Community Corner
Why Seinfeld's 'The Maestro' Became a Mentor for Filmmakers
Don't call him "The Maestro;" call him "The Mentor." How Mark Metcalf went from "Animal" House" to "Seinfeld," to teaching his craft to aspiring filmmakers. Sponsored by Grape-Nuts.
By Patti Wenzel
About this sponsorship: In honor of the 60th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary’s historic ascent of Mount Everest, Patch and Grape-Nuts are teaming up to highlight those who inspire people around them to climb their own mountains.
You might remember him as Neidermeyer in the classic comedy"Animal House," or as the “Maestro” on "Seinfeld."
But after years of theater, television and movie roles, Mark Metcalf moved to Milwaukee with his then-wife and opened a restaurant. But he couldn't escape his acting past, and he was soon drawn to the Milwaukee theater scene, working with kids at First Stage Children's Theater and with Milwaukee Film, an organization that hosts an annual film festival and offers year-round education programs.
It was at Milwaukee Film where Metcalf, a Bayside resident, decided to help student writers develop screenplays through the Collaborative Cinema program.
“We -- other local directors, actors and filmmakers -- went out to the schools and solicited screenplay ideas. Then we picked the best 50 ideas and partnered these students with writers to fully develop a screenplay,” he explained.
“We would narrow it down further and partner the student writer with a cinematographer, director and all of the behind the scenes personnel, they work together and make a short film.”
Metcalf said this exposure to the arts is great for the kids because they learn to express their ideas, or learn what goes on behind the scenes – such as gaffers, grips and best boys. Plus, an exposure to arts translates into other subjects the students study and into the life skills we all need to work well in this world.
“Kids have such wide open minds,” he said. “Kids are all about the why? They have questioning minds and are interesting and fun to work with.”
Metcalf doesn't measure success with the Collaborative Cinema program by the number of young people who go on to college and study film, acting or any of the support roles in the theater. He measures it by the appreciation students will have for the arts and the future of support they will give those who go into the arts. Learn more about the Collaborative Cinema program
Remember the Maestro? The balm? The coffee? Take a trip down memory lane with this YouTube clip.
Animal House - who was Niedermeyer?
And, yes, he reprised his role as Doug Niedermeyer in 1986 in the Twisted Sister video, "We're Not Gonna Take It." Take a look.
About this sponsorship: In honor of the 60th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary’s historic ascent of Mount Everest, Patch and Grape-Nuts are teaming up to highlight those who inspire people around them to climb their own mountains.
You might remember him as Neidermeyer in the classic comedy"Animal House," or as the “Maestro” on "Seinfeld."
But after years of theater, television and movie roles, Mark Metcalf moved to Milwaukee with his then-wife and opened a restaurant. But he couldn't escape his acting past, and he was soon drawn to the Milwaukee theater scene, working with kids at First Stage Children's Theater and with Milwaukee Film, an organization that hosts an annual film festival and offers year-round education programs.
It was at Milwaukee Film where Metcalf, a Bayside resident, decided to help student writers develop screenplays through the Collaborative Cinema program.
“We -- other local directors, actors and filmmakers -- went out to the schools and solicited screenplay ideas. Then we picked the best 50 ideas and partnered these students with writers to fully develop a screenplay,” he explained.
“We would narrow it down further and partner the student writer with a cinematographer, director and all of the behind the scenes personnel, they work together and make a short film.”
Metcalf said this exposure to the arts is great for the kids because they learn to express their ideas, or learn what goes on behind the scenes – such as gaffers, grips and best boys. Plus, an exposure to arts translates into other subjects the students study and into the life skills we all need to work well in this world.
“Kids have such wide open minds,” he said. “Kids are all about the why? They have questioning minds and are interesting and fun to work with.”
Metcalf doesn't measure success with the Collaborative Cinema program by the number of young people who go on to college and study film, acting or any of the support roles in the theater. He measures it by the appreciation students will have for the arts and the future of support they will give those who go into the arts. Learn more about the Collaborative Cinema program
Remember the Maestro? The balm? The coffee? Take a trip down memory lane with this YouTube clip.
Animal House - who was Niedermeyer?
And, yes, he reprised his role as Doug Niedermeyer in 1986 in the Twisted Sister video, "We're Not Gonna Take It." Take a look.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here
