Brownsburg senior takes risks to follow filmmaking dreams

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Daniel Risk edits a film at his Brownsburg home. Kristine Brite/Flyer photo

May 2, 2007

By Kristine Brite The Hendricks County Flyer Wed May 02, 2007, 05:55 PM EDT

BROWNSBURG — He started his own business when he was 11 years old.

Daniel Risk, now a Brownsburg High School senior, said his clients at Risk Productions Independent Filmmaking never seemed to mind his age.

“A lot of people didn’t know how young I was,” he said.

This fall, Risk plans to head off to Chapman University, a school known for its filmmaking program, and he’s already feeling pressure to succeed in the film industry after he finishes there.

“With everyone expecting you to be someone, you don’t want to disappoint,” he said.

Risk Productions started with Risk making videos of graduation and other celebrations. It grew so much that he said he had to start turning people away.

He used money earned from these odd jobs and from his work at Shiloh Cinemas in Avon to purchase better equipment, including a $6,000 camera. He said his father, Bill Risk, whom he lives with in Brownsburg, and his mother, Starla McHugh, who lives in California, support his venture.

He began teaming up with other Hoosier filmmakers, some right here in Hendricks County, to create short and feature films.

“I definitely never though Indiana had any film scene at all until I started meeting people,” Risk said.

This winter he was on the committee for the IndianaActors.com Film Festival in Brownsburg. Several of the films he had helped with were shown.

A movie he submitted to the MSNBC.com FilmYourIssue.com’s contest brings him pride because his one-minute clip about depression was picked as one of 30 national semifinalists out of thousands of entries. The competition was judged by celebrities such as George Clooney.

Best friend Tyler Miles has played that role for Risk since the two went to elementary school together. Miles remembers early filmmaking ventures when the two were in the third or fourth grade and would film their Batman action figures.

“I have no doubt in my mind he’s going to be pretty successful,” Miles said.

And Miles would know. He’s already been successful with Risk in a project the duo worked on together.

Their entry into the eXceL awards, sponsored by Indiana Farm Bureau, not only took first place in the video art category, but won best of show based on all entries.

This year’s theme was “risk.”

“It was a match made in heaven,” Risk said.

He and Miles, a senior at Tri-West High School, created a short film called “In the Line of Duty” that recognizes first responders.

At first, they had difficulty getting their idea to work. One scene required a car rolled on its roof to burst into flames.

“The biggest thing when you’re an aspiring filmmaker is the budget,” Risk said. “You have to find people who want to do it for the joy of it.”

Risk and Miles did find people willing to help. Dave Franklin Towing in Indianapolis donated a car. The North Salem Fire Department started and controlled the fire, and officers from the Hendricks County Sheriff’s Department were on hand as well.

Risk said he’s excited about attending college in California. But, one day, he might help bring the filmmaking industry back with him to Indiana.

“Indiana, really, when it comes to feature films, doesn’t have much of a business,” he said.

kristine.brite@flyergroup.com

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