Student’s passion-project film goes from introductory class to winning awards

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — All films have a life of their own, from concept and production to editing and the viewing experience, and they impact the lives of their filmmakers as well.

For Ben Stanton, the process has offered a bit of success and validation.

Stanton, a Penn State junior majoring in film production with a minor in Italian, conceived and produced “Sapphire,” which focuses on Penn State Blue Band feature twirler Mackenzie Bronk and her final performance at Beaver Stadium last fall.

Stanton and a team of collaborators turned the class project into a film that was later accepted into four festivals. It was named Best Documentary at the 15 Minutes of Fame Festival in Florida and won its category, College-Sports Story, in the 2026 NATAS Mid-Atlantic Regional Student Production Awards. The latter is the college equivalent of an Emmy Award.

He and his collaborators — Alex Roushinko, Hannah Slobozien and Jacob Will — initially put the film together for COMM 242 Basic Video/Filmmaking, but there was nothing basic about their approach.

While some in the class were learning about cameras for the first time, Stanton benefited from a strong production program at Seneca Valley High School near Pittsburgh. He arrived on campus with a comfort level using a camera, a familiarity with campus (as the son of two Penn State alumni), and a passion for filmmaking.

Additionally, Stanton tapped his connections as a multimedia intern for the Penn State Blue Band to pitch the idea and get necessary approvals. He said he knew he wanted to tell a band-related story, and he found one that resonated.

“Ben and his team went above what would be expected in an introductory production course,” said Catharine Axley, assistant professor in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications. “They captured the nervousness, awe and pressure of twirling — and catching — a baton in front of thousands in the football stadium. They really captured that excitement. They had done their homework and conducted a strong interview that helped them find the heart of the story rather than recount facts. When they screened it for class, everyone loved it.”

Stanton admits to being a bit of a perfectionist, so he was not done. He worked with Axley in the weeks after the semester to polish the piece.

“It was good, but it felt like it could be better,” Stanton said. “The main points of it stayed the same but there was a lot of refining after it was submitted for class. I spent a lot of time editing outside of class and I met with Catherine Axley a bunch. I don’t think it would’ve reached the heights it did without her help.”

Axley said students who discuss doing more work like that are common; students who follow through and do the work are rare.

"Ben was determined to keep working on it. He reached out to me multiple times and we examined the edit," Axley said. "He was open to feedback — which can be tricky when the film’s been well received — and the film got better.

"What makes their film a documentary, rather than the behind-the-scenes videos we see all over social media, is careful attention to specific themes, emotion and story that they considered throughout the production," Axley added. "It's a credit to Ben and the team for all the work they did."

The process — no matter how the film performed at competitions or festivals— validated Stanton’s decision to attend Penn State and major in film, he said.

Both of his parents are alumni and were members of the Blue Band. He’s been focused on a career in film since he was in elementary school, often recreating film scenes with Legos at his house. While Stanton participated on stage in school productions and played saxophone in the high school band, he’s most comfortable behind a camera, he said.

“Ever since I started using cameras, I’ve known this is what I want to do,” Stanton said. “And we have this supportive community of filmmakers here. It seems like you’re learning something every day and you’re working with people who have a similar passion and support each other.”

Like many creators, Stanton said a bit of imposter syndrome and uncertainty sometimes creeps into all he does. Having an award-winning, festival-accepted film on his resume helps allay those concerns — although he said it also raises expectations.

"It has boosted my morale," Stanton said. "It's just a weird feeling. There's that validation and a sense of pressure about what you're going to do next."