Telling Our Story and Building Community: That One Day We Made a Movie in South Milwaukee

Saturday was a day to remember, as the community came together to tell the South Milwaukee story like never before and make the case to HGTV that, while we’re certainly making strides in our redevelopment, we need some help along the way.

We need a HGTV Hometown Takeover!

It was a full day, and could not have happened without the support of some amazing people, businesses and institutions.

We shot at nine different locations in less than 12 hours: Moran’s Pub, Avenue Coffeehouse, Barbiere’s Italian Inn, The Barber Shop, Parkway Floral, the Muza Church, American Legion Post #27, South Milwaukee High School and the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center.

We talked to more than a dozen people along the way — not including a segment with the South Milwaukee Youth Basketball Club sixth-grade girls basketball team — who shared their stories about what makes our city great … and why a makeover would only make that story stronger. Thank you to everyone who joined us!

The crew was first rate, and with a distinct local flavor. Producer/director Kyle Olson and videographer Nick Koscielniak are South Milwaukee graduates who started making movies together more than a decade ago while in school — like this one.

They were joined by James Stewart, Sasa Miladinovic and Julia Beck, as well as assistant City Administrator Patrick Brever, who was invaluable in getting us from point A to point B. Editor Mitchell Stewart also joined us, and is cutting the HGTV submission video now (it’s due on Friday). Local teen Austin Keller also pitched in.

And it was great to see Kyle’s parents, Mick (a longtime former South Milwaukee police officer) and Jewel join us on the shoots. It’s easy to see where Kyle gets his Emmy award-winning passion and talent from.

Local photographers Julie Arnold and John Krecji also stepped up to provide content, and a special thanks to Ante Udovicic, who welcomed us with open arms at the school campus and accommodated us despite it being a crazy afternoon and evening of a cappella singing and youth basketball at the school. 

And, our sponsors! We could not have done this without them. Thanks to the City of South Milwaukee, Molthen-Bell & Son Funeral Home, Da Crusher Foundation, Moran’s Pub, DB Tax & Financial Services, and the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center for their support of this economic development and community building project.

I’ll keep you posted as we submit the HGTV piece, and develop the marketing video.

As I said on camera, I love this city, and telling its story. Our best days are ahead of us, and it was exciting to see that in action on Saturday.

Proud past, promising future, indeed. Together.