Washington College Grad Wins Oscar

Chestertown, MD — Tamara Tiehel Stedman, who graduated from Washington College in 1986, captured an Oscar last night in the short film—live action category for "My Mother Dreams the Satan's Disciples in New York." The film is a mother/daughter/biker comedy about a Midwestern housewife who travels to Manhattan for the first time and begins to spin a fantasy about the seemingly malevolent motorcycle club housed across the street from her daughter's East Village apartment.

Stedman, 35, has a degree in international relations. At the urging of her sister, Amy, a freelance producer based in New York who also graduated from Washington College, she became a script editor in Philadelphia, then entered the American Film Institute in Hollywood as one of 28 producing fellows. Invited back with seven other students for a second year, Stedman earned a master's degree and worked on making "My Mother Dreams." Working primarily for the Discovery Channel and its subsidiary, The Learning Channel, over the past two years, Stedman has produced several documentaries, including "Super Racers," a two-hour special featuring interviews with notable race car drivers and team owners such as Mario Andretti and Paul Newman.

This is the first Academy Award nomination for producer Stedman and director Barbara Schock. Prior to its nomination for the Academy Award, the film won top honors as the best short film at Naples, was honored by the Directors Guild of America, and won the Palm Springs International Short Film Festival. The film was the only American film nominated and the only one shot in 16 mm.

Tammy Tiehel married Nike executive Bill Stedman last year in Kent County, MD. She is expecting her first child in May. Speaking recently with Trish McGee in the Kent County News about her upcoming award, Stedman said she chose Washington College because of the interest the College showed in her as a prospective student, including a personal letter from the director of admissions.

"It was such a warm feeling and made a big impression on me."

She discovered her interest in film in a class at the College in 1985. "Ever since that class, I had been intrigued by film making but didn't believe I could make a living at it."

With an Oscar to her credit, Stedman should have no worries about her prospects.