His very first film was selected for screening at the competitive San Francisco Documentary Film Festival, May 12-21. “I feel lucky,” said Therkelsen, who majored in liberal studies in the College of Continuing Studies and was a 2004-2005 Undergraduate Research Scholar while at Rider. “There are some amazing films being produced and the opportunity to screen mine among them is quite an honor. San Francisco is a good city for documentaries.”

Exploring the dynamics in his own close-knit family, the title of his 40 minute film, “The Best of Everything,” captures a poignant moment which hints to the overall themes of the piece.

“It is a personal documentary that explores a pivotal point in the evolution of a family,” maintains Therkelsen. “Told through a creative assemblage of home videos, old photographs and new video footage, the film explores a family facing their hopes, dreams, ambitions and regrets as the parents prepare for retirement and an empty nest while their 20-something children set out for the real world. It touches upon universal themes relating to families regardless of cultural background. I’ve always enjoyed exploring and telling stories.”

Therkelsen made the film with the support of an Undergraduate Research Scholar Award from the University, using equipment and editing facilities of Rider’s communication department. It was shot and edited over a one year time period mostly in Lawrenceville and Washington, D.C. Footage was also included from New Zealand, Costa Rica, England, Spain, Germany and Puerto Rico.

Therkelsen credits his greatest influences in the world of film as Alan Berliner, Ross McElwee, Werner Herzog and Richard Leacock, just to name a few. Currently a graduate student in the film and electronic media program at American University in Washington, D.C., he is working on a few projects, among them: a piece about a sculpture center in Washington, D.C. and its battle with the District of Columbia in an eminent domain land use issue and a piece funded through the Goethe Institute, which compares The European Recovery Act after WWII with the present aid given to Iran and Afghanistan.

He credits Rider’s Drs.Tom Simonet and Barry Janes in the communication department for contributing to his professional growth. “They were always so eager to help out, so easy to approach,” said Therkelsen. “Tom Simonet continues to help me out. I am very grateful to him for all of his enthusiasm, help and guidance.”