Synopsis

Making Noise chronicles the long struggle of the skateboarders of Northfield, Minnesota, to secure a permanent place for their sport. Shot in close collaboration with the latest generation of skateboarders, the film follows their efforts as they meet with city officials to fundraise, envision, and design a skatepark that seems to fit nowhere. A voiceover narration recorded by the skaters and based on city records, reveals the inefficiency of a process slowed down by outdated stereotypes about skateboarding and a thinly veiled resistance to the skateboarders. The film calls into question Northfield’s open-minded and friendly reputation in light of the community’s delay to find a place for its own youths. Making Noise bears witness to young people’s resilience and perseverance as it exposes the victories and failures of the civic process in small town America.

Selected Screenings

2018    Art Central Film Festival, Matthews Opera House. Spearfish, SD
2018    Frozen River Film Festival. Winona, MN
2017    Rural Arts & Culture Summit. Morris, MN
2016    Cine las Américas International Film Festival. Austin, TX
2016    Weitz Cinema for Creativity, Carleton College, Northfield, MN

Credits

Director, Producer, Screenplay, Camera, Edit, Sound Design: Cecilia Cornejo Sotelo
Additional Writing: Aaron Sala
Additional Cinematography: Spencer Fredrickson, Josiah Olson, Heriberto Rosas (drone), Shay Canning, Isaiah Suarez, Dane Holzschuh, Blake Atkinson, T.H. David, Matt Irwin, Vincent DeZutti, Jillian Banner, Collin Graham, Suzanna Erlich
Additional Editing: Spencer Fredrickson, Aaron Sala
Editing Advisor: Hernán Rosselli
Sound Recordists: Cecilia Cornejo Sotelo, Spencer Fredrickson, Gaby Muñoz
Additional Sound: Jay Beck, Robert Chen, Frank Meyer
Original Soundtrack: Charley Markson, Madelyn Markson, Aaron Frederick
Participants in order of appearance: Kathryn Casulla, Alex Pepel, Spencer Fredrickson, Cliff Martin, Eric Tolson

Making Noise ~ The story of a skatepark was produced in part by a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (2014)

Comments from the Northfield audience

Wonderful! Thank you for helping Northfield youth be heard by more people. I loved that the kids got to tell their own story (Age 27)

I’m awed by the thoughtfulness and perseverance of the youth in the Coalition. I learned a lot; I didn’t realize how obstructive the City was (Age 58)

Wow! Everyone in this town needs to see this movie. Very very important film. I liked the old video footage. Great Job! (Age 59)

Wonderful! Heartwarming, heartbreaking (Age 58)

The park is a gift to the coming generation but the film is a gift to this whole community. It is a superb film that can inspire us all in future endeavors. Other towns have to see this (Age 66)

Amazing! (Age 21)

I loved how the film showed not only the making of the skatepark,
but also the making of the film! Thank you for sharing the story! (Age 21)

The movie was great. It showed our side of the story and what we wanted clearly. Thank you for showing our side (Age 17)

Thank you for capturing this history. Beautiful! (Age 18)

Outstanding. I loved the way the filmmaker and the young adults connected and collaborated all throughout. Excellent! (Age 49)

The side-by-side time-lapse comparison of the use of Memorial Park and the temporary skatepark was incredibly powerful. It’s a very important piece of Northfield and youth culture that I think should be shared publicly. It was very powerful to see (Age 19)

Press

February, 2018     Frozen River Film Fest 2018, Making Noise ~ The Story of a Skatepark https://beta.prx.org/stories/240187

June 3, 2016     Screening of Make No Noise will celebrate one year anniversary of Northfield Skatepark http://www.southernminn.com/northfield_news/community/article_7dfeb77e-03f2-57ca-9cd5-f174e1e8b372.html

December 29, 2015       The Northfield News’ top stories of 2015 http://www.southernminn.com/northfield_news/news/article_b65813cf-d6c5-5104-a441-a2d87083b637.html

December 15, 2015       Northfield Skateboard Park documentary debuts at Carleton’s Weitz Center  http://www.southernminn.com/northfield_news/arts_and_entertainment/article_bfb54b0f-9b3d-57cb-bae2-3767dfd8b295.html

May 23, 2012       Northfield Skate Park Coalition becomes subject of documentary  http://www.southernminn.com/northfield_news/news/local/article_d4cbb77e-61b0-5424-9b32-e21965eb7372.html