Local filmmaker of ‘Step Together’ wins Iowa Film Award, prepares for his next ‘Big Step’ in life.
Jacob Rosdail (photo submitted)
Oskaloosa, Iowa- Local documentary filmmaker Jacob Rosdail was recently awarded ‘Iowa Filmmaker Award’ from the Interrobang Film Festival, that is part of the Des Moines Art Festival.
Rosdail is “really excited to accept that award”, and rightfully so. This year there were 52 films accepted at the Interrobang Film Festival presented by Nationwide.
The film follows the world record attempt for the ‘Most People Dancing In Wooden Shoes’. Rosdail and his co-producers, Jonathon Gregg and Aaron Riggs, followed some colorful citizens of Pella, Iowa as they practice and prepare for their attempt at the record during the 75th Annual Tulip Time Festival.
Step Together wasn’t a CRI production, but some of Rosdail’s co-workers from CRI (Johnathon Gregg and Aaron Riggs) helped him along the way.
“They’re just two of the smartest people I know. Aaron has a great eye, and Johnathon knows how to get people to talk.” he says of his co-producers.
Filming and editing lasted over a 6 month period. They shot footage for about a month, and spent the remaining time editing and waiting to find out if it was to be acknowledged by Guinness. Being as this was an ‘after work’ type of project, the production timeline wasn’t as intense as it might have been with work related projects.
With a screening of the film looming, he needed an ending; so, at the end of the film it states that they never found out if the dance made the record. Rosdail had the DVD pressed and as usually happens, shortly afterwards, they were informed that it was an official record. On an updated version of the film, it will be edited in stating that they did achieve the record.
You can buy your own copy of ‘Step Together’ at the Pella Opera House or by emailing woodandshoefilm@gmail.com where Jacob can hook you up with a copy for $15.00. He says that if you mention Osky News in your request, he will sell it for $10.00. I think you will enjoy the story of our neighbors in Pella, and the excellent story Rosdail and his team were able to tell.
Rosdail has made an impact locally with telling the history of our area. He has been producing Oskaloosa Today, he worked with Jason Madison in ‘Searching for Buxton’, and he has the upcoming piece on Alexander Clarke that will be one of Rosdail’s last for CRI. You can read some about that upcoming story HERE.
Even though Rosdail will soon be leaving the Oskaloosa area, he says, “I am always gonna be an Iowa filmmaker; spent 28 years of my life here and I will probably return some day.”
His passion for filmmaking has lead Rosdail to head back to school. He and his wife will soon be moving to North Carolina where she will be working in her profession, and Jacob will be attending Grad School at Wake Forest University located at Winston Salem, North Carolina. He will be entering a documentary film program there. After being at CRI for 3 years now, Rosdail says he’s getting stir crazy. “I need to try something new.”
Rosdail speaks highly of his co-workers at CRI, “I think I’m working with some very creative, intelligent young people. They don’t even know yet how creative and talented they are.”
You can visit Step Together on their Facebook HERE, visit them on IMDB, or catch ‘Historic Measures’ on Oskaloosa Today.
Oskaloosa Today’s episode of ‘Historic Measures’ focuses on the Iowa Building and historic downtown Oskaloosa.
Thank you Jacob for helping to share the history of Oskaloosa and the area on film. Your outstanding talents will be greatly missed.
