A Bellmore native is returning home this summer to bring his high school experience to life on the small screen.
Preston Bowman, 20, a sophomore at the Savannah College of Art and Design, is developing a television pilot based on his time building and leading a student broadcasting program at John F. Kennedy High School.
The project, a mockumentary-style comedy titled “Broadcasting 101,” draws from Bowman’s experiences as a student filmmaker and program leader, blending the structure of workplace comedies with the dynamics of high school life.
He described the series as a “love letter” to the Bellmore community, crediting teachers, classmates and local institutions for helping shape his journey.
Bowman said the idea stems directly from his years working alongside classmates to run and expand the program, an experience that continues to influence his creative approach. He is now collaborating on the pilot with fellow SCAD student Ava Frommell, who serves as a producer on the project.
Frommell said the series stands out because of its personal foundation and character-driven storytelling.
“Every single character is based on a real person from the Bellmore community,” Frommell said. “That’s what makes it feel so real and so personal.”
“It’s a workplace comedy, but through the lens of adolescents,” Bowman said. “In high school, being in that program truly felt like a workplace.”
Bowman, who studies film and television production with a minor in advertising, said his interest in filmmaking began early. After starting out as a child actor, he became increasingly drawn to writing and directing, eventually deciding to pursue a career behind the camera.
That passion carried into his high school years, where he played a key role in building a broadcasting program that grew from a small group of students into a full elective course. He said the experience shaped both his creative development and his sense of collaboration.
“I am eager to see this project come to fruition,” said Brad Seidman, a social studies teacher at John F. Kennedy High School and faculty advisor for Cougar TV. “Preston’s time in the Broadcasting program at Kennedy was filled with laughter and creativity, and I am sure this work will reflect that.”
“I think I love the people as much as I love what I do,” Bowman said. “That was something I really realized after I left for college.”
Frommell, who met Bowman at SCAD and has worked with him on multiple projects, said their collaborative relationship has been a strong foundation for the pilot’s development.
“We’ve worked on dozens of projects together at this point, and we work very closely on pretty much everything we do,” she said.
Bowman is channeling those experiences into his pilot script, which he began writing in November 2024 with a fellow student. After about a year of development, the pair completed the pilot earlier this year and are preparing to film it independently as proof of concept.
Production is scheduled for July and will take place in Bellmore, including scenes at Kennedy High School, pending filming logistics, according to a school spokesperson.
The shoot is expected to span 10 days and involve a crew of roughly 80 people.
A GoFundMe campaign titled “Backing Preston’s Film Pilot Journey” has also been launched to help support the production. Created by Bowman’s mother, the fundraiser has a goal of $20,000 to offset costs associated with filming, equipment and crew needs.
“To know Preston is to know how passionate, driven, and hardworking he is,” she stated. “This isn’t a summer project — it’s the groundwork to an amazing series that would both kickstart his post-collegiate life. He has created something truly special, and it will open doors in the industry for him.”
Beyond the production, Bowman is aiming to make the project a community effort. He plans to involve local students, recruit residents as extras and partner with nearby businesses for support, including catering.
“I want this production to feel like it is meant to be here,” he said. “When people watch it, I want them to feel what it was like growing up in this community.”
The pilot will focus on a group of students working in a high school broadcasting program, highlighting both the creative process and interpersonal dynamics that emerge along the way. Bowman said he has ideas spanning multiple seasons but is currently focused on producing a strong first episode to present to networks and studios.
“We want to make one really good episode and take that into pitches,” he said. “I’m going to get a thousand no’s until I get a yes.”
For Bowman, the project represents more than just a professional step forward — it is also a personal one.
“The support I’ve gotten back home — it’s really special,” Bowman said. “It feels like the community is giving back to me just as much as I’m trying to give back to it.”
