Seminole High School and Seminole State College alumnus Matt Kappele achieved a major milestone in his filmmaking journey on Nov. 24, when his debut short film, “Cheatin’ Ain’t Easy,” was screened at the L.A. Skins Fest Native American Film Festival.

Kappele, a member of the Choctaw Nation, serves as the Upward Bound Math and Science II Coordinator at Seminole State College. He, alongside two others, created the film during the summer of 2023. He took on the roles of director, cinematographer, lighting technician and editor.

“I wanted to get something made just to say I had actually done it,” Kappele said. “It was an opportunity to learn the basics of making my own project and develop my skills.”

A Team Effort

The film features former Seminole State College Upward Bound participants Jael Salceda and Mvhvya Gravatt. Salceda took on the lead role as a student searching for a study guide moments before a test when a supernatural force intervenes, enticing her to cheat. Gravatt handled sound. Salceda is currently finishing up her associate degree at SSC and Gravatt graduated from SSC last May and is currently enrolled in the Film and Media Studies program at the University of Oklahoma.

Kappele credits SSC and its Upward Bound students for providing inspiration and support.

“Working here with such passionate young people has been a huge motivator. They’re always willing to help out and bring so much energy to the process,” he said.

Both Salceda and Gravatt joined Kappele for the screening of their film in Los Angeles.

“L.A. Skins Fest was a really eye-opening experience about the filmmaking opportunities that are out there. I got to meet some great filmmakers and network with folks from Hulu and Netflix,” Kappele said.

“Cheatin’ Ain’t Easy” was previously accepted into the Fort Smith International Film Festival in Arkansas and the Native Lens Film Festival in Pueblo, Colorado.

Early Inspirations

Kappele’s love for storytelling began early. “I’ve been interested in films ever since I was a little kid,” he said. “The first memory I have of seeing something and being like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is insane,’ was when I saw Jurassic Park in theaters. My grandma also bought me a VHS copy of King Kong vs. Godzilla, and I thought it was the greatest thing ever. Those two films were big reasons why I fell in love with movies.”

After graduating from Seminole High School in 2007, Kappele attended Seminole State College before transferring to the University of Oklahoma, where he earned a degree in communication. His foray into film began humbly—as an extra in a Gatorade commercial starring Kevin Durant.

“You can’t really see me,” Kappele laughed. “I’m way in the background during a warm-up at a Thunder game, but if you zoom in close, you can tell it’s me.” Kappele soon landed other opportunities, appearing in local commercials and a crime reenactment series on the REELZ Channel.

From 2012 to 2016, he worked with the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he started in game-day operations before becoming an associate for the OG&E Thunder Bolt, the team’s traveling marketing tool.

After leaving the Thunder, he joined The Sports Animal radio station as a producer. In addition to managing live broadcasts, he occasionally chimed in on-air during discussions about major sports events.

Future Filmmaking Goals

Outside of his role at SSC, Kappele is already hard at work on his next short film and plans to continue blending humor with eerie twists. “I love comedies and scary movies because those were my favorites growing up,” he said.

His short film “Cheatin’ Ain’t Easy” is available to watch on YouTube.

Reflecting on his journey, he emphasized the joy of storytelling. “If success comes, great. But for now, I’m focused on creating something entertaining for my family, friends and anyone who enjoys a good story.”