Mike Hennings
Omaha Video Solutions
Account Executive
I joined Omaha Video Solutions at a pivotal time in my life. I grew up in Lincoln and originally graduated from UNL in 2010 for Secondary Social Science education. That’s right. I wanted to be a cool history teacher. I spent some time traveling the year after that, trying to decide what my career would look like. I started at Omaha Video Solutions in 2011 after coming back from a three month trip to Japan on a filmmaking internship. I spent half my time there working in the media side on a relief team for the tsunami on 3.11.11, and when I returned I’d found a love for digital media and film. My brother was starting his production company around that time, so instead of pursuing my chosen career of teaching, I joined him and we’ve worked together ever since. When I’m at work, I work with clients on their video projects, direct most of the shoots, and oversee the post-production process. I get to wear a lot of hats. It’s challenging, but it keeps me on my toes.
What do you do in your free time? Any hobbies?
I like to spend my free time enjoying live music, traveling, and experiencing culture. Spending time with friends and loved ones and having heartfelt conversations is really important to me. I like frisbee, running, biking, and generally being outside as much as possible in the summer. I have a lot of funny hobbies. I like to do musical theatre, and I grew up riding a unicycle. I usually keep one at the office. I’m kind of a nerd.
What is your passion in life?
My passion is really people. I love to be surrounded by creative and talented people who make me laugh and feel things. I’m close to the people I work with on a daily basis and strive to build positive relationships with those around me. Hearing people’s ideas and stories gives me energy and gets me excited.
What’s your favorite place to vacation?
My favorite place to vacation is anywhere tropical, though I hardly like going to the same place twice. I love Costa Rica and Panama, and Hawaii. I secretly believe that I was built for warm weather, and thus am not really conditioned to survive in the Midwest very well. I love the Latin culture in particular, and I hope to see a lot more of Central and South America in the future.
What are your thoughts on France’s ban on answering work emails after 6 pm?
I would not be a very good Frenchman. Haha. I don’t think something like that would work in America because we value productivity too much, and for me personally I concentrate best in the evening between 8-12pm. That’s usually when I get my best busywork done. Overall, being in a creative field I think you get used to having an odd schedule and carving out personal / vacation time when it fits best.
What’s your favorite commercial currently on TV?
I love the Allstate commercials with Dean Winters where he plays Mayhem. They’re always fun and funny. It’s just a great concept, personifying him as “mayhem,” and it has a lot of potential. The Old Spice commercials a couple years ago were amazing, too. If you can get the casual consumer to actually look up and watch a commercial online because it’s so good, then you have a gift, my friend.
