From tradie to filmmaker: Commercial Music student turns his love of music and film into Scenic Soundscape

Jean Thoral is a mature student in his third and final year of a Bachelor of Commercial Music degree at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University, having come to the Pukeahu Wellington campus after a career as an electrician.

Studying in a creative field had been a long-time dream for Jean, but he ended up pursuing a trade career when he left school in France to move to Australia.

“It’s something that I wanted to do when I was 18 but then I got pushed into a trade, which ended up being great because a lot of those gained skills have come in handy.”

He continues to work casually as an electrician, while also studying and running his own business as a photographer, videographer and producer.

Combining his love of music and film, Jean originally created Scenic Soundscape as a project in his first year of study.

Each episode of the series is filmed at a location in Aotearoa New Zealand, featuring a story about the land, which has a connection to the featured artist, and a live performance.

He thanks Massey University for the opportunities to pursue his passion in different creative mediums and says he’s learnt a lot from his lecturers and tutors.

Studying elective film papers alongside his Commercial Music papers was pivotal for him. “I'm glad that I've just kind of mixed it up. The beauty of studying here is that you can really pick your papers.”

Jean says his passion has always been a combination of music and visual arts.

“I love bringing people together and creating a story that involves both music and visuals,” he explains.

Rather than performing in front of a camera, Jean prefers being behind the camera and giving other artists an opportunity to tell their stories and express themselves.

“I always ask them, where do you connect with? Not, do you want to play here? Most people have somewhere they really connect with.”

Jean has travelled all around the world and loves the outdoors, so it was a no-brainer to incorporate the landscapes of Aotearoa in his film series.

“To me, the land is really important and the whenua, and what is happening there,” he says.

The first episode of Scenic Soundscape was filmed at Baring Head/Ōrua-pouanui and the second episode will be filmed at Te Ara Tirohanga/Remutaka Trig Walk.

While Scenic Soundscape was initially a university project, Jean intends for it to be an ongoing side project alongside his career. He raised more than $3000 through Boosted for the next episode, with the funds being used to cover filming costs and wages for those involved.

Jean’s French background also helped him connect with the French Embassy, which is providing financial support, alongside CentrePort where he currently works. Fujifilm New Zealand is also providing cameras to be used during filming.

Greater Wellington Regional Council is supporting the project by allowing Jean and his team to film in natural locations across Wellington, some of which are not easy to access.

Jean sees Scenic Soundscape as a team effort and says that this project has never been about himself.

“I really want to showcase the artist and the team that comes to do this, because it's definitely not just me. It's a big team effort,” he says.

Producing the series has required a lot of planning, hard work and self-discipline.

“You've got to be driven, and you've got to want it.”

As a mature student who pivoted from a trade to a creative field, Jean says how it’s never too late to follow your passion and carve your own pathway.

“I want to really encourage people who are in their 30s to follow their passion and dreams. It sounds really cheesy, but you can do it. It’s a lot of work, and you've got to have the right people to back you and, depending on life decisions you’ve made, if you've got kids, a house, a mortgage, it's trickier, but it's doable.

“I've met a few other tradies that are sick of the same stuff. You’ve just got to act on it and do it.”