Dans Papers - May 25, 2007 -Film Finalist

Around this time last year, Brian Koch, a ten-year-old boy visiting East Hampton, was enjoying a little summer vacation with his family. The young boy, a huge movie fan, was excited about upcoming blockbuster films such as Superman Returns and Mission Impossible III. But while walking down Main Street in East Hampton, Brian suddenly saw his idol, Steven Spielberg, walking out of the East Hampton movie theater with his family.

He immediately became nervous. This was the man responsible for nearly every movie that Brian loves. He had to do something. Gathering up all of his courage, he walked over to Mr. Spielberg with his mother, introduced himself and asked, politely, if he could have his autograph.

Being the gentleman that he is, Mr. Spielberg was flattered. "I really want to be a director one day," Brian said to Spielberg.

"There's no reason why you shouldn't start now. If you make your first film by age ten, then you will have beaten me by two years," Spielberg replied.

Brian smiled. He couldn't believe that Steven Spielberg was even near him, let alone talking to him. "Do you have something I could write on?" Mr. Spielberg asked.

Brian was in a panic. He didn't have anything he could write on. What could he use? He then turned to his mother, who, of course, was carrying the latest issue of Dan's Papers along with her shopping bags. "Here, you can sign this." And so Mr. Spielberg did.

Right after he signed the issue of Dan's Papers and handed it back to him, Mr. Spielberg went to go about his business, enjoying East Hampton. But before he did, he looked at Brian one last time and said to him, "Be what you want to be," and then he walked off. Brian was still looking at the Spielberg signature. He was in a ten-year-old state of awe.

For the rest of that summer, Brian told every person he knew about the encounter. It was his favorite story to tell --it would be anybody's favorite story to tell. Soon, the summer was over and Brian headed back to school.

It was there that he decided to make a movie. After all, the ten-year-old only had so many more months left before he turned eleven and he was constantly thinking about Steven Spielberg's challenge -- making his first movie two years before the director made his. Brian knew that he could do it.

It wasn't until he saw a sign for a contest that Brian got an idea. His school told him about the National PTA Reflections Contest, where children make short films and submit them to be recognized on a national level. Brian got to work on his documentary, called "My Favorite Place," and like the feverish artist that he is, he put his heart and soul into the work.

It didn't go unnoticed.

On May 9, at a reception in Massapequa, Brian Koch not only made his first movie by the time he was ten years old -- he also became a nationally recognized director by becoming the New York State finalist in the National PTA Reflections Contest for his short film. He stood up and took a bow.

He then went home with his award, got tucked into bed, received a kiss on the forehead and went to sleep, where he dreamed about becoming a big time movie director one day, like the man that he met while walking down the street in East Hampton.