By Henry M. Holden      

Randolph High School graduate, Chase Bolnick, won an award in the National Academy of Television Art & Science Mid Atlantic Chapter, 2021 competition. Bolnick’s award was in the category for Best Short Form. The contestants were judged by media professionals and college educators from within the chapter. 

 The award recognizes outstanding cultural, educational, technological, entertainment, and news by high school students in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.

There were 120 entries and 67 nominees. Bolnick was one of the nominees. “The selection process was involved, with some paperwork, and   they asked a lot of general information questions,” said Bolnick. “But it was mainly the film that I was submitting that was going to be judged.”

Bolnick started acting at an early age. “My first acting job was when I was seven. I starred in a local production of Oliver.” 

One of his fondest and most vivid memories was when he was part of the commercial 1-800 Kars for Kids. “I was the piano kid,” he said with a big smile.

Bolnick developed his love for filmmaking in high school. He found his calling learning from various sets, and he became passionate about the business. “I realized then that I wanted to be a filmmaker and go on the other side of the camera.”

“I’ve been in numerous movies, commercials, and TV shows, and I found my passion for filmmaking. I have made many films that I am proud of,” Bolnick said. 

According to IMDB, Bolnick has 40 credits to his name in acting, writing, directing, and editing.

Some of his award-winning films are, The Jingle, Static Panic, and She is My Music which he wrote, directed, and edited.

Bolnick’s explanation of his winning film: “She is My Music is about the reality that things are not always solvable, nor do they get better, but escapes such as music can provide a short period of time where you feel they do.”

The quarantine changed Bolnick’s casting requirements. “I wrote and directed She is My Music during quarantine, so I had to scale back and make it a small cast. I had two of my friends in high school and my friend’s dad star in it.”

When Bolnick got to high school, he found himself always on sets. Randolph offered a four-year course film program. “There were six kids interested, and we signed up for it. Just two stuck it out with me for the four years. It’s not a big program but they do offer it and while I was enrolled in it, I realize that I had found my calling.” 

Throughout the four years Bolnick was always making films and his friends wanted to act in those films. “I was lucky to have friends who were willing to do that.”

Bolnick enjoys the whole process. “I think it is extremely rewarding watching the final product. I like to do as much as I can on the films. I like to edit them, direct them, and be in them if I can.”

Editing a production may take days, Bolnick says. “It is very tedious, but the finished product is gratifying to see.”

Bolnick never took off during the summers. “Even through the summers I continued to make films and it became clear to me that filmmaking was what I wanted to do, even after school. I never questioned what I wanted to do with my life because I already knew.”

Bolnick made a video of his graduating class so that they could reflect on it after they graduated. It was a 30-minute video and he showed it to the whole class. “It was extremely rewarding to be there at the premiere with all my classmates watching my work. I felt really good about that.”

The 18-year-old will be attending The Department of Radio- Television-Film at The University of Texas, in Austin, part of Moody College of Communication this Fall.

“When I was applying to colleges, I looked at the top 10 list and applied to all of them. I got into some but didn’t get into others. Out of the ones I got into, Austin, Texas, was on the top of my list. It is a beautiful place. I had to decide between going to Austin or another smaller college, not in a city as large as Austin. I realized that as a filmmaker I needed to have those life experiences to be able to make films. Austin is the place I want to go for these new life experiences.”