Scott Tompkins

The following post reflects only the opinion of the author and commenters and not the members and organizers of Michigan Movie Makers. 01-26-15

If you haven’t already heard, Scott Tompkins was arrested. We don’t know if the allegations are true, but we do know how Scott has helped our community over the years. M3 will host a page of support with stories and testimonials from his friends, students and peers.

Again, this is not a debate about the charges, that’s for the courts. We’re interested in straight up documentation of what Scott has done for each of us. A paragraph is good, more if you’re really inspired. We’ll post whatever we have late next week and add as we go. Email to [m3 AT michigan movie makers DOT com].

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Hello to the people who have thought of Scott Tompkins as “a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder” (Rumi):

This is Mary Tompkins, Scott’s Tompkins’ spouse. It is prudent for me remain distant from the sexual abuse allegations because it does not pertain to my personal experience with Scott. I must let the judicial process take its steps toward justice and believe the outcome will be just.  At this point in time, I want to help the people Scott has supported keep their appreciation of him pure. To those Scott has positively affected by his genuine compassion, please keep your appreciation for Scott free from the media frenzy surrounding this case. After living with him for more than thirty years I can state: His personal goal has always been to be a good man with good intentions while helping others.

Mary Tompkins
10-23-14

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Four years ago, I went to the Career Tech Center for a private visitation, as I had been absent when the rest of my school went. The two classes that were on my list to visit were VIT (CTC’s graphic design program), and Film and New Media. Since I was 8 years old, I’ve spent every bit of spare time I could muster making videos, so naturally, FNM was the first class room I wanted to visit. Upon entering the classroom, I was instantly struck by a feeling of welcome and comfort. There was a perfect creative ambiance created by alternative music playing in the background, and the students were moving about freely, working on their individual projects. Nothing in the class room gave off a vibe of welcome more than the six foot something man who walked up to me and gave me a handshake with a hand large enough to completely envelop mine.

This was my first exposure to the Film and New Media program, but more importantly, it was the first time I met the amazing man named Scott Tompkins. Through the years that I spent in contact with Scott, he has done nothing but do everything he could possibly do to help me along my way and to make sure I succeed. Countless times, Scott would make a drive from Suttons Bay to Traverse just to unlock the door and help me check out equipment. He has always been there to give me a gentle push in the right direction. Because of Scott Tompkins and his incredible support, I have learned and accomplished more than I ever would have believed possible.

Beyond the phenomenal academic support and time he took out of his personal life to help me in my career, Scott has become a very close friend. I never felt like he was a teacher who I should be afraid to speak to about anything other than the lesson, he always treated me like an adult; like a peer. Anyone who knows Scott knows that he is always light-hearted, cracking jokes, and making the best out of every situation. Everyone he came into contact to, he changed their lives for the better, even if he only knew them for a short period of time. Scott has always had a somewhat fatherly feel both inside and outside of his class. I am wholeheartedly convinced that if I had taken the exact same program, with the exact same students, and the exact same curriculum, I wouldn’t have gotten an eighth of the education I got while learning with Scott.

Scott has been, and always will be, someone I look up to; and he will always be someone whose input I hold in the highest esteem. I remember my last day at CTC, Scott took a personal day to drive me to Detroit for a scholarship award that a piece I had created was up for. During the drive, we covered everything from projects I was working on, how it felt being done with school, and everything in between. On the return trip, he voiced an idea that he had had for a documentary. There was an investor who wanted to have an idea pitched to him by students.  He didn’t care what the project was; he just wanted it to be done largely by students. Scott spent the entire drive home brainstorming with me about what this documentary could be about. Every idea he had revolved around helping people. He wanted to do a documentary that brought couch surfing (a person who has no home, so they spend their time going from couch to couch at a friends house) to light, educating the world on the scale of this issue. This is something that has the most impact on teens growing up in broken or financially unstable homes, and Scott’s only interest was to try to do something to help the kids in this situation. He had ideas for international documentaries; going to South America and creating a system similar to pen pals, where young oppressed women could have someone to talk to.

Alright, I’ll try to wrap this up. As long as I’ve known Scott Tompkins, his only interest has been to help people and students do everything they could to succeed. This man has one of the greatest personalities I have ever had the pleasure of encountering, and he has a heart of gold. He has dedicated his entire life to helping students learn, and sacrificed an incredible amount of his personal life to do so. I will always consider Scott to be the greatest teacher I’ve ever had, the most influential voice that’s helped get me on my career path, one of my best friends, and a man who I look up to; a man who has spent his life trying to help others become successful.

Jake Burgess
10-29-14
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Some people just exude friendliness.  That is Scott Tompkins.  Always quick with a smile, a warm word, and an offer to help, Scott never fails to make me smile.  He is the kind of genuine and altruistic gentleman that makes you feel like being a better person.  Even better is the way people talk about him.  Whether students or local filmmakers, those people who have learned from or worked with Scott cannot help but passionately sing his praises.  These are rare qualities, indeed.

Jeff Morgan
Owner
Prometheus Motion Pictures
10-30-14
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Scott Tompkins was one of the very first to get behind the idea of building a regional movie community – in 2011 he posted the first comment on the then brand new Michigan Movie Makers blog. I’ve had a family member graduate from the Film and New Media program that Scott established at the Career Tech Center and move onto a successful career in the industry. My company has taken on 4 interns from the FNM program. I’ve worked closely with Scott as past Chairmen of the FNM professional Advisory Board, presented in his classroom and worked with him on productions outside of FNM.

Scott is a generous and compassionate guy. I’ve seen students bloom under his guidance and encouragement. Before Scott and the FNM program, most young people in our region might have thought a career in movies was a remote possibility.

A viable local movie industry needs dreams and enthusiasm just as much as experience, and Scott brought all of this together.

Scott has been an asset to the our growing regional community – especially our aspiring directors, camera operators, sound engineers, etc. who have enjoyed a dedicated advocate in Scott Tompkins.

Dan Kelly
President
Artist house, Inc.
10-31-14
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Scott Tompkins is one of the most important and influential people in my life. In the almost four years I’ve known him, all I’ve ever seen him do is go above and beyond for each and every student, peer and friend he has. Especially myself. I’ve been in Scott’s Film and New Media class since its trial run in the summer of 2011. And in the small amount of time I was actually enrolled in his class – my last full year of high school – he taught me so much about film and gave me every possible resource, including getting me on my first film sets. Now, three years since, he’s still been helping me build my career while doing the same for every batch of new students since. I am now directing a widely successful web series and I would never have been able to even get started without Scott Tompkins. I owe him everything I have. All my success, all of my friends, and most of my happiness is because of what he’s done for me. He has always been there for me whether I needed a camera, a pep talk or a hug. Scott Tompkins loves everyone and is beloved by all who meet him for that very reason. He has never given up on me, and his belief in me has helped me so much. He’s family. To all who know him, he’s the family member that wasn’t born into your family but is family nonetheless. His love for his students is inspirational and crucial. He’s always been there to talk about anything a student might need to talk about. And sometimes, that’s exactly what a child, teen or even adult needs. My love and gratitude for Scott Tompkins is as limitless as the good he’s done for others. Because he is one of the best people I have ever known. We love you, Scott. Xoxo.

Naomi Javor
10-31-14
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Being an optimist can be a lonely thing sometimes. The world does not always appreciate us, believe it or not.  I met Scott Tompkins and found a kindred spirit most definitely. He believes that all people are good, and that we can leave this world a nicer, lovelier place. Kids who didn’t have communities found their way to his classroom, and he built one for them. I’ve seen him give students Christmas cards full of money when their families were down and out and stock the class cupboards with Ramen noodles for any and all hungry bellies. Sometimes all he had to offer was art – music, photography, film – and that kept them alive, too.

One time on a whim, I asked him if he wanted to start a ukulele band with me, and instead of laughing, his eyes lit up with adventure. We had our ukes the following week. The band never really took off, but he believed it could of, and that’s why I love my friend Scott. More than once I got a text around 9pm from him, right as I was feeling weary from a long day at work and a long evening of getting my kids to bed, and it would beseech me to walk to the end of the driveway and look northwest or southeast or wherever the constellations were the brightest that night. And I would. I would stand at the end of my dark driveway and look wherever he instructed because there was always something lovely to see.

He believes in magic. He believes in people and art and beauty. I will be forever grateful to know another person who does.

Sarah Bernstein
10-31-14
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Scott has been an inspiration for many kids in our area to take charge of their futures, to embrace their skills, and to face the fear of not knowing what to do, but to take action and find a way forward. Many times, I’ve seen Scott vouch for kids when looking for help on my projects. He has always been there to help me, and has an ear on the ground to help any of his students to get real-world experience by working on professional video projects. He volunteers when there is no money, and throws himself into any project where a hand is needed. I wish Scott the best in the face of these allegations.

Bill Latka
11-01-14
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Cut class, go to art class. When I was in geometry, I would finish all of my work as fast as I could, so I could ask to go to the art room. Not only am I terrible at math, but I fell in love with all things art because of Mr. Tompkins. Even though I graduated in 09, he’s still a leader, my teacher, my inspiration and I respect him for the high position he held in my school career.

This is the person who taught me how to draw. For our warm ups, he would have us draw magazine pictures upside down. He trained us to draw what we see in the world- as we see it, and as our eyes grace the lines down a photo, our hand would (hopefully) slowly match it. He taught me the most important thing in my life that launched my career. He never let anyone genuinely give up, even the people who didn’t do anything in class, he’d essentially trick them into having fun on their work. He’s innovative, creative, inspiring and someone I even cried to; supportive.

He always gave EVERY single person a chance, no matter who they were, or what line of crap they gave him trying to get out of work; he understands people. I truly believe that my life wouldn’t be where it’s at if I didn’t get the support, advice and great critiques from him being my teacher. Mr. Tompkins is a phenomenal person in general, friendly, warm smile and so welcoming. There was no where else in the school I’d rather be than in his art room, hanging out, helping other students, or working on my own art. It was my safe haven, my comfort room, and it seemed more like a home than a classroom. I feel as though that’s how he taught us- to treat it like a home, and the art students were all family, and he would serve as a bear-like den mother. There was hardly ever a negative aura in the art room, because everyone there respected him. Even my parents respect him, know his name, and face because of all the times I talked about him, or said how awesome he is.

I truthfully believe he is a person that anyone would want to know, and if they don’t know him, they are missing a ray of sunshine. They say that as you get older, you end up forgetting names of classmates; well I’ve already forgotten a few. This is one name and face I will never forget because it’s impossible to forget your Hero. He made every day worth getting out of bed and going to school, just knowing at some point I would be able to see my favorite teacher, genuinely laugh and be inspired, get a hug if I was crying, and be picked up. I even tell strangers about him, “This is the person who taught me how to draw.” I think that’s a huge accomplishment, knowing you’ve impacted someone’s life that much. He is truly a celebrity to me, who I’ve based so much of my life from his teachings.

I cherish you Mr. Tompkins, and I wish you the best through these times. I wish it was easy for me to pick you up as many times as you’ve helped me. Some days I may not have made it if it weren’t for you. You save lives with your love and compassion, and it will never go unnoticed. Thank you for EVERYTHING.

Cathryn Almeter
11-01-14
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The first time I met “Mr. T” was 6th grade, he was my special ED teacher. I was so embarrassed about having to go to his class only because I learned differently and more slowly than my other class mates. He was and still is the most kind and caring person I have ever met he made me feel good about myself and treated me no different than any other student and I continued to be in his class until 8th grade but then the sad realization of that being my last year with him hit me because I was moving into high school and it broke my heart, I thought what am I going to do without my FAVORITE teacher? 9th grade no sooner came and I went to sign up for some filler classes and saw that Scott Tompkins (Mr. T) was the new art teacher! I couldn’t have been more thrilled, needless to say I signed up for his class. High school was a hard place for me, I still had special ED classes and the small group of friends I had went to TBA. I was alone a lot and bullied like most kids are now a days. Scott would take me under his wing and give me a safe place to hang out, eat lunch and just be myself. Scott was like a second father to me, he guided me and cared for me as if I was his own daughter. Even after I graduated we kept in touch through the media, he ALWAYS wished me happy birthdays and would just check up on me to make sure I was living life to the fullest. Every once in a while we would run into each other whether it be at the mall, book store, grocery etc. and even now as a married adult  with two beautiful girls, I would hug him like no time had passed. Hearing about this hits me hard and even now as I write this it makes me cry. He will and forever be my favorite teacher, hero and guide. Thank you Scott Tompkins for all you have and continue to be for me. Much love.

Brianna Nolff-Peterman
Former student/friend
11-02-14
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I was an exchange student from Germany in 2011. So I only knew Mr. Tompkins for 1 year, but my experience wouldn’t have been the same without him. My love to art made me spent every day and almost every class in his art room. He helped me getting included into the school and getting good friendships with students. Sometimes I spent my lunch breaks at his art room painting or I stayed hours after school to work on projects that he motivated me to do. He trusted me with his art room even he barely knew me, but he just truts in people, and I think, that’s how human beings should be. I truly have never met a better person than Scott Tompkins! He helps in every situation and makes life just better. I wouldn’t be where I am now without him. He taught, helped and supported me so much in film and media design and art that I wanted and was able to go to an art school in Germany after this year. Scott Tompkins helped me to find my way and I am so thankful for that.

He didn’t care where students came from or what histories they had. He included everybody and made every single person feel important. Everybody was welcome at his art room, even students who didn’t have art classes. I think a lot of students wouldn’t have had so much fun at High School without him – and some wouldn’t even have graduated without the hope he gave them.

Even two years after my exchange year we were still in contact because Mr. Tompkins is a person who really cares about people and their lives. I still look up to him because he is my inspiration for life.

With best regards,
Jacqueline May
11-02-14
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Mr. Tompkins and I taught together at Suttons Bay from 2008-2011. Mr. Tompkins is a tremendous teacher, mentor, and friend. In my time at Suttons Bay, Mr. Tompkins went out of his way to help me in my struggles as a new educator. His door was always open and I felt that he would do whatever he could to help me connect with our students.

I was often in Mr. Tompkins’ classroom due to our collegiality and also the physical proximity of the band room (where I taught) to the art room. I was often in Mr. Tompkins’ room unannounced and observed an incredible learning community. Mr. Tompkins is truly a master educator who not only opened up the world of visual art to his students but also gave them a sense of belonging. Mr. Tompkins’ art room is truly a model for a quality learning environment. In my three years, I never observed anything that could have been considered an inappropriate relationship or exchange between himself and his students.

Alan Posner
11-02-14
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Okay, I am not a really good writer. I don’t make art with my words. But what I can do is tell everyone how wonderful I will always think Scott Tompkins is. He always made me feel extremely welcome, and helped boost my confidence in myself, especially on my creative side. I watched him help my friend, Naomi Javor, get her web series started. I watched him help her make her dream come true. That alone is enough for him to have my respect. I will always think he was one of the best people I’ve ever met, and I will always remember him as a very good friend.

Brandy Strouse
11-02-14
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Scott Tompkins can only be described with the word ORENDA. (a supernatural force believed by the Iroquois as the spiritual force by which human accomplishment is attained and accounted for.)

Scott’s world is busy as he works to change the world around him for the better.  He is involved in so many things as a mentor, educator, filmmaker, photographer, colleague, grandfather, father, husband, life coach, and friend.  His goals are attainable with diversions to experience the true joy in life and with each person and adventure in front of him. Scott listens to your words with his heart.   Scott is a force and has made a difference in my life that is immeasurable.

I met Scott Tompkins when he was in charge of an area of the Traverse City Lib Dub video that was supported by the Traverse City Film Festival. (One of his many volunteer positions).   Motivator was his role on this day.   My husband dragged to participate to this event, Scott helped my husband through the agonizing two hours and four takes of this video production with humor and stories of his life.   After learning of all of Scott’s accomplishments in our community, he invited me to see what magic looked like at film school at the TC Film Festival.

That invitation led to 5 years of support of the Film Festival alongside Scott and his TBA students.  As we all worked seamlessly together and with mutual respect the 40+ hour volunteer position went almost too quickly. Magic was the right word to describe this production.   Asking myself what makes a teenager want to give up their freedom during summer to videotape a weeklong event when they could be at the beach?  That answer would be the strong mentor that supports and guides students not only as a teacher but invested in their lives.   Each TBA students I have worked with over the years at film school had a story. Each story is diverse and Scott Tompkins has invested his time in being their guide in setting goals and attaining them to the best of their ability.

Scott doesn’t give up on anyone.  His friendship and guiding force with his students has led him to rewards. Watching a student excel, be proud of themselves, accomplish the difficult, and succeed in any size goal are rewards that Scott has gained from his many years of enriching lives.  His instruction was not just about computers and film but about life.   As an educator myself sometimes the thing that matters the most is when someone just wants to feel safe and can trust in someone.

My heart is with this strong joyful man as he faces this challenge in front of him.

Mrs. Angela Jane Persik Gorenflo
Third Grade Teacher
Long Lake Elementary School
11-02-14