Isra Herrero

Host – Section 1

Israel Herrero has a deep passion for storytelling, which began a few years ago and led him to the TV and Independent Production program, where he is exploring the technical side of the industry.  

This passion drives his commitment to learning every aspect of production. Though he’s always working to learn more behind the camera and editing footage, Israel is now focusing on pre-production and planning. He’s also excited to further develop his on-screen presence as one of the hosts of Conestoga Connected, where he can bring his creativity and passion to life. 

In addition to his academic work, Israel has experience in freelance projects and plays a significant role in organizing Kitchener’s annual Day of the Dead event, showcasing his leadership and community engagement. After graduation, Israel aims to explore the documentary side of the film industry, where he can combine his storytelling skills with real-world narratives.

Logan Knowles

Host – Section 1

Logan Knowles started off playing pretend with his older brother when they were kids, which helped spark an interest in acting. Logan took drama classes throughout high school and when he graduated, he gained an interest in joining the film industry which led him to attend Conestoga College’s Television and Independent Production Program. 

Logan feels comfortable being in front of the camera while he talks with guests on Beyond the Grave: Ontario’s Hauntings, where he aims to prove if either ghosts are real, or just myths passed down through time. 

When he’s not working on projects, Logan is working at a local grocery store, spending time with his family, playing games with his friends, or taking care of his two pets. 

After school, Logan hopes to work either for a film or television production company or start his own production company and produce his own work for everyone to enjoy. 

Aravind Ghosh

Senior Editor – Section 1

Aravind Ghosh discovered his passion for visual storytelling through his early experiences in video editing and compositing. His journey led him to pursue the Broadcasting-Television and Independent Production program at Conestoga College, where he now actively contributes to various projects.  

As a Video Production Assistant, Aravind has honed his skills in editing, camera operations, and live broadcasts, making him a versatile asset to the Conestoga Connected team. In his role with Conestoga Connected, Aravind is excited to bring his creative flair and technical expertise to ensure high-quality content for the show’s audience. He is particularly passionate about bringing stories to life through visuals and editing. 

After graduation, Aravind aims to work in film or television production, focusing on video editing and compositing. With a solid foundation in visual media, he is ready to impact the industry significantly. 

Katya Abasheva

Supervising Producer – Section 1

Katya Abasheva is an audiovisual production specialist with over five years of experience in media content creation, including photography, videography, editing, motion graphics, and animation.  

Passionate about storytelling, she is excited to collaborate with her team on the Tech Talk documentary-style series dedicated to the technology used by first responders. With a background in engineering, Katya values the importance of presenting complex topics in a simple, accessible way. Beyond college projects, she actively seeks opportunities to support local artists, organizations, and communities by promoting their ideas and achievements through media content.  

After graduating from Conestoga College, she plans to continue working in media production.

Landon Taylor

Social Media Manager – Section 1

Landon Taylor developed his passion for film and content creation at a very young age. What brought him this passion was the influence he received from YouTubers he would watch in his spare time, and Landon wanted to be just like them when he grew older. As he got older, he realized there was more to content creation than just YouTube videos, and thanks to a broadcasting class he took in high school, his passion for film took off. 

Landon aims to be a “jack of all trades” in just about everything he does and strives to learn about every aspect of what goes into what he is producing. For Conestoga Connected, he is taking on the role of the Camera Operator. Landon decided to take on this role as he enjoys highly precise and attentive tasks. 

After college, Landon hopes to pursue a career in either Cinematography or Sports Broadcasting. 

Sarah Black

Section 1

Sarah Black grew up watching cartoons and TV shows, which has inspired her and driven her passion for creating and storytelling. This brought her to the Broadcasting – Television and Independent Production program at Conestoga College. This allows her to enjoy editing behind-the-scenes work, as well as work in front of the camera. Now, she is ready to bring a positive attitude into her role as host and tackle all that comes with it. After graduating, Sarah aims to begin working for scripted television shows or films as an editor, eventually working her way up into a writer’s room, telling and creating her own stories. She has a competitive side and plans to bring it to her role as host. Outside media, Sarah often spends her free time baking, drawing, or hanging out with friends and family. 

Niravkumar Brahmbhatt

Section 1

A profound interest in directing and editing was sparked by Nirav Brahmbhatt‘s participation in a theatrical production in his hometown. In his present position, Nirav oversees his projects as director, producer, and cinematographer. Prior to studying at Conestoga, he was floor director for three television programs and assistant director on two feature films. Nirav has also created five short films, with three receiving recognitions at national and international film festivals. Once his studies are over, he hopes to direct his own feature film and contribute to Indian regional cinema. 

Adam Eichholz

Section 1

Adam Eichholz is a passionate student that works hard with any task put in front of him. He always finds ways to learn new things and is excited to see where his future takes him. He’s a team player and loves to collaborate and get the job done as a group. Adam doesn’t have an outstanding amount of experience with broadcasting and production but loves learning more about and continues to get better while being in this program. Adam’s favourite part of broadcasting is being behind the camera and getting those perfect shots and is very committed to getting into that industry when he’s done this program. He’s interested in getting into sports broadcasting one day and hopes that this program will help pave a path to get him there. 

Riya Khatana

Section 1

Riya Khatana discovered a passion for the entertainment industry at a young age through theatre, where she developed a love for acting. This interest expanded when she started experimenting with cameras, which led to a desire to explore all aspects of filmmaking. In the “Beyond the Grave” segment for Conestoga Connected, Riya is responsible for audio, lighting, and managing the group’s social media account, while also assisting with other tasks. She chose the haunted theme out of curiosity about ghosts and the mystery behind haunted locations, eager to explore what happens in these situations. Intending to work on professional film sets after graduation, Riya aims to gain hands-on experience in the industry and build a successful career. Outside of production work, she is passionate about playing badminton and acting: two hobbies that keep her creative energy alive on and off the set. 

Chris Krastev

Section 1

Chris Krastev’s passion for film and television began at an early age. Throughout his childhood, he loved going to the movie theatre every week, which sparked his interest in the industry. After graduating from high school, Chris decided to pursue a career in film and television. Chris enjoys more technical roles, so for “Beyond the Game: Conestoga Athletes” ,he will take up the role of camera operator. After graduating from Conestoga College, Chris hopes to find a job, preferably with a production company, where he can continue to develop his skills and work on interesting projects. 

Jay Makwana

Section 1

Jay Makwana‘s passion for the entertainment industry stems from a deep love for storytelling and visual artistry, cultivated through a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Performing Arts (Theatre). Jay is looking forward to being the camera operator and segment producer since the positions require both technical skills and creativity to produce quality segments. This opportunity enables Jay to make stories more realistic so that every aspect will be helpful in the story. After graduation, Jay wants to work in film and television production, emphasizing producing powerful and visually attractive material, while also wants to build his photography company. Jay’s passion for narrative and technical expertise makes them an invaluable complement to any production. He has over seven years of experience as an Assistant Production Manager in the film industry and 10 years of experience as an Actor and two as a part-time Theatre Professor.  

Luca Mason-Milosevic

Section 1

Luca Mason-Milosevic is an aspiring director. He loves films, fashion and music. Ever since he was young he wanted to have a unique taste that stood out and he fell in love with telling stories through his outfits or playlists. This love for storytelling quickly turned into an obsession for movies. That is what led him to wanting to become a director and why he chose the Television and Independent Production program at Conestoga College. Luca’s role is one of the hosts on the Thrifting Around segment. He will be in his element as he practically lives in thrift stores trying to find new clothes and he loves being on camera. He is excited to bring the audience along with him while he learns more about thrifting.

Nicholas Smith

Section 1

Nicholas Smith has been interested in Hollywood and film ever since a young age and took as many related courses in high school as possible. It wasn’t until he found the Broadcasting/ TV and Independent Film course at Conestoga College that he started taking the career path seriously.  

Nicholas is comfortable in front and behind any type of camera and has an enthusiastic energy when it comes to hands-on equipment. When he’s not in the field working on videos, he writes scripts and deals with audio equipment as much as he can so that he can continue to learn and grow in his field. In Nicholas’s free time, he likes to ski, play rugby, listen to podcasts, and watch lots of movies. After school, Nicholas hopes to find an independent career in the film world. 

Ben Trimble

Section 1

Ben Trimble gained an interest in film and broadcasting after taking two film studies courses in high school. During those courses he wanted to pursue a career in the industry and decided to join Conestoga’s Broadcasting- Television and Independent Production program. On Thrifting Around, Ben is primarily doing the camerawork as well as the audio and will also be the producer for the segment. Ever since high school, the thing that Ben enjoys the most about working on videos is the editing process, and he hopes that after college he can get a job as an editor He lives on a farm with a variety of animals, and in his free time Ben likes to swim, bike, and play videogames.