{"id":13673,"date":"2026-07-09T09:06:04","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T14:06:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/?post_type=campus_story&p=13673"},"modified":"2026-07-09T09:06:34","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T14:06:34","slug":"video-production-program-work-highlights-viability-of-wisconsin-as-film-hub","status":"publish","type":"campus_story","link":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/story\/video-production-program-work-highlights-viability-of-wisconsin-as-film-hub\/","title":{"rendered":"Video production program work highlights viability of Wisconsin as film hub"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Students, alums assist in Deming\u2019s unique medical drama \u2018Winter Hymns,\u2019 filmed in Menomonie

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\"Photo:<\/a>
Nathan Deming (center left) directs Colleen Madden (center right) in a scene from ‘Winter Hymns.’ Photo courtesy of Nathan Deming. Photo by Nathan Ouellette.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Los Angeles-based Wisconsin filmmaker Nathan Deming<\/strong><\/a> believes that there is an immense, untapped wealth of authentic storytelling in his Midwestern home state, and his goal is to continue highlighting regional characters and communities that audiences instantly recognize. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With his latest film, \u201cWinter Hymns,\u201d Deming also highlighted regional filmmaking talent. His professional crew worked alongside UW-Stout Polytechnic video production<\/a> students and recent graduates: Doran Acero<\/strong><\/a>, Braden Borgerding<\/strong>, Parker Cmeyla<\/strong><\/a>, Bennett Johnson<\/strong>, Ethan Kulinski<\/strong><\/a>, Connor Nelson<\/strong>, <\/strong>Ryan Rumary<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>and Caleb Sander<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaking movies in the Midwest allows us to capture a genuine, grounded human element that also hasn\u2019t been seen that many times authentically on film before,\u201d said Deming, originally from Tomah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Winter
Bennett Johnson (center left) and Parker Cmeyla (right) on the set of ‘Winter Hymns.’ \/ Parker Cmeyla<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHaving UW-Stout Polytechnic students work alongside a more experienced crew was an incredibly rewarding aspect of this production. The creative energy on set was fantastic because the students brought an immense eagerness to learn, and the professionals involved were incredibly generous with their mentorship,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWinter Hymns\u201d was featured at UW-Stout Polytechnic\u2019s 4th annual Unspooled Film & Animation Festival<\/a>, May 9-10. This year\u2019s festival placed a strong spotlight on regional talent and locally produced cinema.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bringing filmmaking to the Midwest<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

With his creative roots firmly planted in the Midwest, Deming was at the forefront of the movement for Wisconsin\u2019s new film office, Film Wisconsin<\/a>. Operated by the Department of Tourism, Film Wisconsin promotes and supports the film and television industry in the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The office\u2019s film tax credit makes $5 million available annually to assist the production of feature and short films, scripted and unscripted television shows, documentaries, broadcast advertisements, and production infrastructure in Wisconsin. The tax credit helps drive economic development, builds long-term investment in Wisconsin\u2019s creative community, boosts domestic and global reputation and inspires movie tourism in Wisconsin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Colleen
Colleen Madden (left) in a scene from ‘Winter Hymns.’ \/ Peggy Trojan<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Video production Lecturer Co O\u2019Neill<\/strong> believes filmmaking is on the rise in Wisconsin, as productions decentralize from the coasts. \u201cThe passing of the film tax credit was a big deal for Wisconsin. Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan already had state film offices. The opportunity upped the profile of people already making movies here. More people now have a platform and are building a state network of resources for local folks,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gabe Roeske<\/strong>, a department assistant in the School of Art & Design<\/a> and 2019 alum, thinks that with the new tax credit being passed, more potential crew coming out of the university\u2019s video production program, and more independent productions, like \u201cWinter Hymns,\u201d coming to the area, things are starting to move in a positive direction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are already a lot of very passionate and incredibly talented video production people living in Wisconsin,\u201d Roeske said. \u201cThey\u2019re people who want to make films just as much as anyone else in the country, and they have the skills to pull it off. Unfortunately, with previous tax laws, lack of film incentives, and just a general lack of productions going on, a lot of people end up moving away in search of video production work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHopefully projects like these, and the work of the video production professors and students, keep the momentum rolling and we can see Wisconsin filmmaking really flourish for the first time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Doran
Doran Acero assists with sound on the set of ‘Winter Hymns.’ \/ Ericka Kreutz<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Acero\u2019s \u201cYou Must Destroy,\u201d<\/a> also featured at Unspooled, was filmed in his hometown of Grand Marais, Minnesota. Having graduated in May, he plans to remain in the region, knowing the rich storytelling culture and wanting to represent on film the places he feels most connected to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am so happy to have been a part of the making of \u2018Winter Hymns,\u2019 and I want more films like it to be made here in the Midwest. I love the craft of filming and ideally, I can continue to pursue that here; in a place I love with people I love,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bringing filmmaking to Wisconsin is something Johnson believes is \u201cincredibly important, especially given the current state of the film industry. As independent filmmaking continues to grow and with the launch of the film tax credit, many young filmmakers in Wisconsin want our voices to be heard and our work to be seen around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur goal is to help attract more film and television productions to Wisconsin and establish the state as a viable production hub,\u201d he said. \u201cBeyond the economic benefits, I think it\u2019s an opportunity to showcase what Wisconsin truly has to offer. We are more than our accents or the Green Bay Packers \u2013 we\u2019re a state with stunning landscapes, unique locations, and diverse, creative people whose stories deserve to be told.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Winter Hymns\u2019 \u2013 A golden opportunity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWinter Hymns,\u201d which was featured on Wisconsin Public Radio<\/a>, was inspired by Deming\u2019s father, a family physician who practiced palliative care late in his career. The unique drama, set over the course of a single day in a Midwest hospital, follows a dedicated palliative care doctor, played by Colleen Madden, who meets with a series of dying patients and their families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Winter
Ethan Kulinski and Parker Cmeyla on the set of ‘Winter Hymns.’ \/ Parker Cmeyla<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Working on a small budget, Deming reached out to O\u2019Neill to see if video production students were available to help. O\u2019Neill\u2019s small-town connections also served well in helping Deming secure the lease of an affordable office building near the hospital in Menomonie for filming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNathan learned about Stout\u2019s program and the quality of our students,\u201d said O\u2019Neill, who\u2019s taught video production for more than 20 years. \u201cThey\u2019re composed, professional and excited to be on set. Working on the production of \u2018Winter Hymns\u2019 helped the university\u2019s and the program\u2019s profile, while giving the students professional experience. It was a symbiotic experience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Acero and Johnson joined Deming\u2019s production team to help with lighting the week before principal photography. As second assistant camera, Johnson was responsible for changing lenses, helping build and prep the camera each day alongside Cmeyla, first assistant camera, and assisting with the on-set camera workflow. Acero served as production assistant, assisted the gaffer, operated the c-camera and ran sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Winter
Parker Cmeyla (right) on the set of ‘Winter Hymns.’ \/ Parker Cmeyla<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The students also worked with sound recordist Roeske, who handed the main audio dialogue to a professional post-production sound mixer at Warner Bros.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs the whole film takes place in a single room, we had to figure out how to make the doctor\u2019s office visually appealing and squeeze a lot of visual variety out of this one location,\u201d Acero said. \u201cThis short stint on an independent production was golden. I picked up so much new terminology, got to use tools that were a step above what I previously had, and I made professional connections that have already benefited me greatly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

O\u2019Neill added that watching professionals work, like cameraman Leo Purman, was life-changing for the students. \u201cWatching his methods was an immersive experience for them that they wouldn\u2019t have had in the classroom. In these guided experiences, they build soft skills while gaining knowledge of equipment and processes. They understand more and come back to the classroom changed in ways of professionalism,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Nathan
Nathan Deming (right) and cinematographer Leo Purman on the set of ‘Winter Hymns.’ \/ Nathan Ouellette<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

2026 Unspooled Film & Animation Festival<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Unspooled Festival recognized outstanding achievements across multiple categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n