Directing For The Camera

Personal * Biography * Instruction * Honors * Associations *  Feature Films * Television * Theatre * Publications *Professional

PERSONAL

Address:
2804 Maryland Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21218
410 467 9565
fax 410 467 9592

syeager2@aol.com

BIOGRAPHY

Steve Yeager is a native of Baltimore, MD and has been a part of the area’s film and theatre scene for over twenty-five years. He studied theatre at Towson University in Baltimore, directing at the Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and filmmaking at the Rockport, Maine Cinema Workshops.

In 1972, he directed his first play, John Steinbeck's OF MICE AND MEN at the Spotlighters Theatre in Baltimore. The production featured a young Howard Rollins, Jr. (Academy Award nominee for Best Supporting Actor for RAGTIME) in his very first acting role. Throughout the Seventies, Yeager directed extensively in the Baltimore/Washington region. In 1978, he wrote and directed a production of DR. JEKYLL & MR. HYDE that featured a recent University of Maryland graduate, now film actress, Kathleen Turner. From 1980 -1983, Yeager was founder and artistic director of a semi-professional theatre group, The Baltimore Theatre Company. His direction of David Rabe's STREAMERS was voted one of the best area productions by Baltimore’s alternative periodical The City Paper.

In 1984, Steve decided to devote himself full-time to his other passion, filmmaking. For the past twenty-two, he has worked in the film/video industry as a cinematographer, editor, producer, and director. In 1985, he won the Grand Prize for Best Documentary at the Houston International Film Festival for AQUARIUM, a ten-minute movie on the National Aquarium in Baltimore. In 1991, Yeager produced and directed his first full-length film, ON THE BLOCK, which featured Towson University alumnus Jerry Whidden, Bob DeFrank, and the late Howard Rollins, Jr. The script, which Yeager co-wrote with another Towson alumni, Linda Chambers, was originally written by Steve and Towson University professor Dr. C. Richard Gillespie.

In 1992, Yeager began a four year association with the Fox TV show AMERICA’S MOST WANTED, where he produced and directed crime re-enactment segments.

Between 1993 –1996, Steve produced and directed TRACES and SPARE THE CHILD, two half hour pilots for cable TV networks.

In January, 1998 Steve Yeager received his highest accolade to date, the Best Documentary Award at the Sundance Film Festival for DIVINE TRASH, his feature film on the early career of Baltimore director John Waters. The film, which had its World Premiere at the Senator Theatre in Baltimore in May, 1998, benefitted the Towson University Theatre Scholarship Fund.

The following year, February, 1999, Yeager began production on IN BAD TASTE, the sequel to Divine Trash for the Independent Film Channel and Bravo cable networks. The film covered John Waters’ career after the release of his most infamous film PINK FLAMINGOS. It aired in January, 2000.

Yeager’s latest narrative film, THE CONNECTION, a 40^th anniversary re-make of Shirley Clarke’s controversial 1961 film of the Obie-winning 1959 stage play by Jack Gelber, was screened at the Maryland Film Festival in Baltimore in May, 2001.

INSTRUCTION

The Summer Institute at The American University, Washington, D.C. 1992 – 93, Directing the Corporate Actor, Film/Video Single Camera Production
Acting for the Camera Workshops, various locations in the Baltimore/Washington area, 1988 to present
Towson University, Baltimore,  Acting for the Camera, Directing for the Camera, 1996 to present    
Villa Julie College, Baltimore,  Film Production, Non-linear Editing, Theatre Directing, 1998 to 2001
Young Filmmakers Workshop at Park School, Summer 2001 to present
Rockport International Film Workshops, Rockport, MA Faculty Mentor, 2004-2005

HONORS

Steve Yeager Theatre Endowment Scholarship established at Towson University, 2002
1998 Honored Alumnus Award, Towson University Department of Theatre Arts, 1998

ASSOCIATIONS

Women In Video & Film of Maryland
Washington, D.C. International Television Association
Independent Feature Project – East

FEATURE FILMS

BEYOND THE BRIDGE The Howard Rollins Story , 2006, Producer/Director, Writer (work-in-progress) 55 minute version screened at the Senator Theatre, October, 2006.

THE CONNECTION, 2002,  Director, Co-Producer, Editor, Adaptation., 40^th Anniversary Re-make of Shirley Clarke’s 1961 film based on the 1959 Obie-winning stage play by Jack Gelber. 

DIVINE TRASH, 1998,  Director, Co-producer, Co-Writer. Documentary on the early career of Baltimore filmmaker, John Waters. Winner Filmmakers Trophy for Best Documentary Sundance Film Festival, 1998.

ON THE BLOCK,  1991,  Producer, Director, Co-Writer.  Theatrical distribution. Official entry in the Cannes Film Festival out-of-competition market, 1991.

TELEVISION

IF THE BOUGH BREAKS, 2006, Producer/Director. Documentary on the medical malpractice crisis in Maryland featuring Dr.Carol Ritter.
Broadcast MPT &WETA, Spring, 2006
IN BAD TASTE, Director, Co-Producer, Co-Writer, John Waters’ documentary sequel to Divine Trash,
           Independent Film Channel, 1999.
AMERICA’S MOST WANTED,  1992 – 96,  Producer/director of crime re-enactment segments.

THEATRE

Founder and Artistic Director of the Baltimore Theatre Company at Christ’s Church,  1979 – 82.
Directed over two dozen theatrical productions including:

A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE MASTER HAROLD and the boys LOVE LETTERS   THE CONNECTION        TRYING TO FIND CHINATOWN STEEL MAGNOLIAS STREAMERS BURIED CHILD                SLAG                                 JEKYLL & HYDE             MARGUERITE      OF MICE AND MEN

The Vagabond Players, Baltimore The Vagabond Players, Baltimore The Audrey Herman Spotlighters Theatre, Baltimore Villa Julie College, Baltimore Fells Point Corner Theatre, Baltimore Colonial Players, Annapolis, MD Maryland Correctional Facilities, Summer Program Baltimore Theatre Co. Baltimore Theatre Co The Vagabond Players, Baltimore Corner Theatre, Baltimore Spotlighters Theatre, Baltimore

 PUBLICATIONS    

MY SON, DIVINE with Frances Milstead and Kevin Heffernan. Published Christmas, 2001
           Biography of character actor, Divine (Glenn Milstead) by his mother.