TIMELINE
a quick history lesson…
Social Media Content Creator
Rigorously trained in social media production by MrBeast (the largest social media creator with over 200M subscribers on YouTube)
Currently employed by Kraft-Heinz, working directly on TikTok content for Kraft Mac and Cheese + Philadelphia Cream Cheese.
Other notable collaborations include DoorDash and Airheads.
6k+ Subscribers
2.2M+ Views
20k+ Followers
10M+ Views
170k+ Followers
60M+ Views
Featured on the “As a Creator” Podcast, hosted by Charlotte Trecartin, Founder of CharCharms.
Fast Company: “From Clinique to Kraft, how TikTok became a kingmaker of brands for Gen Z”
WHAT SONG ARE YOU LISTENING TO?
Created an International TikTok Trend, “What Song Are You Listening To?” (Sept 2021).
Developed a series of TikTok videos that amassed over 50 Million Cumulative Views.
Partnered with brands to advertise products to my highly Illinois-concentrated audience within my continuing social media content development aesthetic
Amassed over 145,000 TikTok Followers
Aerial Videographer, Loyola University Chicago
Performed high-intensity aerial videography work for a prominent Chicago-based college campus. Worked single-handedly with the enrollment marketing team to capture unique aerial videography to provide a look into the campus for prospective students.
Intense drone operation at <20 feet in the air, through trees and building architecture
Continuous 4-hour shoot (rotating multiple batteries to keep an efficient shoot schedule)
Skilled operation over crowds, intersections, and train lines
The Scream, Short Film
Created and premiered a Horror Short Film, The Scream, inspired by the popular Scream franchise (October 2022).
Wrote, Shot, Directed, and Edited the entire film from start to finish.
Shot in entirety in ONE NIGHT; Edited in entirety in TWO DAYS
Sole event planner for move premiere event.
Contacted venue to book event, dealt with University logistics, created graphics/flyers for event, promoted event in every social circle available.
Promotion: Create slide visual for professors to incorporate in their classes; Distributed link and graphic in numerous club/RSO group chats
Result
50+ In-Person Attendance, comprised of students, film industry professionals, and professors.
220,000+ Combined Viewership (more analytics on the film homepage)
Edited Short Form Content Promos for the film to be posted on TikTok and YouTube Shorts
UIUC Film Fest
Created and ran a student-focused film festival on the University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign campus.
From The Press: “Student filmmakers roll the tape for campus film festival”
Promotion
Created email list of 90+ local and non-local students, media industry professionals, and previous coworkers.
Enhanced SEO for YouTube livestream
Created LinkedIn Event. Received 80+ invite accepts.
Programming
Sourced submissions from filmmakers all over campus community
9 of 18 submissions had some kind of Ryan Leshock involvement
Live Stream
Rented and Brought Equipment
Set up software (OBS and YouTube)
Developed Graphics + Animations for live stream
Results
200+ In-Person Audience
158+ Online Livestream Viewers
$200+ Donations
UIUC Promo Video
I created a promotional video for prospective Advertising students (March 2022).
The University sends out this video in its messaging to prospective students to entice them to choose Advertising.
I took on all roles: Setting up shoot times, finding talent, creating a script, conceptualizing the concept, editing.
Created promo videos with Amazon Education to highlight the courses offered at the University of Illinois (April 2022).
Directed interviews, set up schedule, brought/rented equipment, set up equipment, edited.
BODIES OF WATER, Short Film
Created and premiered a Horror Short Film, Bodies of Water, inspired by the popular SCP-2316 short story (October 2021).
Wrote, Shot, Directed, and Edited the entire film from start to finish.
Shot in entirety in ONE DAY; Edited in entirety in ONE WEEK
Sole event planner for move premiere event.
Contacted venue to book event, dealt with University logistics, created graphics/flyers for event, promoted event in every social circle available.
Promotion: Create slide visual for professors to incorporate in their classes; Distributed link and graphic in numerous club/RSO group chats
Reached out to local businesses for promotional material like coupons and giveaways.
Result
100+ In-Person Attendance, comprised of students, film industry professionals, and professors.
275,000+ Combined Viewership (more analytics on the film homepage)
Edited Short Form Content Promos for the film to be posted on TikTok
RUSSIAN DUB: a dubbing company reached out and created a Russian language version for free!
Drone Pilot on Feature-Length Documentary
Worked on a professional documentary as the sole Sound Operator and Drone Operator (June, July 2021).
Capture professional-level audio for interviews, B-roll, and ambient sound
Capture professional aerial footage for B-roll
Solo Travel in domestic airports for business
Digital Media Producer, Wi-Tronix
Obtained “Digital Media” Internship Position at “Wi-Tronix” (May 2021).
Sent across the U.S. to capture content for different company clients to edit into various video products.
Locations include: Jacksonville, FL; Minneapolis, MN; Phoenix, AZ
Produce video and photo content for company promotional material. Personnel intros, training videos, new feature/product launches, etc
Social Media Content Strategist
Reached out to high-profile content creators within the UIUC community to assist with their video production needs (Jan 2021).
Produce video and photo content for 2 major social media influencers on the University of Illinois campus (Crying Laughing and Isabelle Dyer). Both have communities of over 35,000 subscribers on YouTube.
Conduct photoshoots, manage and attain brand partnerships, assist in idea conception, sole videographer and editor for online video productions
Content Creator at Big Ten Network, UIUC
McKinley Health Center and UIUC School of Social Work, social media content creator (Oct 2020).
Idea conception for new health campaigns in MHC and creating video scripts
Scheduling, Finding Actors, Shooting, Editing, and Uploading final videos to online platforms.
Coordinating with industry professionals to set up times to record live presentations.
Recording, Editing, and Posting high-quality videos of the presentations to online platforms, including creation of graphical title cards and thumbnails to enhance viewing experience
Updated entire YouTube Channel to enhance SEO (Titles, Descriptions, Thumbnails)
Created a TikTok account and re-edited all long form videos into short form TikToks
The Adulting Series (full series), Kale Yes Series (Videos after Feb 16, 2021)
Examples
Public Affairs and the Video Services Team through the University of Illinois (Jan 2021).
Create and Manage TikToks (short form vertical video content) for the official @UofIllinois TikTok account
My videos brought in a 172% increase in viewership compared to previous average
Assist with production on shoots with high-profile individuals such as the Chancellor of the University.
Moving equipment, acting as background talent, assisting producers, setting up lights/cameras/microphones
Big Ten Network and Fighting Illini Productions - University of Illinois, Social Media Content Creator
Captured video of sports teams to edit into highlight reels and post on university social media accounts
Live camera operator streaming to the Big Ten Network
Managed media storage by logging footage and encoding large multimedia files
KARMA TRADE
Began working with Karma Trade (Feb 2020).
TikTok Collaboration (2022): Conception of a new trend for TikTok that involves sustainable fashion, 41k Views
Creation of marketing materials, such as promotional content like graphics and website development.
Producer of videos detailing event recaps and general brand promotion.
Voice Actor in Feature Film
Promotional Music Video Editor, Associate Producer, Vocal Talent for Independent Feature Film, “Rain Beau’s End”
Performed voice-over for a lead character, “Teenage Rain Beau”
Assisted around 20 industry professionals with the production and post-production processes
Produced and Edited award-winning promotional music video to be shown at time of release
Elevated Media, Founded June 2017
I originally created this company during my Junior year of high school to be able to use my drone footage commercially, but it has since become much more than that. Elevated Media offers full production of a video from idea conception to social media marketing on all online platforms
Recent Developments
Social Media Content Creation: I created a viral trend through Tik Tok, "What song are you listening to?" and amassed over 50 Million views and 140k followers across a new series of videos on @ryanleshock.
Partnered with brands to promote assets through social media content
Content
Event promotions, brand promotions, kickstarter videos, sorority and fraternity recruitment videos, local political ad campaigns, entire full-scale student short films, and photoshoot behind-the-scenes. Graduation Photos, Themed Creative Photoshoots, Headshots