Catching Attention: MSUM Alum's Passion for Film and Dodgeball

MSUM alum Joey Kramer (film studies '11) lives in two very different worlds. With his degree in film studies, Joey moved out to Los Angeles, where he lives and works in the film industry. In LA, he learned about professional dodgeball. This summer Joey was able to compete in the World Dodgeball Championship with Team USA and took home the silver medal in the Men's Cloth Division.

Joey acknowledges that not many people know about professional dodgeball. "It is always shocking to people that there is a World Dodgeball Organization, and that people take it very seriously," he says. Dodgeball is a sport that most people have played in school gym classes. Joey's love for dodgeball started in high school but not through a gym class. "In 2004, 'Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story' came out," he says, "My school decided to host a charity dodgeball tournament and that was super fun." It wasn't until a decade after this experience that Joey played dodgeball again and competed as an adult.

B.A. in Film Studies

Joey's start into competitive dodgeball was very spontaneous: "I was at a party, and I overheard someone mention a dodgeball league. I immediately interrupted him to get more information and showed up to that open gym." Since then, Joey has spent 9 years in competitive dodgeball and eventually played for Team USA in 2022 and 2024, where they took home bronze and silver respectively (there was no championship held in 2023.)

When thinking back on his experience in the MSUM Men's Rugby Club, Joey remembers the importance of camaraderie. "Sports create a different bonding experience. Although the focus on adult sports is competition, it is also very much about creating your social group. Understanding that dynamic is very important," he says. Joey notes that moving to a new city can be hard and that finding a new social group isn't always easy. "Dodgeball helped me find things separate from work. Recreational sports leagues are a great way to meet new people and stay active." Joey encourages anyone interested in dodgeball to check out the USA Dodgeball Instagram and to check if there are any opportunities near you.

When it comes to film, Joey has been able to work on many interesting projects, the largest being when he was a production assistant for the film "San Andreas," which starred Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Joey recalls "It was the first big-budget film I've been a part of. They had a helicopter team flying around downtown LA. FAA rules say if you are flying below a certain height, you can't have civilians underneath you. So, it was my job, along with the other hundred production assistants, to stop people from walking under and to explain what was going on."

Joey currently works on indie films and commercials. When thinking back to the bigger shoots, he says, "I had no idea what we were actually shooting or the creative behind it. On smaller shoots, it's more intimate and I get to see the whole process." In networking, Joey was connected to indie filmmakers and pulled into the genre. "In film, you can make your own way. It's not an impossible dream; you can go into whatever aspect you want to."

The film program was what Joey enjoyed most about his time on campus. "Film has been my life since I went to MSUM," he says. A highlight was being a part of the Cinethusiasts, a 48-hour film project, and the friendships he made through the program. Before college, he hadn't done any film or video production. "I had always enjoyed movies and the idea of making movies had been in the back of my mind. I didn't really know it was a possibility for me until I saw MSUM had a film program," he says. "We covered everything, editing, lighting, casting and performances. As someone who had never made a film, the broad scope was incredibly useful and important to me."

Joey acknowledges that film and the arts can be hard industries to be a part of, but he still encourages people to follow their dream. "It is absolutely possible to make a movie. We are at a stage now where you can have a phone and editing software and start making movies. So, if you have a story you want to tell, you can tell it."

"There are also more ways to share your story than ever before," Joey says. "The way that the film industry and social media are make them feel like two separate worlds. But the craft is still there; you can find the talented people in both and see them crossover."

Joey believes the most important thing you can do is ask questions. "You will never know what's possible if you don't ask. For a project at MSUM, I wanted to have bleachers, but I wanted to put it on a stage to avoid the weather. I asked questions and talked to the right people and MSUM was able to make that work for me."

To see Joey's work in action, you can check out "Stupid Games" on Tubi or Amazon Prime. You can also follow Joey's journey on Instagram