Baldwin Wallace University alumnus, Steven Caple Jr., director of films such as “Creed 2,” and the upcoming movie, “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts,” was once just a dedicated student passionate about social justice.  

One of Caple’s former professors, the director of broadcasting, Joe Tarantowski, said that Caple always went above and beyond in his courses.  

“He wasn’t just standing around waiting for something to do,” Taranotowski said. “He was very hard working. If the assignment asked for a scene, he would shoot a whole movie instead.”  

Caple is a BW alumnus who graduated in 2010 with a bachelors in both film studies and marketing. Caple went on to continue his education at the University of Southern California where many notable filmmakers, such as “Star Wars’s” George Lucas and “Black Panther’s” Ryan Coogler, have attended.  

Five years after graduating from USC, he got the opportunity to direct “Creed 2,” which despite it being his first big break, he was hesitant to direct. 

 “We often had conversations about stories that actually mean something to people. Stories that were not about explosions or making money,” Tarantowski said. “He wasn’t interested in doing “Creed 2” because he didn’t want to be tied down to a franchise.”  

Molly Swiger, a professor of communications arts and sciences, met Caple while he was still in high school at a Summer Scholars program. Swiger said that even at that young age Caple was constantly hard at work writing scripts.  

“He was very quiet, but he just did his stuff. He had a website, was writing scripts all the time [and] producing films. He was working all the time,” Swiger said. 

While being his professor, Swiger said that they saw the love Caple has for humanity and the importance it had in his stories. 

“He was about the work and still is. He had a sort of social justice view when it came to making movies and how it could combine with storytelling. He was passionate about filmmaking and social consciousness. Having something more than financial success and giving marginalized people a voice is what motivated him to get out there,” Swiger said. 

Tarantowski said that in “Creed 2,” Caple’s love for humanity was evident.  

“Drago [the reoccurring Rocky villain], everyone loves to hate him. He killed Apollo Creed [Rocky’s supporting character] and is made out to be a villain. It’s not until “Creed 2” that you get his perspective about what it’s like to go back to your country after losing. What it’s like to be hated in both America and Russia and what one will do to get respect back. It makes him more sympathetic and more human,” Tarantowski said.