The Digg Site Productions

05/29/2026

Benjamin Reichle is a gem and we are so grateful to have him on our Board.
Educators and Mentors are an integral part of growing in the Film Industry!
Thank you Ben for all the work and heart you put it to PAY IT FORWARD (a shout out to Lew Hunter).

We are excited to announce Ben as one of our mentors for our 2026 Summer Youth Film Camp! He will be hosting a Stop-Motion animation workshop this July.

The practice of Stop Motion can be seen on family films such as: Coraline, Co**se Bride, and Chicken Run!

Benjamin Reichle is an animator and animation producer, writer, and a lover of stopmotion as a medium specifically. He grew up in small-town Cedar County NE, then moved to Lincoln to attend and graduate from the Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts. Ben co-produced, and animated sequences in, the award-winning short film Take Care, and is working on building a small arthouse animation studio named 'Paleo Pictures.'

Fun Facts:
- His favorite stop motion film is Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio or Tim Burton's Co**se Bride.

- If he could be any cartoon character he shared, "as a young boy I related to the character Hiccup from the How To Train Your Dragon films the most. I still do!"

05/12/2026

🎉 Help us wish a very happy birthday to our friend, collaborator, and Digg Site board member, Lucy Mfinanga!

Lucy is one of those rare people who can do just about anything... brilliant software engineer, incredibly talented in video production and broadcasting, and the person who somehow managed to format and get all the Macs in our office ready for students and programs.

But beyond all of her skills, Lucy is simply an amazing human. She brings talent, generosity, creativity, and heart to everything she does, and The Digg Site is better because she’s part of our crew.

Happy Birthday, Lucy! We’re so grateful for you and hope your day is as wonderful as you are. 🎬💻✨

05/08/2026

Thank you. ❤️

We’re still taking it all in.

Because of you and our incredible community, The Digg Site raised $13,420 from 34 gifts during yesterday’s Fremont Area Big Give.

Thank you. Not just for the numbers, but for what they represent. Because of your support:
* Our student workstations in our home at FilmSpark Studios are built and coming to life
* Computers are set up and being prepared for students
* More young people will have access to tuition-free, hands-on creative experiences
* And we’re continuing to build something that didn’t exist here before

What makes this even more meaningful is that this work is entirely volunteer-led. Our team shows up because we believe in what this can become, and your support is what turns that belief into something real.

This wasn’t just a fundraiser. It was momentum. It was people choosing to invest in young creators, in opportunity, and in the future of our community.

And the best part? We’re just getting started. In the coming weeks, we’ll be:
• Launching this year’s tuition-free film camps at FilmSpark Studios
• Getting students into the space and onto real projects
• Sharing more of the stories and impact you helped make possible

We can’t wait to show you what happens next.
Thank you for being part of what we’re building.

05/08/2026

Some new ideas for fundraising?
Dana Bender Reeves Lucis Sheridan Danielle M. Catron Stevi Mann Chance Guida David Weiss Lucy Mfinanga Samuel Mfinanga

Noah Wyle suited up as Dr. Robby from during a Netflix charity auction and gave two fans "physical exams" worth $36,000. https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/noah-wyle-gives-fans-physicals-dr-robby-charity-1236741621/


With the help of a professional auctioneer, the bidding started at $2,000 before climbing up to $18,000 each.

“Before we begin, you are not on any opiates, not taking any muscle relaxers, no benzos?” Wyle asked his first patient. “Your pupils are a little bit dilated, but that is understandable given you just spend [$18,000] on a physical administered by an actor.”

05/08/2026

🎬 Thank you. Truly.

This video is just a small glimpse of how grateful we are for everyone who supported The Digg Site during the Fremont Area Big Give.

Because of you, we’re not just talking about opportunity ... we’re building it.

You helped:
• Keep our programs tuition-free
• Equip student workstations at FilmSpark Studios
• Give young people real, hands-on experiences
• Create moments that build confidence and change direction

To every donor, supporter, volunteer, and person who shared our story…
We see you. We appreciate you. And this wouldn’t happen without you.

This is what community looks like.
Lights. Camera. Community. 🎥✨

https://www.fremontareabiggive.org/organizations/the-digg-site-productions

05/07/2026

🎬 We have a new trailer … and it’s incredible.

Huge shoutout to Ishma Valenti for bringing this to life, and to every single student, mentor, and crew member who made this film possible.

What you’re seeing here isn’t just a project.

It’s what happens when young people are given the chance to:
• Step onto a real set
• Work as a team
• Tell a story from start to finish

This is the Million Dollar Summer Camp - the feature film made possible through your generous donations during last year's Fremont Area Big Give, as well as support from the Nebraska Arts Council.

👉 This is what your support makes possible.

Every donation helps us create more opportunities like this that give students more experiences, more confidence, and more moments where they realize “I can do this.”

Take a minute to watch. It’s something special.

Lights. Camera. Community. 🎥✨

05/07/2026

🎬 What a day!

We’ve had a steady stream of visitors today for our Big Give Open House, and it’s been incredible to watch people see this space come to life in real time.

The student desks? ✔️ Done.
Computers? 💻 Being set up.
The 100 Crew Wall? 🔴 Starting to fill up with names.

This is what it looks like when a community shows up.

People walking in, asking questions, getting excited… and then choosing to be part of it. That’s how this gets built.

Not all at once, but piece by piece, person by person.

And the best part?

Very soon, students will be sitting at these workstations — learning, creating, and discovering what they’re capable of.

👉 We’re still going strong today!

If you haven’t joined The 100 Crew yet, there’s still time:
https://www.fremontareabiggive.org/organizations/the-digg-site-productions

Come be part of what we’re building!

Lights. Camera. Community. 🎥✨

05/07/2026

There are people who simply help run organizations, and then there are people who pour their entire heart into a mission and inspire everyone around them in the process. Dana Reeves is truly one of those people.

Dana has one of the biggest hearts of anyone I’ve ever met. She cares deeply about people, believes in lifting others up, and works tirelessly to create opportunities that make a real difference in the lives of those around her. The amount of passion, love, and dedication she brings to DiggSite Productions every single day is something special to witness.

But beyond her leadership and compassion, Dana also has an incredible ability to bring joy into every room she walks into. She is absolutely hilarious, keeps people smiling even during the most stressful moments, and reminds all of us not to take life too seriously while still working hard for something meaningful.

And behind every great person is often someone helping support them through the long hours, endless calls, and nonstop dedication that comes with building something important. A huge thank you also goes to Joel Reeves for sharing so much of Dana’s time with all of us and for the incredible amount of help, encouragement, and support he gives behind the scenes. People often don’t see the sacrifices families make while supporting a mission like this, and it means more than words can say.

We are beyond lucky to have people like Dana and Joel in our corner. Their kindness, humor, generosity, and belief in people are a huge part of what makes DiggSite Productions so special.

“A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.”

Dana Bender Reeves Joel Reeves Lucis Sheridan Danielle M. Catron David Weiss Benjamin Reichle Robert Patterson Elizabeth Hempstead Mark Popejoy Teresa Seina Stevi Mann Ken Heatherly Samuel Mfinanga Lucy
Big Dog 98.9/1340

05/07/2026

💯 The 100 Crew includes leaders.

Robert Patterson, a member of our Advisory Board, has stepped up to support our mission in so many ways for so many years.

Thank you, Robert, for believing in the work we do!

Who’s joining Robert?

👉 DONATE TODAY
https://www.fremontareabiggive.org/organizations/the-digg-site-productions

05/07/2026

🎬 Gratitude. Plain and simple.

We want to take a moment to recognize someone who just made a huge impact on what we’re building.

Dale Olson — thank you!

Dale has been a long-time supporter and friend of The Digg Site, and his recent gift is more than generous, it’s leadership.

It’s a statement that this work matters.
That these students matter.
That building a creative future in our community is worth investing in.

Because of Dale’s support, we’re able to:
• Expand access to our tuition-free programs
• Equip more student workstations at FilmSpark Studios
• Put more young people on real film sets
• Continue building something that lasts

This is what community partnership looks like.

Not just showing up once, but believing in the mission and helping move it forward in a meaningful way.

Dale, we are incredibly grateful. 🙏

If you’ve been thinking about getting involved, this is your moment.

👉 Join Dale and others who are helping make this possible
https://www.fremontareabiggive.org/organizations/the-digg-site-productions

Lights. Camera. Community. 🎥✨