By A&E Editor: Madison Deadman

Howell High School 2013 grad, Daniel Oswalt, jumped right into his life-long dreams fresh out of his senior year. Oswalt has dedicated hours, days, weeks, and months into his aspirations. He is the kind of person who sets his mind on something and pursues it through and through. Oswalt is breaking new ground with a few new projects which he hopes will change the world for the better.

How would you describe yourself? What makes you, “you”?

I am a loud, mediocre joke teller, who loves to tell stories and make people smile. I would describe myself as someone who wants to tell and be a part of stories. I try to serve my God with alI I am because He has made me who I am.

What sparked your interest in writing? In film-making?

Those movies or books you read—the ones that really leave an impact on your thoughts and lives—that’s what really sparked my interest, I think. My brother started film before I did and frequently incorporated me in whatever dorky, poorly shot, twelve-year-old movie we were making. I’ve always loved to tell stories whether it’s in front of the camera, behind the camera, on the stage, through writing, or just sitting around talking with friends. As a kid I would play a lot of make believe imagination games, and needless to say, I don’t think I’ve ever stopped.

What is your biggest accomplishment so far?

My biggest accomplishment so far would be actually writing a book. Really, I never thought that it was possible. The idea of writing more than thirty pages on Word intimidated me, so being able to write a full length, almost two-hundred page manuscript, was an amazing feeling. The emotion I got when I finished the last page was like nothing I’ve ever felt before—like an enthralling mix of excitement, joy, accomplishment, and uncontrollable bouncing and smiling.

What is your ultimate goal?

My ultimate goal is to tell stories that change the world. And what I mean by that doesn’t have to happen on a massive scale, it can be on a singular one. I think being able to impact someone’s life, make someone laugh, or tell them a story that they remember and reflect upon, is such an amazing and inspiring thing and is what I strive to do.

Who is someone who has inspired you most to pursue this career path?

Someone who has inspired me the most to pursue my dreams is Misha Hulett. He is my mentor and my friend. A while back— a little after the middle of senior year I believe—I was really discouraged and wondered if the dreams I was chasing were false and unrealistic hopes. I had written my first book, took a lead role in a play, and was working on my first film. I went to sit and talk with Misha because I was incredibly stressed about the book and the film. I felt as though I had no success in either realm and was distraught as to if I should continue to pursue writing and film. I wondered if God really had blessed me with talents in telling and being a part of stories. Misha sat me down, laughed, and made me realize something: I had written a full-length book, took a lead role in a play, and was working on my first film. Before that I hadn’t even stopped to fully acknowledge that, still don’t really. He showed me that God was working in me; I just had to open my eyes to it. Misha continues to show me how God is working in amazing ways in my life, and encourages me frequently. I thank Misha for that because without helping me realize what God was doing, I may have burned out months ago.

What is a regular day of work like for you?

It’s an interesting question. I think an incredibly important thing is to not label what you love, as ‘work’, because then it no longer becomes what you love. Our culture has such a negative view on the word ‘work’ that I think people forget how awesome it is! I guess that’s just a way I look at it. A typical day for me, currently though, looks something like this (It frequently fluctuates, though, depending on what my main project is):

• Contacting people, organizing events, and meetings. 1-2 hours

• Video Editing (animation, titles, graphics, footage, audio) 1-3 hours

• Managing/Advertising (websites, promotional pages, blogging pages) 2 hours

• Writing (scripts, storylines, manuscripts, ideas) varies from .5-5 hours

• Thinking/Collaborating (brainstorming, sort of) Varies 0-3 hours

I left school work and stuff out, that’s in there somewhere, but it’s hard to gauge how much time I consistently have it, do to my class schedule and always fluctuating homework schedule.

Have you done any work on camera?

Yes, I have done work on camera. I was the lead in a film I directed, which I’m not even sure if that counts. I have done a lot of smaller projects with friends, churches, schools, businesses and family.

What have you done behind camera?

I’ve been fortunate to be a part of a lot of things behind the camera. I look forward to doing more, but here’s what I’ve done:

• Wrote, directed, and produced a film last summer titled, Grasping Mutiny.

• Member of the filming and editing team of the Senior Survivor 2013 year.

• Director of a film coming out end of this year, early next year titled, The Commission.

• Wrote several scripts that are to be announced later on.

Being involved with so much, how do you motivate yourself?

There definitely is a lot going on all the time. The biggest and most important thing that keeps me motivated is why I do what I do. I believe God has blessed me with talents and passions, so my goal is to fuse those together so I can glorify my God. I love being able to make people smile and walk away with something they want to tell others about. Seeing people’s reactions to what I produce is always a nice positive motivator, especially when it’s a reaction you hoped for. I believe in the idea of taking a day off as well. I think it’s incredibly important to take one day of the week, and just relax—put everything down and just kick it.

How does it feel to be doing such big things right out of high school?

I’m so thankful to be doing what I am fresh out of high school. It’s a lot of fun and it’s an incredible feeling when things come together. When people appreciate what I make it really warms my heart and helps fuel me to do even more.

Explain to me to me your books series

My book series is titled, The Water Travelers. The story primarily follows a boy named Aaron and a girl named Madalyne. Aaron is the heir to the throne of his world, Upitar. The people of his world have the ability to go back and forth between their world and Earth, through water—they do what is called water traveling.

Before the king, Aaron’s father, is ready to deem Aaron worthy of kingship, he gives him one last task: To go to Earth, find a girl prophesied about long ago, bring her to their world, and kill her in front of everyone.

The reason is because of the prophecy. Long ago it was said that a specific girl would be the one to destroy the waterways, also destroying the world of Upitar. Although Aaron is against taking an innocent life, he agrees to the task for the sake of his world and for his people. When Aaron is searching for the girl he meets Madalyne. Friendship and romance quickly flourish between them. When it is reveled that Aaron is a water traveler (Something Madalyne’s father has sworn to hunt for the rest of his life) it is also revealed that Madalyne is the girl Aaron must kill.

Refusing to harm Madalyne, but still trying to save the people of Upitar, Aaron and Madalyne come up with the plan of trying to make Madalyne a water traveler as well. In order to do this they must go to The Keeper of Upitar, a very powerful wizard. Upon meeting him they learn he is a friendly wizard named Yerowslii. While there, Yerowslii warns Aaron that there are other worlds with other powerful keepers, and that a keeper named Herrathos is growing exceptionally powerful in dark magic.

The rest of the series deals with what Herrathos’s plans are, the other keepers and other worlds, Madalyne and Aaron’s relationship with each other, their friends, and their family, and many more things.

When are they to be released?

It will be available to all as soon as I can get it published. Currently I am seeking a literary agent, or a publisher. Once I find one of those, the book will be available shortly after, hopefully. As of now, some of it can be read online at http://danieloswalt.wordpress.com/category/the-water-travelers/

As the owner and CEO of Daniel Waltz Films, what is your role and your responsibilities?

As the owner and CEO of Daniel Waltz Films I have a lot of responsibilities and jobs. I am in charge of organizing, directing, coordinating, negotiating, and all legal issues. I oversee all advertisements, graphics, promotions, and contracts. When it comes to our film work, I have played every role from being a cameraman to being an actor. danielwaltzfilms.wordpress.com/‎

What effects do you hope your stories leave on its audience?

I hope the stories I tell will either leave people with something memorable, or they will change a part of them for the better. I want people to remember my stories—to not just walk away from them but to walk away with them.