SDM JF2005 FINAL with scans
12/7/04
9:13 AM
Page 86
GUS KARINEN & JUSTIN KOEHLER
Black Hills State
GUIDE TO south dakota colleges & universities
hat began as a short story for
class has evolved into a feature
film for two Black Hills State
University students. Gus Karinen, a
senior mass communications major
from Spearfish and Justin Koehler, a
recent mass communications graduate from Midland, are co-directors of
an original independent movie. For
more than two years, Gus and Justin
have dedicated much of their time to
working on “10:15 Salem Park,” a
story centered on secrets. Fellow
BHSU students serve as cast and
crew.
promise. The only thing we had was
a vision and a seed of serious determination, born of a dream, destined
by coincidence, carried in faith,
inspired by friends, driven by passion.”
W
Both men planned a career in mass
com, possibly sports casting or
sports marketing for Justin, but making a film has raised other options
for both. “If this movie succeeds,
then I guess we’ll know what we’re
meant to do with our lives,” Gus
said.
Gus, who also serves as production
manager for the campus television
station, wrote the story behind the
film. He maintains a journal of the
movie’s progress on his website,
www.salempark.com. “The movie
began as a dream,” he writes. “We
had no equipment, no funding, no
script, no actors, no crew, and no
Maintaining a balance between personal lives and obligations, school
and work is a challenge. Because
their no-budget film relies on a volunteer cast and crew, Gus and Justin
must work around many schedules.
But they have no regrets about their
commitment to the film. They don’t
expect fame or fortune, but they see
the project as a great learning opportunity. “We hope other students will
see this and maybe it will encourage
them,” Justin said. “We want people
to know what students are capable of
doing. If anyone involved in the
movie gets a break, that will be an
accomplishment and make it all
worthwhile.”
ROSEBUD SIOUX RESERVATION, MISSION, SOUTH DAKOTA
Founded in 1971, Chartered by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe
Charter Member of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium
Come join us for our Founder’s Day Celebration held
Friday, Jan. 28, 2005 – Sunday, Jan. 30, 2005 at the
Wakinyan Wanbli Multipurpose Student Center in Mission, SD.
Sinte Gleska University provides a model for Indian-controlled education. It is an institution governed by
people rooted to the reservation and culture, concerned about the future, and willing to work to see the
institution grow. It provides each Lakota person the opportunity to pursue an education and does so in a
way that is relevant to career and personal needs. Sinte Gleska University graduates will help
determine the future development and direction of the tribe and its institutions. The
mission of Sinte Gleska University is to plan, design, implement and
assess post-secondary programs and other educational
resources uniquely appropriate to the Lakota people in
order to facilitate individual development and tribal autonomy.
For more information
write or call:
SINTE GLESKA UNIVERSITY
P.O. Box 105
Mission, SD 57555
Telephone (605) 856-8100 • FAX (605) 856-5401 • www.sinte.edu
86 • SOUTH DAKOTA MAGAZINE