Who Am I?
My name is Samuel Dankel, born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. I am currently a freshman at the University of Texas at Austin, studying Radio-Television-Film.
It is more than just my passion to create films and take pictures that represent the stories and purposes of this world, it’s my obligation.
The Foundation
BEACON Academy
From 2021-2025, I was an active member of the BEACON Academy of Media & Digital Arts at South Elgin High School in Illinois. There, I developed as an incredible artist, filmmaker, and photographer through the help of many experienced teachers and passionate cohorts. This academy provided me with numerous opportunities and accolades listed below.
Student Television Network
In 2023 and 2024, I was given the opportunity to compete at the Student Television Network in Long Beach, CA, where I collaborated with fellow students to produce projects, ranging from music videos to news magazines. This taught me many valuable lessons about the logistics, sophistication, and attention to detail that comes in filmmaking.
BEACON Academy Broadcasts
In my four years at the BEACON Academy, I was an asset to the live broadcast team that streamed school sports, talent shows, musicals, and a wide variety of events. I learned a great deal about teamwork and the diverse process of creating live digital media streams that we all see on a daily basis.
BEACON Academy Awards
At the annual BEACON Academy Awards Ceremony, five awards are presented to each class, each award representing the excellence of a student for their work in a specific area of digital arts.
I was the recipient of five BEACON awards, winning one in 2023 for Best Cinematography, two in 2024 for Best Editing and Best Cinematography, and two in 2025 for Best Directing and Best Overall Content.
In 2025, I was also recognized for my nomination in the Midwest Media Educators Association Film Festival for my work on “Life After the NFL: Stories of NFL Alumni” in collaboration with Ryan Lewin.
Other Experience
During the Summer of 2023, I worked as an intern to create a powerful documentary, titled “Fighting Antisemitism: Student Produced Documentaries”. During this internship, I collaborated with teachers and students from the BEACON Academy, but also talked directly with and collaborated with professional documentarians.
I have worked on numerous independent films, working as a director, writer, cinematographer, and editor. Amongst my proudest accomplishments is my experience working with former NFL player, turned college coach, Quintin Demps, covering his personal adventures as well as his time at Judson University and the team’s 2024 season.
