Writer, Amateur Filmmaker, Student, Great Guy

About Brad

Brad Berkenstadt is a great guy who currently attends East High School. He is interested in film and movies including all of the following: Writing, editing, directing, filming, etc. Brad usually writes screenplays about comical instances. Sometimes he writes other shorts that aren't necessarily comedies, but are fun to watch. Most of Berkenstadt's movies are inspired by assignments from class, but others are for the commonwealth of the community and for the own interests of himself.

Film Interest

-Brad first got interested in writing in seventh grade. He was assigned to write a fictional spoof of a fairy tale. He chose to write a spoof on the popular Disney fable, Cinderella. He called in Kylerella and it poked fun at a kid in his grade while also poking fun at the Cinderella story. Brad was chosen to read his story in front of the class and the audience was overwhelming. Everyone liked the story so much that a few people mentioned to Brad that he should make it into a movie. Brad did just that and thus Kylerella: The Movie was born. Since then Brad has written many more movies and shorts including a documentary on the effects of gangs.

Brad Berkenstadt has several Production Companies. His first and most recognized one is B~R@d Pictures. (Produced "Kylerella", The Odyssey, "'Bo: The Movie"). One Hand, Many Colors. (Produced Brad's Documentary, "Struggling to Survive"). And Finally BJ Crewey which is co-produced with Josh Cobb. The B stands for Brad and the J for Josh. Crewey was inspired by Josh and Brad's high school gym teacher who one day accidently thought Josh Cobb's last name was Crewey instead. The two boys laughed hysterically and thus the name stuck. (The Production Company has yet to produce a finished film.)

Filmography

Kylerella...(2004)...
Obviously since this was his first movie he wrote and directed, it wasn't a masterpiece - yet many people seemed to love it. Brad got the hook up to let his classes watch the movie and yet again, everyone loved it! Kylerella was the tragic tale of a young guy trying to have fun but having a terrible life, with terrible brothers, and terrible mishaps. Kylerella was such a hit with his fans, that Brad decided to write a sequel, Kylerella 2: The Revenge of the Brothers. Through unsatisfying reasons, the film was never made. Some day it may be, but for now it is locked in the fault of unmade films written by Mr. Berkenstadt.

Odysseus Starring in: The Voyage...(2006)...
This comical take on the popular book The Odyssey written by Homer was yet another assignment from English class of Freshman year. Brad felt his duty to make a movie about the book that some would agree is the worst ever written. It stars Josh Cobb as Odysseus and Brad Berkenstadt as Cyclops, Kirke, and Elpenor. It isn't quite the whole story, but if you haven't read the book, this movie will help you better than any spark or cliff's notes would ever do.

Struggling to Belong: a Documentary...(2006)...
This documentary was written, filmed, directed, and edited by Brad Berkenstadt and Todd Hipke under a grant that was donated to the Atwood Community Center. Berkenstadt and Hipke felt they needed to address the problem of gangs in cities. They got together and interviewed with social workers and law enforcers all the way from Phoenix, AZ, to Chicago, IL, and back to Madison, WI, about the gang issue and how it can be solved. Madison Wisconsin's gangs still have yet to provide the city with a deathly presence, but it is being recruited younger and younger and so this documentary is addressing how to stop the gang involvement and activity.

Bo: The Movie...(2007)...
This movie is a handful. Not many people understand it, but that holds truth with all pieces of art. It's a story within a story about this teacher Mr. Wannebo who assigns the class with making a comedy movie. Brad Berkenstadt teams up once again with long-time friend and collegue Josh Cobb. They decide to make a movie about their teacher grading their movie and other students in the class' movies. The movie uses a lot of irony because it consists of 3 major skits. The first two skits are supposed to be portraying other student's skits and it shows Mr. Wannebo grading them. They are the best skits, yet with irony Mr. Wannebo feels they are the worst skits. The last skit is supposed to be like the skit that Brad and Josh's group created. It's portraying itself as the worst skit, yet once again with irony, Mr. Wannebo feels it's the best one.

***If you would like to see 'Bo: The Movie, go to youtube and search for "Brad Berkenstadt" or click this link: http://youtube.com/watch?v=BzVthCN5AQg

Trivia Facts

Brad Berkenstadt has been playing bass guitar since he was seven years old.

Brad is fluent in editing with Sony Vegas, Microsoft Movie Maker, and Apple's Final Cut.

Brad used to make movies with his sister and cousin when he was young. They too, were usualy spoofs such as Gone with the Witch, a spoof of Gone with the Wind.

Brad has a knack for creating very cool Movie Covers.

Brad's favorite actor is Nicolas Cage

Although Brad likes every aspect of film including writing, editing, directing, filming, he doesn't like acting so much. He only acts in his movies because he is needed.

Contacting Brad Berkenstadt:
email: darb9999@yahoo.com
AIM Screen name: bradjberk
or find me on Facebook.