Dan Woodward, one of three students who produced 2013’s viral sensation [“The Extra Mile,”](https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2013/5/9/students-class-project-goes-viral/) has gone to his own great lengths when it comes to student directing.
The senior communication major began making films in 2009, when he worked for a nonprofit in high school.
At the time, the organization, called Support Dogs Inc., needed help making microdocumentaries about service dogs. Woodward took the opportunity and worked with them until 2011.
He attributes this job, along with various information technology classes, to piquing his initial interest in film production.
“I took Audio/Video I & II,” Woodward says. “What really got me involved in filmmaking was the teacher’s assistant for those classes. (The TA) showed me how to use different cameras, set up lights and run audio. I was eager to learn, and he encouraged me every step of the way.”
Woodward says this encouraged him to take film classes and meet like-minded peers.
“From there, I took more classes in film studies,” he says. “I got to connect with students interested in the same thing I was. The one thing we had in common was we all wanted to make student films and get better.”
It was in film classes like these that Woodward met Nam Cu and Clinton Cannon when the three partnered up for a Communication 3050 project, for which they had to make a persuasive speech in video format.
Their idea for “The Extra Mile” came from the popular Kid President videos on YouTube, in which they saw how a kid could inspire people to take action.
“Nam came up with the idea of chivalry, and the idea was thrown out there of (the main actor) handing out flowers on campus, and we built it on that,” Woodward says. “If Kid President was this guy who stood for treating everyone the right way, we wanted (main actor) Cole (Nowlin) to stand for chivalry.”
The team’s hard work paid off in the form of nearly 600,000 views on YouTube since its May 2 debut.
Woodward says the enthusiastic reception of “The Extra Mile” helped motivate his postgraduation plans for a career in film.
“I am very critical of everything I’ve done,” he says. “I still do not like anything that I’ve made. I do not enjoy the production aspect of filmmaking. However, I love turning the kernel of an idea into a final product. I love planning and writing the film and then seeing it all come to fruition.”
**Woodward’s True/False picks:**
_“Boyhood”_
This film follows a boy over the course of 12 years, depicting different scenes from the various stages of his life. Unlike most True/False films, it utilizes a fictional premise, following the same actor (Ellar Coltrane) from age 7 to 18.
“Every year they would film a different scene so you see this kid grow up,” Woodward says. “It’s not a documentary, though. It’s probably one of the most talked-about movies.”
_“Rich Hill”_
Following three Missouri teenagers living in poverty, this award-winner received the grand prize for documentaries at Sundance Film Festival.
“They’re trying to find a way out and make a life for themselves,” Woodward says of the film’s emotional appeal.
Woodward says the film is unique because it was directed by a Columbia-based filmmaker, Andrew Palermo, whom he looks forward to meeting at the screening.
_“My Kid Could Paint That”_
Marla Olmstead is a child artist with incredible skill. The paintings attributed to her make her seem like a modern-day, pint-sized Picasso.
“Sometimes you see artwork that looks like a 4-year-old did it,” Woodward says. “This documentary has fun with that idea by exploring an acclaimed child artist.”
_“The Notorious Mr. Bout”_
This is the true story of Viktor Bout, the arms dealer on whom the film “Lord of War” is based.
“He’s someone that you love to hate,” Woodward says. “This seems like one of those movies that will outrage a lot of people. It looks like a great character study.”
