Streaming Media Network Unveils Plans for New Shows

BY CHERISE RYAN

Published: SEPTEMBER 29, 2006

Streaming Media Network is producing two new multi-episode films this fall with three first time Streaming Media directors. Casting was completed this week and filming will begin this weekend.

Sophomore Bradley Roy is directing Dark Horizon, a futuristic thriller series; sophomores Jacob Holt and Peter Schellhase are co-directing a series on a PHC-like campus run by the mafia.

“I was originally thinking of doing a short film that involved people in trench coats and fedoras walking around campus with guns, but hopefully it has developed into something more then that,” said Holt.

Roy said his film is “a story of greed, manipulation, excitement and adventure [that] brings a whole new level of storytelling to Streaming Media Network.” He was originally toying with an idea for a court-room drama, but the ideas were not flowing. So out of “desperation” he came up with a random idea that just worked.

Holt said he and Schellhase came up with the idea for their film over a rainy weekend. “It was kinda depressing so we started thinking about a story about campus gangsters. . . . It is more of a drama then action show, so there is a good outlet for traditional acting to be showcased.”

Nathanael Yellis, the lead in Dark Horizon, plays David Locke, a law enforcement investigator. “[They] grabbed me and threw me in the audition room and told me I should audition. I did not know why or for what,” Yellis said. “Apparently they have some kind of wisdom that is not of this world, and thus selected me for the part.”

“I got an email that said, ‘you’ve been selected.’ I was like, whoa, can they do that? Is this some sort of deterministic system? And apparently, yes. They can do that,” he said. “As much as I’d like to trust the omnipotent wisdom of Briane [Kneynsberg, the casting director], I wasn’t sure. . . . I’ve always known I was a character, but I didn’t know until [chosen] that I could be this character.”

Yellis’s opposite, detective Isabel Bateman, is played by Christy Hailes. She had the same sort of experience when she found she was chosen. “I just kinda grinned and said, ‘oh, ok.’” Hailes has an ensemble part in the Eden Troupe play this semester, but she said she wanted to get to know more people.

SMN’s usual suspects are stepping back this semester to let others learn the ropes. The three founding members, seniors Daniel Noa, Jeremiah Lorrig, and Paul Shippy, have moved into executive producer roles; overseeing and giving advice but not making the final artistic decisions.

“The artistic vision has moved from the founding members to a new generation of Streaming Media Network. Waaha!” said Roy.

Holt continued, “We make the ultimate decisions as far as creative control, but they are giving us lots of suggestions and are always there if we have questions.”

“We are trying to empower people as much as possible so they can keep doing it once we are gone,” said Jeremiah Lorrig. “We are organizing the sharing of equipment, helping with casting, and story development. It helps to have a unified club working toward the same goal. We want to make Streaming Media more of a resource so we can advance the idea of Christians being active in film and that aspect of culture.”

Dr. Veith, SMN’s new faculty sponsor, was excited to find that PHC had a film club, according to Lorrig. “That’s right up his avenue and certainly in line with the vision of the college,” Lorrig said. “[Christians] have waited too long to take back Hollywood.”

Daniel Noa hopes that Dr. Veith will become more involved with the club activities. “We are still looking at the best ways to utilize his abilities,” he said.

As the former director of the SMN’s films, Noa is looking forward to helping others take over the club. “So far so good,” he said. “Right now we’re just focused on training and getting them experience. . . . Both shows are very imaginative and I hope everyone will tune in.”