Personality Profile

Aidan and the Flash of the Camera (Date: April 2, 2025)

As the crowd roars on a night of wonder for a football game at the University of Wyoming, the players line up on the field preparing to send the first kick of the night. Over the sounds of screaming, music and beer being kicked back, there is the sight of flashing cameras and silence on the sidelines and near the ends of the football field. As a football player kicks the ball and shoots into the air, screaming through the sky, there is the shine of a camera as it captures the action, and the visceral excitement felt across the arena.

Aidan Wantulok, a 20-year-old student at the university, is someone who makes the filming for the football team possible. Ever since he started filming behind the camera, he adored the thrill of capturing the joy of the sport, going so far as to get his twin brother involved in the game.

“…we got to travel, and when we went to the Bowl Game, we got to stay in Arizona for a week, and we got a bunch of gear and stuff,” Aidan explained chipperly with a smile on his face, eyes gleaming with pride. “It’s just fun. I feel like football is like chess.”

To capture a football game, Aidan explained that he and others who record the sport use Sony and JVC cameras, including tripods, to capture their videos. Along with the equipment, he uses a special editing software called ”Catapult Thunder Club,” a service that helps compile football footage.

That is not all Aidan does, as being a camera observer means being on one’s toes and ensuring not to miss the critical moments of a football game. Aidan explained thoughtfully that getting those epic shots depends on where you are stationed on the field, but he casually mentioned that some of the easiest plays to capture would be the ones on the sidelines.

For football games, it is also essential to use that footage for future practice, especially for the coaches and players, so they can train and be prepared, as Aidan delightfully explained. But, for people like him who must go to the football field to catch the action, it is not easy. 

There is the fact that Aidan must be at a football game early, at least by two hours, to help prepare for the game and to also make sure he and the others have all their equipment ready and on deck.

“…[we] film the whole game, wait for everybody to leave the press box, all the T.V. people and announcers and coaches, and then we got to take everything down,” Aidan said before looking sour. “And usually we get out pretty late, and it sucks if we lose because everybody in the building is not happy.”

With the ups and downs of the film industry with football, some things within the job sometimes do not make the cut. For example, Aidan said he is “not allowed to cheer” for the game, as he and other filmmakers are recording footage and do not want their voices to be picked up. But, if there is the chance he misses a play, usually there is someone else who was able to record the moment to help make up for the lost time.

He also detailed a scene he caught on camera that he was not a fan of, such as seeing the Wyoming football team lose to Arizona the year before in 2024.

“…we lost 45 to seven or something like that. It was pretty bad, and they ended up making the college football playoff,” Aidan explained numbly.

With hard work comes immeasurable and priceless responsibility, and for Aidan, that is no different. From handling the safety of equipment to taking on the hardships of making sure not to lose a second of game time on the field, the experience within the job that Aidan handles is a respectable one. The hard work pays off in the end to benefit those who need it for training and those who need it for entertainment in the football industry.

“Even if you don’t know anything about football, it’s really simple to operate these cameras, and as long as you’re just willing to learn and help out, everybody’s been really cool,” Aidan expressed with a smile. “…you’ll get to know a lot of people, a lot of coaches.”

If you or anyone you know is interested in seeing the football games at the University of Wyoming, you can find the roster on the university’s website and check it out with family and friends. Who knows? Perhaps you will get the chance to see Aidan on the football field!