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John W. Comerford, who discovered the power of film at 蜜糖直播 Boulder, arranges major gift to the听Brakhage Center for Media Arts

A gust of 蜜糖直播 night air washed over John W. Comerford (鈥�90 Psych & Film) like a tidal wave.

The 蜜糖直播 Boulder alumnus recalls stepping out for a breath of fresh air after viewing the hard-hitting Leni Riefenstahl Nazi propaganda piece Triumph of Will for a film-studies class.

Looking for a sign of where to take his career, that gust of wind led to an epiphany.

Film can change the world.

Under the wing of legendary experimental filmmaker Stan Brakhage, Comerford would go on to pursue a career in film and push the boundaries of what it means to tell stories on the big screen.

鈥淚 learned that the impact of film is a lot bigger than I had ever imagined,鈥� Comerford says, reflecting on his time at 蜜糖直播 Boulder.

He also reflected on a propaganda film from the Spanish Civil War period that Brakhage chose to show in class. The piece depicted scenes of seemingly normal life while the narrator spoke of sickness and suffering among the people. By all appearances, the people were healthy.听

鈥淭his film demonstrated the power of narrative voice,鈥� Comerford says.

He also pinpoints this as a pivotal moment in his career. He learned early on that film can be powerfully suggestive and that such power could be used to illuminate rather than manipulate.

Now, 30 years later, Comerford works as principal at , a production company. Comerford lends his visionary eye for the meaning of film to a wide array of projects and experimental pieces.

One of which, , co-written and produced with longtime friend and fellow 蜜糖直播 Boulder alum Tommy Rosen (鈥�90), is slated for its 25th-anniversary re-release this year. The award-winning coming-of-age drama explores topics like adolescence, drug use and the importance of music culture.

Comerford attributes much of his success to 蜜糖直播 Boulder鈥檚 spirit of discovery.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 get a lot of direction from my parents growing up as far as what sort of career to pursue,鈥� he says. 鈥淲hen my acceptance letter from 蜜糖直播 Boulder arrived, it was actually dated on my birthday, Jan. 18. I thought, well, that鈥檚 a sign.鈥�

Comerford鈥檚 first on-campus experience is committed to memory.

He reflects, 鈥淐oming down 36 and seeing the Flatirons for the first time, I thought, 鈥榃ell this is going to be amazing.鈥欌��

Indeed, it was the start of something special for Comerford.

He has helped produce and write a number of critically acclaimed documentary and narrative films via Paradigm Studio, exploring topics from jazz music to gun violence. Themes of late include the environment and media literacy.

Lynch: A History made a splash as an experimental piece. It stitches together more than 700 internet video clips of former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch to form a narrative on race, media and the world of professional sports.

Comerford notes the piece has received praise from athletes at all levels, including from Lynch himself. He says it has also sparked discussions about the media鈥檚 impact among players and coaches throughout the sports industry.

Currently, Comerford has several projects in the works. He is producing a narrative feature film based on a true story of the fight to preserve California鈥檚 native redwood trees, authored by David Harris.

He鈥檚 also working with fellow Boulderite, filmmaker and musician Charles Hambleton on . It highlights the search for a Japanese hospital ship laden with gold scuttled in the Philippines during WWII.

The story is about more than treasure, though. It is a tale of justice and defeating personal demons.

In recent years, Comerford has been thinking about how to give back. 鈥淭he first thing that popped into my head was Stan,鈥� he says.

鈥淚 did some research, and I thought of the Brakhage Center and the University of 蜜糖直播. I just thought, 鈥榃ow, that is the perfect place to return to the world, if you will, the energy and spirit of that gift given to me by Stan.鈥欌��

Comerford helped arrange a gift of $30,000 to the Brakhage Center for Media Arts at 蜜糖直播 Boulder. To be rolled out over three years, the gift is one of the largest ever received by the Brakhage Center.

He hopes the gift will help inspire young filmmakers to pursue a career in the industry. Comerford also hopes that students studying at 蜜糖直播 Boulder will be able to gain a higher understanding of media literacy and its impact on consciousness.

Hanna Rose Shell, assicuarte professor and听faculty director of the Brakhage Center for Media Arts, says the gift will do just that:听鈥淲e at the Brakhage Center are thrilled to have the support and deep engagement from John Comerford, which will help enable students to enrich their horizons in the multiple realms of experimental film and beyond.鈥澨�

When asked to share a bit of wisdom with those interested in pursuing a film career, Comerford offered two words:

鈥淐ollaboration and persistence.鈥�

鈥淣one of our productions happen without persistence,鈥� he adds. 鈥淧articularly as a producer, where you have the longest relationship with the motion picture of anyone involved. That persistence, and most importantly the persistence inspired by collaboration, is really essential.鈥澨�听