College of Communication and Information (CCI) alumnus Seth Reynolds (‘23, ‘25) is a fan of the HBO Original documentary series Hard Knocks.
The show typically takes viewers behind the scenes of different NFL teams’ training camps to learn more about their preparations for an upcoming season. As a freshman baritone player in The Pride of the Southland Band, Reynolds thought this approach would work well for a documentary about the prestigious University of Tennessee, Knoxville, marching band.
While he would go on to work on several award-winning documentary projects with the School of Journalism and Media and Land Grant Films in CCI’s Media Center, he never had the chance to work on the band documentary he envisioned as an undergraduate student.
It was not until an unexpected return to his alma mater for graduate school that his dream was finally realized.
The Tennessee Circle Drill premiered on WBIR’s streaming platform in October. The documentary follows the band’s journey to perfect the Circle Drill, one of Tennessee’s deep-rooted football season traditions.
“Everyone who came up to me after seeing the documentary were like, ‘I had no idea that’s how they did that,’” Reynolds said. “The goal with the documentary was to teach people something they didn’t know about the band and help them gain greater appreciation for the band. They already loved the band, but now they’re even more amazed and impressed about what they do because of how much work and skill goes into it.”
Completing a Dream in Graduate School
Reynolds deferred going to graduate school after completing his bachelor’s degree in favor of working professionally for Jupiter Entertainment, a Knoxville-based television production company. Reynolds was grateful for the opportunity but wasn’t passionate about the true crime film work he was producing.
Then, last summer, he broke his hand while playing pickup basketball.
Looking back, Reynolds said the injury turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Unable to work, Reynolds reconsidered going to graduate school; and with the help of his mentor and School of Journalism and Media Professor Nick Geidner, he secured a graduate assistantship position with The Media Center.
“I felt the opportunity to come back and not only learn, but work, at my alma mater was too great to pass up,” Reynolds said. “I feel that it gave me a new perspective. I wanted to work hard and do the extra work to take full advantage of the opportunity. I tell people breaking my hand was the greatest thing to ever happen to me because I wouldn’t be where I am today if it didn’t happen.”
Once he was back at his alma mater, making the band documentary was back on the table. Reynolds said his documentary skills had also improved significantly since freshman year, so he felt even more confident about telling the band’s story. He said members were also appreciative that a band alum was telling their story.
“My time as part of the band was incredible. I would never trade that experience for the world,” Reynolds said. “Getting back to graduate school, having the resources and trust available to me while there, really let me bring that dream of making this documentary so dear to me to life.”
Paying It Forward
Joining the seasoned veteran to produce this documentary was CCI master student Daniel Hahofer, who learned about the documentary from Reynolds during class.
The Austrian native was new to United States and UT but was eager to make the most of the experience. Hahofer said Reynolds spoke so passionately about his vision for the documentary that he had to be a part of it.
The Tennessee Circle Drill was Hahofer’s first time working on a documentary. His background included video production and other media storytelling for sports teams such as the Austrian basketball team BBC Nord Dragonz, so it excited him to further develop those skills as part of a documentary project.
Hahofer said the process and equipment were all new to him, but Reynolds and other CCI students and faculty were supportive. As a result, working on this documentary became an unforgettable experience. It also became a unique way for him to learn about UT culture and traditions.
“I was just grateful to be a part of it. I gained a lot of knowledge,” Hahofer said. “I didn’t know how big it would end up being. It was just a great experience, and I wouldn’t want to trade it for anything else.”
Reynolds said he was happy to work on this project with other CCI students, both undergraduate and graduate. He said as an undergraduate student he did not have upper class students cohort available now to help others grow and develop.
Reynolds said the program has evolved tremendously in the short amount of time since he graduated, in terms of the technology and number of hands-on opportunities available. Returning as a graduate student allowed him to develop his documentarian skills even further, helping him to land a new role with Big Slate Media shortly after walking across the commencement stage for a second time.
“I just think that the opportunities and resources available at UT and CCI are absolutely incredible,” Reynolds said. “Seeing all of the new resources and everything else available to students now, and how much trust and respect the professors have for students, I don’t know why you wouldn’t choose to come here.”