AS A HIGH SCHOOLER, Jacob Riddle ’24 realized his passion for watching films was different than that of the average 15-year-old.
“When most of my friends would spend their Friday nights going out with friends, I found comfort in watching classic films at home,” Riddle recalled. “My dad would ask me why I was watching ‘The Godfather Part II.’ I would say something outlandishly technical about the musical score, sound design, or cinematography, and my dad would say, ‘What on earth are you talking about?’
“It all snowballed into this giant obsession,” he says. “I realized, maybe this is something I can do. I wanted to get behind the camera myself and replicate things that I was seeing.”
Riddle spent the rest of his high school years reediting movie trailers for fun and shooting short films on his phone. Eventually, he saved up enough money to purchase his own professional equipment, including cameras, lenses, and a drone for aerial cinematography.
The 168体育平台下载_足球即时比分-注册|官网stfield 168体育平台下载_足球即时比分-注册|官网 School wide receiver wanted to find a college where he could combine two of his passions: film and football.
After a phone call with Russ Harbaugh ’06, former Little Giants quarterback and a critically acclaimed filmmaker known for his feature film “Love After Love,” Riddle made his decision.
“With the end goal of becoming a film director, I felt like the College was the best place because of the people,” says the art major and film and digital media minor. “I thought Wabash would give me the best chance.”
ART PROFESSOR MATT WEEDMAN says Riddle came to Wabash with experience and a hyperfocused drive he’d never seen before in such a young student.
“The first time I heard about him was when (Spanish professor) Dan Rogers said, ‘There’s this kid who is making all these films,’ and then somebody sent me one,” says 168体育平台下载_足球即时比分-注册|官网edman. “I was like, ‘This is nuts,’ but it was also fantastic.
“The way he works his camera is extraordinarily sophisticated, and how that moves through edits is a hard thing to do,” he says. “He came in at a professional level that was very striking.”
Riddle’s knowledge of the business side of being an artist also impressed 168体育平台下载_足球即时比分-注册|官网edman. Early in his tenure, he knew how to create a budget for his projects; understood the importance of event planning, communicating, and recruiting; and knew how to effectively market his work.
IN THE PAST THREE years, Riddle has written, directed, and produced 10 short films, four of which he has also acted in. These works range in genre and topic, from pulp horror and science fiction to earnest explorations of love and masculinity.
“I enjoy directing the most,” Riddle explains. “For ‘One Man Show,’ specifically, I shot some stuff, but the majority of the shoot was actually me being a director, looking at a monitor and being able to focus on performances, while having my cinematographer handle the actual shot making.
“Previously, I would have to worry about composing the shot while also making sure the audio is good, the lighting is good, the acting is good,” he continues. “That can all be very challenging to juggle.”
Rogers, who acted in Riddle’s short sci-fi film “Lucid,” got to experience his student’s directing firsthand.
“From the first day of the project, Jacob was exceptionally organized,” says Rogers. “He had a very clear vision of what he wanted to have happen, and had the whole thing mapped out, shot by shot. The way he communicated with and encouraged everyone throughout the project was impressive.”
Rogers was blown away by Riddle’s ability to tackle such projects while also being highly involved as a student on campus. In addition to independent filmmaking and football, he is president of film club and a member of Sons of Wabash, and has served in a variety of leadership roles in Sigma Chi fraternity.
“Division III athletics allows for students like Jacob to thrive, to be able to be a football player, filmmaker, and whatever else,” says Rogers. “But it’s ultimately up to the students to take advantage of opportunities and advocate for what they are passionate about. He’s done just that.”
RIDDLE’S GOAL IS TO CONTINUE film studies after graduation and to keep making movies. He understands it will take some time, more experience, and moving out of his home state, but his ultimate dream is to become “an established name that people know.”
“I want to be the greatest filmmaker to ever come out of Wabash,” Riddle says with a smile, “the next Steven Spielberg.”
His professors are confident he’ll one day make a name for himself in Hollywood.
“There’s a lifetime of frustration and trial ahead, and Jacob doesn’t have any illusions about what he is getting himself into,” 168体育平台下载_足球即时比分-注册|官网edman concludes. “I’m excited to see him make it big and can’t wait for him to come back to Wabash one day to share his experiences and wisdom with the students who dream to follow in his footsteps.”
To learn more about and watch Jacob Riddle’s short films, visit his portfolio at www.filmfreeway.com/JacobRiddle.
During his tenure at Wabash, Jacob Riddle ’24 has been able to secure several grants to help fund some of his movie projects, including “One Man Show,” which premiered last fall. The 15-minute short film was supported by the Dill Fund.
Established by G. Michael Dill ’71, the fund supports student internships, independent study, and educational opportunities not available on the Wabash campus. Recipients have used stipends to conduct cancer research at the University of Notre Dame, practice curation at the South Bend Museum of Art, and learn more about the law with the Legal Aid Society, among many other off-campus opportunities. Students apply for funding through Career Services.
“Jacob really used the Dill Fund to push himself creatively and tackle what is easily one of the biggest and hardest films he’s done yet,” says Art Professor Matt 168体育平台下载_足球即时比分-注册|官网edman. “He has set a bar, and not only is it a high bar, but it’s one that shows other students what they can do too.”
Drawing inspiration from the Oscar-winning movie musical “La La Land,” Riddle’s “One Man Show” was a nearly year-long project that involved assembling a large cast and crew, drawing from the Wabash community and Purdue University arts faculty, and several freelance professionals. One of those professionals was Eric Belvin, a composer, sound designer, and pianist who has contributed to a variety of projects, including the 2022 World Cup Draw and MSNBC’s four-part documentary series “Model America.”
“I was very grateful for the Dill Fund, because this project would not have been possible without it,” Riddle says.