for the Dairyhaus.
“I have taught myself everything I need to know. It was a really slow process. I began to gain my peers approval and family support. It has taken everything I have as I had put everything into it. It is more of what you do behind the camera that makes a difference. “I have also watched adults with experience behind a camera. Everything goes back to the story someone has a person.”
To learn what real work is and to raise money to follow his dream McCullough has gained experience by working as a landscaper.
By the end of that summer a company called Frontline OCR, which is an event course racing company contacted McCullough. “This company is centered on Frontline First Responders. When they called I had two adults give a referral. I saw their company grow.
“At that time I was an underdog, McCullough shares.” My first video met with great success.”
“Being in high school limited doing big projects. I would work on a project then go to school the next day. I felt trapped and kind of sad as I just wanted to make videos. I had to make the most of it. I have made a lot of mistakes. I started to take insults as a compliment. In 2018 I was doing job after job.
“People see me as the guy with the camera; it is cool to see the reaction after I make a video. I really had to do something for myself. I have always wanted to grow up faster and to take on the character of younger kids in school who ask questions about videos. It was a way to break out of my shell to try to give young ones pure bliss and happiness.”
At this year’s OSD Festival a new video fashioned by McCullough was played right before a Justin Moore song.
“Now my videos are beginning to make an impact,” McCullough said.
“This past January, I had the chance to capture special moments at the old Rockton Grade School. That day I really wanted to capture that; all of the emotion for a school set to be demolished that held so many memories for so many. I got to meet all of these cool people and to hear so many cool stories.
McCullough is known at Hononegah for being on the sidelines at football games and capturing the action of games.
“I was in Puerto Rico where I filmed “Still America: A Film by Connor McCullough.” then came home and filmed the field house video, then left for Seattle a few days after filming; I edited most of the fieldhouse video while in Seattle,” McCullough said.
Most recently he completed and released a video featuring the new field house at HHS. McCullough is a huge supporter of the Greg Lindmark Foundation. Lindmark was a Police Officer who battled with PSTD from what he saw as a police officer. The Foundation was made by Greg’s brother to help others facing the same.
This is what I wake up for every day and I have a lot of projects going forward. I started at the age of 15 or 16 and Video has taught me happiness. Originally I wanted to be a lawyer but money cannot buy the same happi

ness. It is all about the relationships that I have built. My girlfriend and my family are the people that I keep close to me and who make me want to be better. “
It is all worth it when you come into your own unique style, which I have learned over time what my style is. It is the way I hold a camera and the vibe that I aim to give off. Every kid wants to get out of Rockton. There is not too many who are taking the same route that I am. I am growing confidence in myself.”
McCullough who is a recent graduate has plans to take classes at Rock Valley College. “I want to concentrate on spending time and money on people, “McCullough shares.