An Inspired Young Filmmaker From Woodbury

Woodbury-based Schommer Studios is eight years old. It was founded by student David Schommer.

He’s 18.

“I started off doing weird stuff,” he said. “It was really amateur. I don’t even know if I’d call it amateur.”

Schommer is a self-taught filmmaker, currently working on a Valentine’s Day-themed horror/satire flick. He estimates he’s shot about 100 shorts and movies since his parents got him some film-editing software, and a Handycam, when he was 10.

“Every movie I’ve done, I’ve learned something new,” he said.

Schommer’s movie-making skills have also secured him honors as one of Minnesota’s top youth volunteers for 2012 as part of the 17th annual Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. (More below.)

Over the years, Schommer has moved on from doing claymation and Lego stop-action movies in his basement to enlisting help from friends for more advanced works. He now has a green screen at his Woodbury home.

There are difficulties that come with being a young filmmaker working on a shoestring budget: getting good sound and lighting, writing new scripts, finding a reliable cast… and shooting at the high school after hours, when a janitor can come through with a broom a ruin a shot.

“Extra extras,” he said. “There’s a plethora of challenges out there. … Keeping everyone from going into utter chaos.”

Schommer said he has always enjoyed movies, and noted that he and his father have seen every James Bond film: “From Dr. No to Quantum of Solace.”

He mostly likes movies with strong stories and character development, noting Inception as a recent example, and finds inspiration from what he sees on the big screen. “I say, ‘Oh, I want to do that,’” he said.

There’s also something to taking in a movie with a crowd and seeing their reactions, Schommer said. Plus, “I can pig out on popcorn,” he said with a laugh.

Schommer rarely acts in his films.

“I think I could do it, but I never do,” he said.

Instead, he prefers his time behind the camera, and is hoping to get into the University of Southern California to continue studying film. Schommer has already been accepted to the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management, where he said he might use his love of movie-making to go into marketing.

“If nothing else I’ll keep doing it as a hobby,” he said.

He said he understands that there are lots of aspiring filmmakers out there, and has one suggestion for others hoping to pursue it.

“Be a good storyteller,” he said. “There are a lot of technical aspects, and that’s important, but in a year that’s going to be outdated.”

Schommer, along with one other Minnesota student, recently won a Prudential Spirit of Community Award. (Woodbury’s Acacia Ramberg was named a distinguished finalist for the award.)

He said he received the national award because of his unique brand of volunteering. “Turning my passion for video-making and using it to help the community.”

Schommer is currently working on a video of local celebrities reading Green Eggs and Ham to area youngsters during a recent Washington County Library at the in Woodbury. The Woodbury High School senior has written and produced television programs, public-service announcements, educational videos, documentary films and other video projects.

As part of the award, Schommer received $1,000 and an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C., this May.

The award garnered Schommer some kind words from U.S. Sen. Al Franken.

“David Schommer has an impressive combination of academic and community accomplishments and should be lauded for his efforts,” Franken said in a statement. “I am pleased to hear that, out of 26,000 participants, David is receiving recognition at a national level for his ongoing commitment to civic engagement and volunteerism. Congratulations to David on the well-deserved award.”

Established in 1995, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards is a program organized jointly by Prudential Financial and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). The awards, given annually to young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism, are meant to encourage and emphasize community service.