Lights, camera, achievement: Charles Nyberg shares his love for filmmaking, the impact its had on his life
At just 12 years old, Charles Nyberg was already making waves in the world of film. Now, as a high school student at DSST: Cedar, he's taking his passion for storytelling and cinematography to new heights, all while balancing the rigors of academics.
"At first, it was a way of imitating content I admired," Charles said, reflecting on his early days of filmmaking. "After I applied to the Denver School of the Arts for Video Cinema Arts, it grew into a passion I have used to explore comedy, tragedy and artistic endeavors."
By the age of 14, Charles was already making headlines with his films, earning nominations and awards from prestigious festivals like the All-American High School Film Festival, Colorful Colorado Film Festival for Youth and the MCA Denver Anti-Hero Short Film Festival. His talent didn't go unnoticed, with projects like "Osseus Croro Florio" earning him an Honorable Mention at the Student World Impact Film Festival.
"I'm very fortunate to have my work recognized in various festivals and competitions," Charles explains. "But for me, awards aren't nearly as important as a product I’m proud of. That’s the beauty of art; your creations can mean everything to you regardless of their accomplishments."
Despite his success, Charles remains grounded, emphasizing the collaborative nature of filmmaking and the power of interpretation in art.
"Producing films has changed the way I think about art, more importantly, the way I think about artists, and most importantly the way I think about the audience." Charles said. "an intensely collaborative project, sometimes with other people, and sometimes with yourself."
For those aspiring filmmakers out there, Charles has some advice: "The power of interpretation is the best tool you can use to create a piece of art your audience gets to create."
As he looks to the future, Charles may have shifted his focus to pursue a career in the sciences, but filmmaking will always hold a special place in his heart.
“I left DSA to pursue sciences, as it is my true aspiration for my future career,” he said. “However, film will always be something I work on as a passion, and I hope to create more films as a creative outlet for stories and visuals I want to share with anyone willing to watch.