CHAMPAIGN – When Max Libman was a kid, he was really into acting and storytelling. He and his siblings would put on plays, and he’d be the director.
“I’ve always loved storytelling and I think part of that is [the] human connection of telling a story, seeing the emotions and just making people feel the way you want them to feel. And I love that aspect of storytelling,” he said.
When he learned that his great-grandmother survived the Holocaust, he wrote a screenplay inspired by her life. At age 12, he submitted it to Pens to Lens — a screenwriting competition for K-12 students in central Illinois.
“Something that just started as a script exploded into something so much more that’s continued to impact my life to this day,” he said.
His script was chosen to be produced as a film, which Libman said was a surreal experience.
“Just seeing something that was just an idea in your head, which you wrote down on paper, and then watching that at the Virginia Theatre with hundreds of people, and just seeing it on the big screen, is something really hard to explain,” he said.
Libman, now a freshman studying business and cinematic arts at the University of Southern California, one of the nation’s top film schools, hopes to inspire the next generation of storytellers and filmmakers.
Pens to Lens held its first competition in 2012. Created by Champaign Movie Makers, the goal is to foster the love of screenwriting and movie-making among a younger audience. Elsie Hedgspeth, the director of operations and outreach for the North Champaign Arts Council, said there is so much talent in the C-U community.
“The creativity that comes out of the minds of some of our youth,” Hedgspeth said. “You couldn’t convince me, unless I hadn’t met them in person, which I did, that some of those scripts were written by 6th graders. It was amazing.”
Pens to Lens is a collaborative community effort between organizations and individuals who generously donate their time and talent, she said. Champaign moviemakers and the Champaign-Urbana Design Organization are among them.
“It’s not a paid opportunity for them. They’re doing it solely for the love of wanting to get children involved and fostering creativity,” she said.
Libman’s first involvement in Pens to Lens was acting in one of the short films; then, as he discovered his passion for the behind-the-scenes of filmmaking, he decided to give screenwriting a shot.
After his script about the Holocaust was produced as a film, Libman said he shared it with schools, places of worship and government officials, to help with Holocaust education.
In 2020, Libman founded the C-U International Film Festival — knowing there was something special about the Champaign-Urbana film community, Libman said he wanted to bring a community event that would showcase films “that entertain, educate and elevate. So, the three E’s,” he said.
The C-U International Film Festival celebrated its third year and has received submissions across all six continents.
Libman said his experience with Pens to Lens was the start of everything, and he’s grateful to have had the opportunity to pursue his passion at the heart of the film industry at USC.
Students who would like to see their ideas come to life on the big screen can submit their scripts to Pens to Lens by Feb. 28. Film submissions are due July 18. For more information, visit the Pens to Lens website.