Jonathan D’Ambrosio Focuses Lens on Success

Driven, creative and talented are just a few words that describe senior .

At just 17, D’Ambrosio has already won numerous regional and national awards for his filmmaking skills. Most recently, D’Ambrosio was a Gold Key Award recipient for the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards competition. He was also one of five students nominated in the Southeastern Michigan Regional portion of the competition for the American Vision Award, which represents the best of show. The American Vision Award recipient will be announced Feb. 11, and D'Ambrosio has his fingers crossed.

Life through a lens

D’Ambrosio said he started toting around a camera at a young age. He said his dad was always capturing milestones on video, and D’Ambrosio started taking a video camera everywhere to make videos with his older brother. After a while, carrying a video camera around became normal for him, and he started teaching himself how to properly edit film by watching behind-the-scenes footage.

“We just started making these random movies, and it escalated into this passion that has grown since then,” D’Ambrosio said. “I didn’t think all that serious about it until high school. I just enjoyed it so much, I kept making movies, and eventually, was like I should go into this as a career.”

He specializes in short films, ranging mostly from five to 15 minutes in length, and he has a YouTube portfolio — which he created in eighth grade — of more than 150 films that can be seen here.

Though most of his films are shorts, he said he isn’t opposed to making a feature-length project; it's just that most of his ideas are played out best in a short film, he said.

“If I come up with a story that can be long enough, that doesn’t get boring, I’ll make one,” he said. “I always want to make something that is keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.”

Many of his films can be classified as dramas, he said — many have to do with inner-self conflict, something the main character has to personally overcome. He uses settings from the past more than from modern times because he said he finds the olden days “fascinating.”

Much of his inspiration comes from World War II, the Civil War and his own life experiences.

In addition to filming the movies, D’Ambrosio typically stars in them and makes his own music for many of his productions. Originally, he thought acting is what he wanted to do in life; but after he got involved in filming and directing, those aspects combined with acting to evolve into a career desire. Now acting and directing are equal in D’Ambrosio’s vision of life after high school.

Lake Orion High School broadcast teacher said he started hearing D’Ambrosio’s name when Jonathan was in fifth grade, and he's excited to see what the future has in store for him. Smith said he is amazed at D'Ambrosio's modesty and drive. He said D’Ambrosio even goes so far as to take his video camera with him on his family vacations out of state, concentrating on filming videos as opposed to having a leisurely vacation.

“I use every opportunity I can when it comes to getting new locations,” D'Ambrosio explained, noting that many films are shot at Canterbury Village and in downtown Lake Orion. “I’m always looking for new locations.”

Most of his projects do not involve a lot of dialogue, which can be even more challenging, Smith noted.

D’Ambrosio plans to attend School of the Art Institute of Chicago next year, where he received a $55,000 scholarship, and he plans to eventually attend the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. After school, he wants to pursue a career as an independent filmmaker, which is riskier — because he will need to come up with his own funding — but more worthwhile because he will have more freedom to direct according to his own vision, he said.  

His awards

One of the most notable awards D'Ambrosio has received was winning first place in Channel One’s three-minute film "Super 8" contest. Channel One is a news network that aims its content at teens. The best part of the contest for D'Ambrosio was that J.J. Abrams, widely known for directing Mission: Impossible III and producing the TV series Lost, among others, was the judge.

Winning an Inspiration Prize at the Michigan Thespian Festival in December was another one of his highlighted accomplishments. In fact, the Inspiration Prize was created specifically for D’Ambrosio because Erik Hart, Michigan Thespian director, thought D’Ambrosio deserved a special award for his talent.

Hart presented a certificate and medal to D’Ambrosio at last week’s meeting. D’Ambrosio received $1,000 with the award.

“I think it’s really important that we acknowledge greatness when we see it,” Hart said. “For the past four years, I’ve been hearing these mumblings about this kid … how good this kid was.”

At the December festival, Hart made it a point to meet D'Ambrosio and said he was truly inspired by his work.

“I’ve never seen anyone at the talent level of Jonathan … I was awe-struck,” Hart said. “I have no doubt that he’s going to do great things.”