BEYOND THE BOOKS
NEWS AND NOTEWORTHY EVENTS
Alum Guides ’Wick Senior in Making Documentary
N
OVICE, MEET expert. Self-taught filmmaker Jack
Stefanou ’17 began experimenting with a camera during the early
stages of his Upper School experience,
midnight. He never even took a film class. He watched YouTube videos for simple instructional advice, also tuning into the
team and documenting its every move on
HBO series “24/7: The Road to the Winter
and off the ice.
Classic” in search of ideas to enhance his
Stefanou modestly brushed his work no credit (or attention) in school for long
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editing footage in his room at home after
ultimately latching onto the varsity hockey
aside, labeling it a mere hobby, and sought
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hours logged in rinks, on bus rides, or
product on the big screen. Longtime HBO Sports producer and ’Wick graduate Tom Odelfelt ’88 was one
OF BRUNSWICK • SPRING 2017
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BEYOND the BOOKS
of many to see this initial result,
documentary even better — to send
the team would be interested in.”
“Brunswick Hockey: 2015–16”, after
Stefanou, a senior, out in style after
In the eyes of Odelfelt, mission
it came across his desk last winter.
his final year shadowing the team.
He liked what he saw. “It was a very impressive effort
Odelfelt taught his filmmaking
accomplished. “Jack poured his entire soul into
protégé about pacing, shot compo-
this project. Those who will ulti-
based solely on the fact that he did
sition, and how to use music to
mately see his film may not notice
it on his own,” said Odelfelt, whose
evoke emotion. They strategized
all the details he worked so hard to
own work at HBO includes features
about a way to start the film, to
finesse and how hard he worked to
covering the NFL, Wimbledon,
construct the body, and to create
create such a compelling narrative,”
professional boxing, and that very
an ending.
he said.
same 24/7 NHL series. He’d also consulted with fellow
Stefanou soaked up every word.
“Storytelling and creativity are
“Tom impressed upon me to
skillsets that you develop over time
’Wick graduates Luke Esposito ’12
have a vision — to move beyond
by making yourself vulnerable and
and Curt Townshend ’12 on a
the basic timeline of the season,”
committing yourself to whatever it
similar in-house hockey documen-
Stefanou said.
is that you’re working on.
tary in 2012.
“He encouraged me to take more
“ Tom impressed upon me to have a vision — to move beyond the basic timeline of the season.”
“Jack may never touch a camera
It was now Stefanou’s turn to
creative license as a producer and
or edit station again in his whole
learn from the professional, as the
to push the film in a direction that
life, but he will benefit from this
two connected last fall to imple-
allowed me to tell an engaging
experience as he moves on to
ment a plan to make this season’s
story — one that a person not on
college and beyond.”
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