Mi sep web

RETURN TO S.OREGON SPOTLIGHT

BLACK ROAD ON SET IN NORTH BEND

ROB THIELKE

Remembering R me emb beriin ng A Seattle Icon

THE LOCATION ISSUE: Long Beach • Leavenworth Albany • Bellingham & More

2 MEDIA INC. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

MEDIA INC. 3

CONTENTS

VOLUME 29 • OCTOBER/NOVEMBER

PUBLISHER

James R. Baker EDITOR

Katie Sauro ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Mary Erickson STAFF WRITERS

Crystal Foley, Stephanie Hoover STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Regan MacStravic SALES MANAGER

Katie Higgins SALES

Eric Iles, Steve Joseph GENERAL MANAGER

John Rusnak PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Kelly Baker PRODUCTION MANAGER

Sonija Kells

21

DESIGNERS

Ciara Pickering, Sam Rockwell, Liz Weickum

Twin Peaks began filming in early September in North Bend and surrounding areas. Photo by Michael Martin

WEBMASTER

Jon Hines

FEATURES

47

DANGER DIVA LIGHTS UP SEATTLE

8

ROB THIELKE: REMEMBERING A SEATTLE ICON

49

RED DOOR FILMS SECURES MULTIPLE TELLY AWARDS

12

HOMECOMING FINISHES PRODUCTION IN PORTLAND

51

A FATHER AND SON TEAM UP TO MAKE INDIE FILM IN PORTLAND

19

THE WINDING STREAM GETS THEATRICAL RELEASE

53

TRUE COLORS: A CONVERSATION WITH JOHN DAVIDSON

21

RETURN TO TWIN PEAKS

54

45

LUNDGRENS RELEASE BLACK ROAD

CHILD ACTORS: IN IT FOR THE FUN OR FAME?

57

A SIZZLING SUMMER FOR WATER BUFFALO

7

THE RAINFOREST LAUNCH PARTY

11

EIGHT MORE YEARS: LEGISLATIVE WIN IN OREGON

FILM FESTIVALS

15

LYNN SHELTON, MEGAN GRIFFITHS DEVELOPING SERIES WITH HBO

59

SEATTLE SHORTS FESTIVAL CELEBRATES FIVE YEARS

17

INSIDE THE STROWLER-VERSE

61

SHORT CUTS

65

HERSKOWITZ JOINS ASHLAND TO PROGRAM FESTIVAL

68

FILM FLOURISHES WITH THREE FALL FESTIVALS IN THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS

70

SEATTLE SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL CELEBRATES LOCAL FILMMAKERS

LOCATIONS 25

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!

26

EXPLORING OREGON

27

A HISTORIC JOURNEY THROUGH ALBANY

28

C2 CATTLE COMPANY

29

LEAVENWORTH: A BAVARIAN GEM

31

BE INSPIRED IN BELLINGHAM, WA

32

LONG BEACH PENINSULA: THE COAST WITH THE MOST

33

EVERETT AWAITS...

4 MEDIA INC. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

LISTS 35

FILM OFFICE GUIDE

41

LOCATION MANAGERS/SCOUTS

OFFICE MANAGER

Audra Higgins INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER

Lois Sanborn COVER

Twede’s Cafe in North Bend, Washington, will reprise its role as the Double R Diner in the revived Twin Peaks series. Photo by Michael Martin

Media InC Publishing Group 14240 Interurban Ave. S.,Suite 190 Tukwila, WA 98168 (206) 382-9220, (800) 332-1736 Fax (206) 382-9437 Email: media@media-inc.com www.media-inc.com Display Advertising. Call Media Index Publishing Group for a current rate card. Discounts for frequency advertising. Advertising confirmation deadline is the 30th of the month prior to issue publication. Advertising mechanicals are due the 5th of the month of issue.

All submitted materials become the property of Media Index Publishing Inc. and will not be returned.

Subscriptions. Annual subscriptions to Media Inc. (6 issues) are $15 (+$2.20 if sent to WA address); two-year subscription is $30.00 (+$3.30 if sent to WA address).

Send check or money order to Media Index Publishing Inc., or call (206) 382-9220 with VISA or M/C. Back issues of Media Inc. are available at Media Index Publishing Inc. offices at the cost of $5 plus shipping.

Copyright © 2015 Media Index Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be copied by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording by any information storage or retrieval system, without the express written permission of the publisher. Printed in USA

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

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6 MEDIA INC. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

THE RAINFOREST

LAUNCH PARTY O Photos courtesy of Capestany Films

n August 29, a launch party for the television pilot The Rainforest was held at 7 Cedars Casino in Sequim, Washington.

The party featured a presentation

by Scott A. Capestany, the show’s creator, writer, director and executive producer, as well as cast introductions, live music from singer/songwriter Melanie Dekker, catered food, raffle and gaming.

At press time, the pilot was set to begin filming in late September in various Olympic Peninsula locations.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

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O

n August 16, actor Rob Thielke, best known to Northwest viewers as the eccentric “Vern Fonk” in the Vern Fonk Insurance TV commercials, passed away after a long battle with colon cancer. Here, Brett Stevenson, owner of ad agency Stevenson Advertising, expounds on his friendship with Thielke and the legacy he leaves behind:

My friend, Rob Thielke, spent most of his life with the world thinking his name was Vern Fonk. For 24 years, Rob played the character on TV that everyone knows as Vern.

Rob died Sunday, August 16, after a battle with cancer. He was just 50 years old.

When I first met the real Vern Fonk, a larger-than-life insurance agent on Stone Way in the Fremont area, he said he wanted to do TV advertising and sent me to his daughter, Rene. Rene hired my brand new ad agency and we dreamed up commercials for Vern’s insurance agency. One of the first commercials required someone to play the role of Vern Gump, a takeoff on the Forrest Gump movie.

One of Vern’s salesmen, Rob Thielke, volunteered to play Vern Gump. I met Rob and Rene at Green Lake with my cameraman, Trent Woolford. Trent and I were shocked to see that Rob had shaved the sides of his head to look just like Forrest Gump. I remember saying to Trent, “Man, this guy is really committed to this little role!”

What followed was the first of hundreds of commercials that have shocked, offended or delighted Northwest television viewers for over 20 years. The commercials created a large cult following of Vern Fonk fans. It was impossible to go anywhere with Rob, without people yelling, “Vern!” or stopping him on the street for an autograph or selfie. I could tell that Rob loved the attention but

In Memoriam Media Inc. readers wrote in with their thoughts and memories of Rob Thielke and what his loss means to the community.

Here is just a small selection of those comments.

So very sorry to hear of this wonderful man’s passing. He will be greatly missed. I’ve enjoyed his crazy stupid commercials for years.

Even when I was down his commercials could make me laugh. RIP “Vern Fonk”. Honk, honk! – A J 8 MEDIA INC. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

ROB THIELKE REMEMBERING A SEATTLE ICON Photos courtesy of Brett Stevenson

Brett Stevenson (right) with good friend and TV icon Rob Thielke.

was always amazed that so many people recognized him and loved him.

The other part of the Vern Fonk phenomena was the suc-

Rob brought joy to sooooooo many people with his whit, crazy facial expressions and wonderful sense of humor. May the FONK be with him!! I will HONK each time I pass his old ofice. – Jeff Ruffner I love his commercials, seems like a guy you want to have a beer with. this is sad. – David Koppenhofer Very sad day. Rob was my insurance agent years ago. He always spoke of his family, wife, children and step children, his Brady

cess of the company due to Rob’s performance in the commercials. When the real Vern Fonk passed away in 2006, the company was one of Washington’s most successful insurance agencies. After Vern’s death, his daughter and sonin-law, Rene and Kevin Mulvaney, ran the company until it was acquired a few years ago by a large international holding company, Confie, for millions of dollars. Rob Thielke was appointed President of Vern Fonk Insurance, by Confie, and continued in that role until his death.

One of the unique things about Rob Thielke was his fearlessness when it came to playing the Vern Fonk role. If the script called for us to shave the letters V. F. (for Vern Fonk) in Rob’s back hair, he did it. If he had to dress in a loincloth like Tarzan, no problem. Rob even wore a fake chin to be Jesse Ventura, and he dressed up like a strange version of Liberace.

He danced on cars, shot zombies, and threw giant fake rocks at a Sasquatch like the Six Million Dollar Man. Rob did ‘70s dating videos, was arrested by fake policemen, and sang rap songs like a Hollywood rap star.

During all of his adventures, Rob’s actor-brother, Joel Thielke, was always by his side participating in every cornball, quirky skit that we dreamed up. There was something about Rob’s presence on the screen. His unusual look and speech patterns were hypnotic and addicting. He developed raving fans among both young and old, both white collar and blue collar television viewers. His uninhibited movements and stares into the camera left you muttering, “What was that?” when the commercial was over. To this day, people “honk when they drive by Vern Fonk” because of the power of Rob Thielke.

There will not be another, and the loss staggers both my mind and my heart. Rob was both the weirdest guy, and the most kind-hearted guy I knew. Giant hugs to his wife Kathy, their five kids, and his brother Joel. Here at the agency, Tim Grand, Shawn Sergev and I will be reeling from this loss for years to come. How can Seattle be Seattle without Rob as Vern Fonk on TV? Please visit www.StevensonAdvertising.com/Vern and share your thoughts about Rob Thielke and Vern Fonk. Rest in peace, Rob. We will miss you, my friend. MI

Bunch. A great guy. I love his commercials, but to just know Rob was an honor. Prayers to his family and friends. Rest in peace Rob. – Bryan Hurley

Your family is in my thoughts and prayers as you celebrate the life of this very funny and nice man. His commercial always made me chuckle. – Kristine

This is heartbreaking. My sympathies to his family. He always made me laugh. His commercials, his delivery of the message made you remember the product… and HIM! He was very talented and fun. I am so sad for his family and friends. Stupid cancer… Again… a huge loss to everyone. – Trudy D’Armond

I am so sorry to hear of his passing. His commercials were so fun, stupid, and hysterical! He will be missed. Good thoughts and prayers to the family. RIP. – Janet

Honk If you miss Vern Fonk – Kristen OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

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10 MEDIA INC. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

EIGHT MORE YEARS L E G I S L AT I V E W I N I N O R E G O N

By Mary Erickson Associate Editor

O

n July 20, 2015, Governor Kate Brown signed House Bill 2171 into law. HB 2171 extends the sunset of the Oregon Production Investment Fund (OPIF) to January 2024, thereby making Oregon more attractive for long-term television series productions.

With three television shows shooting in metro Portland this summer, legislative support at the state level has been extremely important. “What the Legislature provided us with is hugely valuable,â€? said Nathaniel AppleďŹ eld, the interim executive director of the Oregon Media Production Association, “which is certainty for the next eight years. The Oregon Legislature has reafďŹ rmed its commitment to Oregon’s quickly growing ďŹ lm and TV community.â€?

The Oregon ďŹ lm and TV community also sought to raise OPIF’s cap from $10 million to $20 million, but was ultimately unsuccessful. “But with the extended sunset,â€? said AppleďŹ eld, “now we’re free to go back to the Legislature in the next session and make the case for why we need more incremental funding to grow the number of jobs in this industry.â€?

According to the Oregon Department of Employment, the media production industry in Oregon has seen 70 percent job growth in the last ďŹ ve years, with over 350 companies participating in ďŹ lm and television production in the area. That translates to over 3,000 Oregonians employed in the media production sector. “We were one of the only sectors during the great recession to actually grow and not shrink considerably,â€? AppleďŹ eld commented.

The OMPA has turned its focus to some internal matters in the months leading up to the next short legislative session in February 2016. The organization is in the midst of a search for a new executive director to replace Tom McFadden, who resigned his post in February 2015. “The board hopes to ďŹ ll the position by October 1,â€? said AppleďŹ eld.

In the meantime, OMPA members came together on a sunny Saturday in August for the OMPA’s annual summer fundraiser, the Classic Golf Tournament, held at the Stone Creek Golf Club in Oregon City. This golf/croquet/wine tour/dinner event, held on August 21, “brings together people from all walks of life from our community and industry,â€? remarked AppleďŹ eld. “It’s a great networking event and it’s always a lot of fun.â€? MI

Governor Kate Brown

Nathaniel AppleďŹ eld

SB 699 PASSES IN OREGON

I

n addition to HB 2171, another production-related bill passed through the Legislature this session and was signed into law in July. ,QLWLDWHG E\ &HOHQD 5XELQ IRXQGHU RI WKH $UW RI 0DNHXS 6FKRRO LQ 9DQFRXYHU :DVKLQJWRQ 6% VSHFLÀFDOO\ DIIHFWV DOO working makeup artists in Oregon by expanding exemptions for makeup artistry and hair styling. Two years ago, SB 836—also LQLWLDWHG E\ 5XELQ³ZDV SDVVHG DOORZLQJ PDNHXS DUWLVWV WR ZRUN LQ ÀOP 79 VWDJH DQG SURIHVVLRQDO SKRWR VKRRWV ZLWKRXW QHHGLQJ D FRVPHWRORJ\ RU HVWKHWLF OLFHQVH 6% H[SDQGV RQ WKLV ODZ DQG DOORZV IRU WHPSRUDU\ KDLUVW\OLQJ IRU ÀOP 79 VWDJH DQG SURIHVsional photo shoots without a cosmetology license.

The bill, co-sponsored by Senator Ginny Burdick and Representative Jennifer Williamson, is effective as of July 27.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

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FINISHES PRODUCTION IN PORTLAND

By Mary Erickson Associate Editor

Photos courtesy of Radar Pictures

A

fter attending a screenwriting workshop at Santa Rosa Community College, Portland-based clinical audiologist Christi Sperry and her sister-in-law Sarah Hehman set out to write a full script. They wanted it to be good, with a compelling story and realistic characters.

Homecoming stars Lauren Bowles and Victoria Smurfit

“We didn’t expect it to turn into anything,” Sperry comments.

Then, in early 2015, one friend offered to invest in the film production and another friend introduced them to director/ producer Paul Kampf. Fast-forward four months, and the film, titled Homecoming, started shooting in Portland.

A female-driven story, Homecoming follows a 40-something couple who has moved to a new city for the husband’s dream job. The wife, lonely and a little naïve, meets wealthy suburban alpha moms in the community and gets sucked into a life of backstabbing and Botox.

It’s a story that resonates with women, and demonstrates the writers’ commitment to featuring strong female voices.

12 MEDIA INC. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

“There’s a need in cinema for more female voices,” says Sperry. One crewmember commented to her during production, “It’s exciting to have so many strong women on set. I don’t often see that.”

Filming in Portland was particularly appealing, given the

filmmakers’ connections to the city. Sperry lives there, as does the film’s executive producer. “We were able to use a lot of resources here and call on favors for locations,” says Sperry.

“One of the great things about Portland,” says Hehman, “is the universality of the city.

It has so many different neighborhoods that feel like different places. The city of Portland conjures up other places.”

Director Paul Kampf agrees. “One of the reasons why TV productions are rushing up here is that Portland has the diverse look of five cities in one. It’s like a living film set.”

Sperry and Hehman were on set every day during the film’s 21-day shoot, their first introduction to working on a production. “It was very exciting and intense and amplified,” says Sperry.

They were awed at the level of collaboration that goes into making a film. “When you give your script over,” says Hehmen, “it’s amazing to see how many people’s thoughts contribute to the film. Each person gleaned something from the script to bring it to life.”

Homecoming has entered post-production now, with the festival circuit in mind once the film is completed. In the meantime, Sperry and Hehman have co-written another script and have a treatment for a third. They are each also continuing to pursue their careers, Sperry as a clinical pediatric audiologist and Heh-

Homecoming director Paul Kampf with DP Rene Jung.

man as co-owner of Favery, an online jewelry and accessories boutique.

Kampf is also working on other projects. His experience in Portland on Homecoming was so positive that he’s hoping to line up two more independent feature projects to film in Oregon.

“You can’t quantify the people up there,” he says. “They’re so great to work with.” MI

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

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LYNN SHELTON, MEGAN GRIFFITHS DEVELOPING SERIES WITH HBO

Lynn Shelton (left) and Rosemarie DeWitt film Touchy Feely. Photo by Eliza Truitt

S

eattle filmmaking luminaries Lynn Shelton (Laggies, Touchy Feely) and Megan Griffiths (Lucky Them, Eden), together with True Blood executive producer Gregg Fienberg, are currently in development with HBO on a new series.

Set in Seattle, Family Drama is an anthology comedy series that will follow a different family each season “as an explosive event or revelation rips open and exposes the family’s driving emotional flaw, forcing its members to finally confront and deal with each other,” according to TheWrap.

The trio would co-write and executive produce the series, and Shelton, who has directed Megan Griffiths such TV shows as New Girl and Mad Men, would direct the pilot.

Shelton already has a working relationship with HBO, with plans to direct Madame X, a mini-series starring Anna Paquin, for the network. This, along with Fienberg’s involvement, would seem to bode well for Family Drama’s development into a series, but it’s still very early in the process to speculate. At press time, the team behind the series was unable to comment.

If the series does come to fruition, the likelihood of it filming in Seattle would depend on the availability of the state’s film incentive.

As Shelton told Seattle alt-weekly The Stranger back in March, “[The network] has been very clear about this. If the incentive is not there, we have to shoot elsewhere.”

Stay tuned as Media Inc. continues to develop this story. MI OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

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16 MEDIA INC. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

INSIDE THE STROWLER-VERSE D Photos by Regan MacStravic

irector Ben Dobyns and his Seattle-based production company Zombie Orpheus Entertainment spent the month of September filming the pilot episode of Strowlers.

Dobyns took part in this past spring’s Washington Filmworks Innovation Lab, and Strowlers was one of only two projects selected to receive funding assistance. The Innovation Lab aims to invest in the future of film by capitalizing on Washington’s creative community and artists while encouraging original storytelling that uses new forms of production and technology.

Strowlers will do just that via “an entirely new model of global engagement with viewers and creative collaborators” and by the “blending of traditional storytelling and crowd sourced creativity,” according to Washington Filmworks. Set in the modern day, Strowlers tells the story of the misfits, outcasts, artists, and activists who exist on the magical fringes of society.

The pilot stars Spokane native and musical theater actress Tanesha Ross, along with Trin Miller, G. Valmont Thomas and Lisa Coronado. MI To find out more, visit www.zombieorpheus.com or www.facebook.com/strowlers.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

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18 MEDIA INC. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

The Winding Stream

Gets Theatrical Release

Portland documentarian Beth Harrington.

By Mary Erickson Associate Editor

Photos courtesy of Beth Harrington Productions

B

eth Harrington’s idea for a music documentary about the legendary Carter-Cash family had been percolating for a while. She wanted to focus on the musical family that heavily influenced—and arguably started—American country music. A.P., Sara and Maybelle Carter recorded their first songs in 1927, starting the legacy that included June Carter Cash, Johnny Cash, and Rosanne Cash.

A linchpin in the film would be the inclusion of Johnny Cash. As it became clear that Cash’s health was rapidly declining, Harrington realized, “If Johnny Cash was going to be in the film, I’d have to get on it.” She started shooting in 2003, and recorded Cash’s last on-camera interview. Thus began the production for The Winding Stream —The Carters, The Cashes and the Course of Country Music.

The odyssey that marked the film’s production hinted at the changing conditions of the film industry. The fundraising world for documentaries was shrinking, and it became tougher to find money to finance the film. “I spent a long period in the wilderness as nothing happened financially,” recalled Harrington. It was clear that the film’s music licensing fees would be Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. prohibitive, but Harrington persevered, and the film finally premiered at SXSW in 2014. Since then, the film has played in dozens of festivals around the world, winning multiple awards.

Now, 18 months later, the film is getting its theatrical release. Working with Argo Pictures of New York, Harrington is ready to share the work of promoting an independent film. “I’m loving the fact that someone else is getting the film out there,” she said.

The film will open on a market-by-market basis, visiting key cities across the country in event-style screenings. The first stop was Portland, Oregon, on September 17, with additional screenings in Seattle, Tacoma, Ashland, Los Angeles, and elsewhere.

Harrington has ventured into the world of ancillary merchandise to accompany and support the film. The musical legacy of the Carter-Cash family will be available as a soundtrack to be released in October 2015 by Omnivore Recordings. Harrington published an oral history of the Carter-Cash family in book form, also called The The Carter family on Border Radio.

Winding Stream.

Harrington will continue to focus on The Winding Stream for the next year, attending as many of the screenings as possible.

“This is my job,” she said. “We’ve received such positive responses. The critics love it. Audiences love it. I owe it to the film.”

The Winding Stream opened on September 17 at Portland’s Hollywood Theatre, followed by screenings in Seattle for the Northwest Film Forum’s Local Sightings Festival on September 28, and at Tacoma’s Grand Cinema on September 29. More information about the film is available at www.thewindingstream.com. MI OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

MEDIA INC. 19

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RETURN TO

TWIN PEAKS

NORTH BEND & OTHER WASHINGTON TOWNS CO-STAR IN THE REVIVED SERIES, HELMED BY DAVID LYNCH

Twin Peaks films in front of the historic Cook Building in downtown North Bend. Photo by Michael Martin

By Katie Sauro Editor

W

hen it was first announced back in the fall of 2014 that David Lynch and Mark Frost were reviving Twin Peaks for Showtime, fans of the cult TV series were understandably beside themselves with excitement to see Special Agent Dale Cooper in action once again. After all, it’s been 25 years since that last cup of damn fine coffee and slice of cherry pie at the Double R Diner.

Mt Si Sunrise with Twede’s in foreground. Photo by Danny Raphael

But their bubble was burst in April, when, citing concerns over budget (or lack thereof), Lynch and Frost announced they had reached a stalemate with the network.

Lynch said, via Twitter, that while Showtime might still be pursuing the series, he would no longer be involved as director. “After 1 year and 4 months of negotiations, I left because not enough money was offered to do the script the way I felt it needed to be done,” he said. “I love the world of Twin Peaks and wish things could have worked out differently.”

Cue the collective angry groan of fans everywhere.

But ever the mystery man, Lynch reneged on his statement just a month later, telling the world, “The rumors are not what they seem… It is happening again!”

And with that, the series was off and running, with plans to film 18 episodes set in the present day and continuing storylines from

the second season. The anticipated release date has reportedly changed from 2016 to 2017, but that’s no matter to the series’ devotees because not only have Lynch and Frost returned to create the fictional town of Twin Peaks, Washington, but so have stars Kyle MacLachlan, Sheryl Lee, Dana Ashbrook and Sherilyn Fenn, among many others. Newbies to the cast include Amanda Seyfried and Balthazar Getty.

Of course, Twin Peaks would not be complete without its iconic exteriors, a great number of which were filmed in the small neighboring towns of North Bend, Snoqualmie and Fall City, just 30 miles east of Seattle.

It has been reported that many of these locations will reprise their respective roles in the revamped series, including the famed Double R (aka Twede’s Cafe in the OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

MEDIA INC. 21

town of North Bend).

The original series was released in 1990, and tourists have flocked to the region ever since to see where their favorite characters lived.

“Since the Twin Peaks series was released over 25 years ago, it has had a positive impact on North Bend’s economy by bringing tourists to our region to visit our beautiful town,” said Londi Lindell, City Administrator for the City of North Bend. She added, “We hope that the return of the series will produce a whole new following of Twin Peak fans who will also want to visit North Bend and all the beautiful natural treasures in this special valley.”

At press time, the production was in the midst of six weeks of filming in the area and, according to Lindell, it was going “very smoothly.”

“We have worked closely with Showtime and David Lynch in issuing all necessary permits to ensure the least amount of disruption to our citizens as a result of the filming activity,” continued Lindell. “They have been wonderful to work with and incredibly courteous of the local residents. Our citizens have been very understanding of minor disruptions to traffic flow and inconveniences associated with the filming.”

The Board of Directors at Washington Filmworks approved some funding assistance for the project. While executive director Amy Lillard was unable to comment on the specifics, she was able to say that Washington Filmworks “has enjoyed the experience of working with the production.”

Washington’s film incentive program has a $3.5-million annual cap, which was met earlier this year. Attempts to raise the cap during this year’s legislative session were unsuccessful despite an enormous effort undertaken by the state’s production community.

Sources told Media Inc. that because the production received limited funding assistance, they brought some of their crew up from Los Angeles. However, as with any production filming in state for an extended period of time, Twin Peaks still equals an economic boost for Washington in terms of hotel night stays, meals in local restaurants, and other influxes of outside dollars.

But perhaps if Lynch and his team had gotten a bigger

OMPA APPOINTS

Twin Peaks shot for at least six weeks in North Bend and surrounding areas. Photo by Michael Martin

22 MEDIA INC. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

Londi Lindell and the North Bend team with David Lynch.

boost from the state, the series would have brought even more jobs, even more filming days, even more prestige to the Washington production industry in a time when it’s still reeling from a legislative loss and in need of some good news. MI

NORTH BEND: EASY TO REACH …

HARD TO LEAVE

N

estled in the upper Snoqualmie River Valley amid rugged mountains and lush pastures is the small city of North Bend. Its history is tied to this strategic location between Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains. Early foot trails, wagon roads, railroads, and finally, highways brought travelers here, shaping North Bend’s character and service-oriented economy.

“Easy to Reach … Hard to Leave” is more than just a slogan. Each year more and more people relocate to this lovely valley, many who commute on I-90 into Bellevue and Seattle. As its size increases, the city’s focus remains on preserving pastureland and open spaces, as well as economic prosperity and growth.

North Bend looks out on Mount Si, a 4,167-foot monolith where one of the state’s most famous and popular trails leads you to a view on top that is absolutely breathtaking.

The city’s location is the perfect destination to Washington’s wilderness areas and year-round recreation. If you enjoy hiking, fishing, rock climbing, and white water paddling, this destination is a must. Make sure you leave lots of time in your schedule to explore the area, including beautiful downtown North Bend, which features fine dining, unique shops and a steam train with rides available for all through the picturesque Snoqualmie Valley.

For more information, visit www.northbendwa.gov.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

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24 MEDIA INC. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

LOCATIONS STATE OF OREGON

ALBANY NORTH BEND

BELLINGHAM LEAVENWORTH

LONG BEACH PENINSULA

SAN JUAN ISLANDS

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!

T

he Northwest region and its varied landscapes have played host to an endless number of production projects, from feature films and TV series to commercial campaigns and branded entertainment. On the following pages, you will get a glimpse into some of the stellar offerings awaiting you in Oregon and Washington…

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

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LOCATIONS

EXPLORING OREGON

VAST AND VARIED LOCATIONS FOR EVERY PRODUCTION NEED

Photos courtesy of Oregon Film

O

regon has been a filming destination since 1908 and remains an iconic location for just about every landscape need.

From the Overlook Hotel (Timberline Lodge) in The Shining to the Delta House (Eugene) in Animal House; from the railroad tracks (Cottage Grove) in The General to the tent cities (Baker) of Paint Your Wagon—the history, talent and support structure for creating content throughout the state still

26 MEDIA INC. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

remains as deep and varied as ever, stretching from The River Wild to Wild and back again.

Grimm and Portlandia use the state’s largest city as a backdrop for monsters and social satire, but Ashland was recently recognized as the nation’s #1 small city to live and work in as a filmmaker, while Bend and Central Oregon play host to countless high-profile commercials and outdoor & extreme sports spots. It’s hard to find a more diverse environment in such close proximity to creative companies and talent. MI Visit www.oregonfilm.org for more location ideas.

LOCATIONS

A HISTORIC JOURNEY THROUGH ALBANY

I

n the center of Oregon’s lush Willamette Valley, the city of Albany has beckoned to wave after wave of settlers since the first pioneers in the 1840s. As a result, this friendly city offers authentic locations as varied as a pioneer-era trading post, a Victorian mansion and a WWII army barracks. Surrounded by open farmland and framed by rolling hills and misty forests, Albany is an ideal filming location.

Albany is home to the most eclectic collection of historic buildings in Oregon: more than 700 structures, with both residential neighborhoods and commercial districts that could stand in for nearly any era in U.S. history. Nearby

are both a water-powered flour mill and a steam-powered lumber mill. The Willamette and Calapooia rivers converge in Albany, and riverfront parks and bridges provide scenic views. Just a few miles outside of town are curving country roads dotted with covered bridges, old barns and farmhouses, hazelnut orchards, and fields of wheat and corn. Remote trails, cascading waterfalls and old-growth forests are minutes away.

Albany’s mild climate rarely falls below freezing or soars above 90, but still reflects changing seasons, with frosty mornings and brilliant fall foliage. With its unique buildings and stunning landscapes, Albany provides the best of city and rural scenery. MI Visit www.albanyvisitors.com to find out more.

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Providing operators and equipment 28 MEDIA INC. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

LOCATIONS

C2 CATTLE COMPANY

C

2 Cattle Company offers 10,000 acres of private property available for filming. The ranch—located 25 minutes east of Medford, Oregon, and 30 minutes from the airport—features mountains, rivers, lakes, farm structures, grasslands and more. The film-friendly property also maintains a herd of 1,000 cattle and has over 15 horses available.

425-891-8575 Duffel@akteleprompt.com www.akteleprompt.com

For more information, contact: Jason Saulan 541-821-5664 c2cattle@yahoo.com 18495 Hwy 140 Eagle Point, OR 97524

LOCATIONS

Leavenworth

A BAVARIAN GEM

Photos courtesy of Icicle TV

D

iscover the most unique gem in Washington State!

Once a vibrant logging town, then teetering on extinction, and through perseverance, ingenuity and a lot of committed town people, Leavenworth has become the Bavarian Village, alive with activity year-round. It is truly the story of the American Dream.

It helps that we are a beautiful, old world architecturally designed village, nestled in the magnificent Cascade Mountain Range, on the sunny side of the state! Leavenworth offers live outdoor theater, nationally ranked outdoor recreational opportunities of enormous proportions, remarkable sights, and four spectacular seasons, each filled with adventure, festivals, food and fun.

Uniquely, you can’t miss in Leavenworth. We are never “out of season”! You can always get a chance for a “Bavarian Sighting,” whether it’s Icefest, Accordionfest, Maifest, Kin-

derfest, Oktoberfest, outdoor beer and brat gartens, or the sweet melody of a drehorgelspieler (German organ grinder) and the twice daily alp horn concerts, all throughout the year. Uniquely too, when winter hits, Leavenworth continues the fun.

Leavenworth in the winter captures the dream in every child’s heart of what Christmas looks like; with the glistening snowfalls comes our Village of Lights, the place to go in Washington for a traditional, magical holiday experience.

Christmas season features sleigh rides, sledding, tubing, skiing (both Alpine and Nordic), snowmobiles, dog sleds, and three magical weekends of Christmas lighting, caroling, characters, hot spiced wine, concerts, harps and handbells. It’s no wonder Leavenworth has been awarded the Ultimate Holiday/Christmas Town by A&E, Good Morning America, The Today Show, and the Travel Channel. MI For more information about filming in Leavenworth, visit www. leavenworth.org.

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30 MEDIA INC. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

LOCATIONS

Fairhaven. Photo by Peter James Photography Studio

BE INSPIRED IN BELLINGHAM, WA

T

he Bellingham Experience is intensely inspired by nature.

The Whatcom County region in the far northwest corner of Washington State is home to snow-capped Mount Baker and the North Cascades National Park. Mount Baker Highway is a national scenic byway that departs from Bellingham and traverses 58 miles east, making many switchbacks as it rises to 5,140 feet, terminating with incredible alpine vistas at Artist Point in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie wilderness area. Due to world-record snowfall at Mt. Baker Ski Area, the final 6 miles of the road are only open in the summer and early fall.

At sea level, the city of Bellingham hugs the scenic Salish Sea with a thriving Victorian-era historic district. Bellingham is home to Western Washington University, recently named

Courtesy: Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism

one of the nation’s “30 most beautiful coastal college campuses.” A second scenic byway, Chuckanut Drive, runs south from Bellingham into the Skagit Valley on the cliffs above the shoreline.

The region is also home to Lummi Island, with a population under 1,000 and many picturesque homes, as well as the Dutch inspired city of Lynden, which is an agricultural area, specializing in dairy and raspberry production. The city of Ferndale has the largest collection of pioneer-era, cedar-plank log cabins at Pioneer Park.

Hiking, running, mountain biking, road biking, and paddling are all popular sports in the Bellingham region, and beers at the bottom are embraced by the locals at the rapidly growing number of craft breweries. The area is also a hub for the local food movement, inspired by abundant small farms and a widely recognized and picturesque farmer’s market. MI Visit www.bellingham.org for more.

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LOCATIONS

LONG BEACH PENINSULA: THE COAST

WITH THE MOST

E

xpansive beach, ocean vistas, craggy tree-lined cliffs—Washington’s Long Beach Peninsula is home to idyllic Pacific Northwest splendor.

With a variety of coastal landscapes, the Long Beach Peninsula offers 28 miles of tungsten-hued beach, surf, flaxen dunes, and scrub pine forest fronting the Pacific Ocean. Sea, bay and river vistas complement rocky headlands, moss-laden forests, lakes and wetlands. Crimson cranberry bogs, ripe in autumn, dot the peninsula.

Additional settings include the working fishing village of Ilwaco, Victorian homes of Seaview and Main Street facades of Long Beach, a classic beach town. The Willapa Bay village of Oysterville is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and dates to the mid-1800s.

A wooden boardwalk and paved trail provide ocean-view platforms. A range of lodging options, great restaurants and caterers complete the package. MI Visit www.funbeach.com for more information.

32 MEDIA INC. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

LOCATIONS

EVERETT AWAITS...

7 Minutes films in Everett.

E

verett is situated on Port Gardner Bay at the mouth of the Snohomish River between the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges. Nearly 50 miles of freshwater and saltwater shoreline and the second-largest marina on the West Coast provide a variety of natural backdrops for film. A working waterfront and remnants of the city’s gritty mill town beginnings remain today. Downtown has a distinctively small-town feeling with historic buildings and tree-lined streets. Everett has a variety of neighborhoods—from old, stately homes to modest, working-class homes with well-kept yards and beautiful, tree-lined streets. From Everett, a film crew is 30 minutes to Seattle’s skyscrapers, Skagit farmland, the cattail and bulrush marshes of the Snohomish river delta or the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. Accommodations in Everett have lower room and tax rates and can offer free parking.

Films Made in Everett • 2015: Television series, location manager Dave Drummond.

• 2014: The Architect, an indie film by writers Catherine DiNapoli and Jonathan Parker starring Eric McCormack and Parker Posey, and location manager Doug duMas. • 2013: 7 Minutes, a Whitewater Film Production starring Leven Rambin, Jason Ritter and Luke Mitchell, and location manager Doug duMas. • Numerous commercials and TV episodes including Our America with Lisa Ling and Kitchen Nightmares with Chef Gordon Ramsay.

Local Film Liaison – Lisa Newland, Cultural Arts Coordinator for the City of Everett, 425-257-7107, lnewland@everettwa.gov.

Agency That Issues Permits and Costs – The city issues all permits and street closures in a streamlined permit process.

We will save you time by holding one meeting with representatives from transit, traffic, fire, police, parks and the film office to ensure a smooth and easy shooting process. The City of Everett does not charge a film permit fee but does require a $1,000 damage deposit. MI OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

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34 MEDIA INC. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

(+ More!)

FILM OFFICE GUIDE YOUR RESOURCE GUIDE TO THE FILM OFFICES, CHAMBERS, VISITORS BUREAUS, FILM LIAISONS, AND STATE ASSOCIATIONS THROUGHOUT THE NORTHWEST.

OREGON MAIN OFFICES & ASSOCIATIONS Oregon Governor’s Office of Film & Television 123 NE 3rd Ave, Suite 210 Portland, OR 97232 971-254-4020 www.oregonfilm.org Portland Film Office 222 NW 5th Ave, 6th Floor Portland, OR 97209 503-823-3326 www.pdc.us/portland-film-office Mid-Oregon Production Arts Network (MOPAN) 1430 Willamette St. #111 Eugene, OR 97401 www.mopan.org Oregon Media Production Association (OMPA) 901 SE Oak St., Suite 104 Portland, OR 97214 503-228-8822 www.ompa.org Southern Oregon Film & Media (SOFaM) PO Box 1265 Ashland, OR 97520 877-434-5676 www.filmsouthernoregon.org REGIONAL OFFICES/CHAMBERS/CVBs/ LIAISONS Albany Visitors Association 110 3rd Ave SE Albany, OR 97321 541-928-0911 www.albanyvisitors.com Ashland Chamber of Commerce 110 E Main St. Ashland, OR 97520 541-482-3486 www.ashlandchamber.com Astoria Warrenton Chamber of Commerce 111 W Marine Dr. Astoria, OR 97103 503-325-6311 www.oldoregon.com Baker County Chamber of Commerce 490 Campbell St. Baker City, OR 97814 541-523-5855 www.visitbaker.com Bandon Chamber of Commerce 300 Second St. Bandon, OR 97411 541-347-9616 www.bandon.com Bay Area Chamber of Commerce 145 Central Ave Coos Bay, OR 97420 541-266-0868 www.oregonsbayarea.org

Bend Chamber of Commerce 777 NW Wall St. #200 Bend, OR 97701 541-382-3221 www.bendchamber.org Boardman Chamber of Commerce 101 Olson Rd. Boardman, OR 97818 541-481-3014 www.boardmanchamber.org Brookings-Harbor Chamber of Commerce 16330 Lower Harbor Rd. Brookings, OR 97415 541-469-3181 www.brookingsharborchamber.com Brownsville Chamber of Commerce PO Box 161 Brownsville, OR 97327 541-928-0831 www.historicbrownsville.com Canby Area Chamber of Commerce 191 SE 2nd Ave Canby, OR 97013 503-266-4600 www.canbyareachamber.org Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce 207 N Spruce Cannon Beach, OR 97110 503-436-2623 www.cannonbeach.org Cascade Lakes Tourism PO Box 308 Cascade Locks, OR 97014 541-374-8484 x111 www.cascadelocks.net Central Oregon Coast Association PO Box 2094 Newport, OR 97365 541-265-2064 www.coastvisitor.com Central Oregon Visitors Association 57100 SW Beaver Dr., Building 6, Suite 130 Bend, OR 97707 800-800-8334 www.visitcentraloregon.com Central Point Chamber of Commerce 650 E Pine St. Central Point, OR 97502 541-664-5301 www.centralpointchamber.org Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce & Visitor’s Center 115 N College St., Suite 2 Newberg, OR 97132 503-538-2014 www.chehalemvalley.org Christmas Valley/North Lake Chamber of Commerce PO Box 651 Christmas Valley, OR 97641 541-576-3838

www.christmasvalleychamber.org City of Dundee Tourism 620 SW 5th St. Dundee, OR 97115 503-538-3922 www.traveldundeeoregon.com City of Glendale PO Box 361 Glendale, OR 97442 541-832-2106 www.cityofglendaleor.com City of Tualatin 18880 SW Martinazzi Ave Tualatin, OR 97062 503-691-3059 www.tualatinoregon.gov Clackamas County Business & Economic Development 150 Beavercreek Rd. Oregon City, OR 97045 503-742-4BIZ (4249) www.clackamas.us/business/film.html Clatskanie 75 S Nehalem St., Suite D Clatskanie, OR 97016 503-728-2622 www.cityofclatskanie.com Coquille Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Information Center 119 N. Birch Coquille, OR 97423 541-396-3414 www.coquillechamber.net Creswell Chamber of Commerce 104 S Mill St., Suite 102 Creswell, OR 97426 541-895-4398 www.creswellchamber.com Drain Chamber of Commerce PO Box 885 Drain, OR 97435 541-505-0091 www.drainchamber.com Estacada Area Chamber of Commerce 475 SE Main St. Estacada, OR 97023 503-630-3483 www.estacadachamber.net Eugene, Cascades & Coast / Travel Lane County 3312 Gateway St. Springfield, OR 97477 541-484-5307 www.eugenecascadescoast.org Florence Area Chamber of Commerce 290 Hwy 101 Florence, OR 97439 541-997-3128 www.florencechamber.com Forest Grove/Cornelius Chamber of Commerce 2417 Pacific Ave OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

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Forest Grove, OR 97116 503-357-3006 www.visitforestgrove.com Gold Beach Visitors Center 94080 Shirley Lane Gold Beach, OR 97444 541-247-7526 www.goldbeach.org Grant County Chamber of Commerce 301 W Main St. John Day, OR 97845 541-575-0547 www.gcoregonlive.com Grants Pass Tourism/Film Office 198 SW 6th St. Grants Pass, OR 97526 541-450-6180 www.travelgrantspass.com/320/Film-Office Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce 555 SW Coast Highway Newport, OR 97365 541-265-8801 www.newportchamber.org Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center 1005 N Main Ave, Suite 101 Gresham, OR 97030 503-665-1131 www.greshamchamber.org Harney County Chamber of Commerce 484 N Broadway Burns, OR 97720 541-573-2636 www.harneycounty.com Heppner Chamber of Commerce 111 NW May St. Heppner, OR 97836 541-676-5536 www.heppnerchamber.com Hermiston Chamber of Commerce 415 S Hwy 395 Hermiston, OR 97838 541-567-6151 www.hermistonchamber.com Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce 5193 NE Elam Young Pkwy, Suite A Hillsboro, OR 97124 503-648-1102 www.hillsborochamberor.com Hood River County Chamber of Commerce 720 E Port Marina Dr. Hood River, OR 97031 541-386-2000 www.hoodriver.org Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce 201 Caves Hwy Cave Junction, OR 97523 541-592-3326 illinoisvalleychamber.wordpress.com Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center 185 N Oregon St. Jacksonville, OR 97530 541-899-8118 www.jacksonvilleoregon.org Klamath County Chamber of Commerce 205 Riverside Dr., Suite A Klamath Falls, OR 97601 541-884-5193 www.klamath.org Lake County Chamber of Commerce 36 MEDIA INC. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

126 North E St. Lakeview, OR 97630 541-947-6040 www.lakecountychamber.org Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce 459 Third St. Lake Oswego, OR 97034 503-636-3634 www.lake-oswego.com Lebanon Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center 1040 S Park St. Lebanon, OR 97355 541-258-7164 www.lebanon-chamber.org Lincoln City Visitor & Convention Bureau 801 SW Hwy 101, Suite 401 Lincoln City, OR 97367 541-996-1274 www.oregoncoast.org Madras/Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce 274 SW 4th St. Madras, OR 97741 541-475-2350 www.madraschamber.com Manzanita Visitors Center 31 Laneda Ave Manzanita, OR 97130 503-812-5510 www.exploremanzanita.com Maupin Area Chamber of Commerce 512 Deschutes Ave Maupin, OR 97037 541-993-1708 www.maupinoregon.com McKenzie River Chamber of Commerce PO Box 275 Blue River, OR 97413 541-896-3330 www.mckenziechamber.com McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce 417 NW Adams St. McMinnville, OR 97128 503-472-6196 www.mcminnville.org Milton-Freewater Area Chamber of Commerce 157 S Columbia Milton-Freewater, OR 97862 541-938-5563 www.mfchamber.com Molalla Area Chamber of Commerce 107 E. Main Street Molalla, OR 97038 503-829-6941 www.molallachamber.com Mt. Hood Area Chamber of Commerce PO Box 819 Welches, OR 97067 503-622-3017 www.mthoodchamber.com Nyssa Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture 105 Main St. Nyssa, OR 97913 541-372-3091 www.nyssachamberofcommerce.com Oakridge/Westfir Chamber of Commerce PO Box 217 Oakridge, OR 97463 541-782-4146 www.oakridgechamber.com Ontario Area Chamber of Commerce and

Visitor & Convention Bureau 251 SW 9th St. Ontario, OR 97914 541-889-8012 www.ontariochamber.com Oregon Coast Visitors Association PO Box 940 Tillamook, OR 97141 541-574-2679 www.visittheoregoncoast.com Pacific City-Nestucca Valley Chamber of Commerce PO Box 1078 Pacific City, OR 97135 503-392-4340 www.pcnvchamber.org Pendleton Chamber of Commerce 501 S Main St. Pendleton, OR 97801 541-276-7411 www.pendletonchamber.com Philomath Area Chamber of Commerce PO Box 606 Philomath, OR 97370 541-929-2454 www.philomathchamber.org Port Orford Chamber of Commerce PO Box 637 Port Orford, OR 97465 541-332-8055 www.portorfordchamber.com Prineville-Crook County Chamber of Commerce 185 NE 10th St. Prineville, OR 97754 541-447-6304 www.visitprineville.org Redmond Chamber of Commerce & CVB 446 SW 7th St. Redmond, OR 97756 541-923-5191 www.visitredmondoregon.com Reedsport/Winchester Bay Chamber of Commerce 855 Highway Ave Reedsport, OR 97467 541-271-3495 www.reedsportcc.org Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center 410 SE Spruce St. Roseburg, OR 97470 541-672-9731 www.visitroseburg.com Seaside Visitors Bureau 7 N Roosevelt (Hwy 101) Seaside, OR 97138 503-738-3097 www.seasideor.com Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce 291 E Main Ave Sisters, OR 97759 541-549-0251 www.sisterscountry.com South Columbia County Chamber of Commerce 2194 Columbia Blvd.

St. Helens, OR 97051 503-397-0685 www.sccchamber.org Sweet Home Chamber of Commerce 1575 Main St.

Sweet Home, OR 97386 541-367-6186 www.sweethomechamber.com The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce 404 W 2nd St. The Dalles, OR 97058 541-296-2231 www.thedalleschamber.com Tillamook Area Chamber of Commerce/ Go Tillamook 3705 Hwy 101 N Tillamook, OR 97141 503-842-7525 www.gotillamook.com Travel Medford 1314 Center Dr. Medford, OR 97501 541-776-4021 www.travelmedford.org Travel Portland 701 SW Sixth Ave Portland, OR 97204 503-275-8355 www.travelportland.com Travel Salem 181 High St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503-581-4325 www.travelsalem.com Umatilla Chamber of Commerce 100 Cline Ave Umatilla, OR 97882 541-922-4825 www.umatillaoregonchamber.org Union County Chamber of Commerce 207 Depot St. La Grande, OR 97850 541-963-8588 www.unioncountychamber.org Vale Chamber of Commerce 252 B St. W Vale, OR 97918 541-473-3800 www.valechamber.com Visit Bend/Bend Visitor Center 750 NW Lava Rd., Suite 160 Bend, OR 97701 541-382-8048 www.visitbend.com Visit Corvallis 420 NW 2nd St. Corvallis, OR 97330 541-757-1544 www.visitcorvallis.com Waldport Chamber of Commerce 320 NW Hwy 101 Waldport, OR 97394 541-563-2133 www.waldport-chamber.com Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce 309 S River St. Enterprise, OR 97828 541-426-4622 www.wallowacountychamber.com Washington County Visitors Association 12725 SW Millikan Way, Suite 210 Beaverton, OR 97008 503-644-5555 www.wcva.org West Columbia Gorge Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center

107 E Historic Columbia River Hwy Troutdale, OR 97060 503-669-7473 www.westcolumbiagorgechamber.com Wilsonville Area Chamber of Commerce 8565 SW Salish Lane, Suite 150 Wilsonville, OR 97070 503-682-0411 www.wilsonvillechamber.com Woodburn Area Chamber of Commerce 979 Young St., Suite A Woodburn, OR 97071 503-982-8221 www.woodburnchamber.org

City of North Bend 211 Main Ave N North Bend, WA 98045 425-888-1211 www.northbendwa.gov City of Redmond 15670 NE 85th St. Redmond, WA 98073 425-556-2900 www.redmond.gov Clallam Bay Sekiu Chamber of Commerce PO Box 355 Clallam Bay, WA 98326 360-963-2339 www.clallambay.com

WASHINGTON

Colfax Chamber of Commerce 120 S Main St. Colfax, WA 99111 509-397-3712 www.colfaxchamber.org Columbia River Gorge Visitors Association PO Box 1037 Stevenson, WA 98648 541-806-1436 www.crgva.org Colville Chamber of Commerce 986 S Main St., Suite B Colville, WA 99114 509-684-5973 www.colville.com Concrete Chamber of Commerce 45770 Main St. Concrete, WA 98237 360-853-8784 www.concrete-wa.com

MAIN OFFICES & ASSOCIATIONS Washington Filmworks 1411 Fourth Ave, Suite 420 Seattle, WA 98101 206-264-0667 www.washingtonfilmworks.org Seattle Office of Film + Music 700 5th Ave, Suite 5752 Seattle, WA 98124 206-684-5030 www.seattle.gov/filmandmusic REGIONAL OFFICES/CHAMBERS/CVBs/ LIAISONS Bellingham/Whatcom County Film Commission 904 Potter St. Bellingham, WA 98229 360-671-3990 www.bellingham.org/press/film-videoservices Brinnon Visitors Center 306144 Hwy 101 Brinnon, WA 98320 360-796-4350 www.emeraldtowns.com Burien Film Office 400 SW 152nd St., Suite 300 Burien, WA 98166 206-241-4647 www.burienwa.gov/film Burlington Chamber of Commerce 520 E Fairhaven Ave Burlington, WA 98233 360-757-0994 www.burlington-chamber.com Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce 500 NW Chamber of Commerce Way Chehalis, WA 98532 360-748-8885 www.chamberway.com Chewelah Chamber of Commerce 401 S Park St., Suite E Chewelah, WA 99109 509-935-8595 www.chewelah.org City of Bothell Visitor Development 18305 101st Ave NE Bothell, WA 98011 425-486-3256 www.ci.bothell.wa.us City of Everett Film Office 2930 Wetmore Ave Everett, WA 98201 425-257-7100 www.ci.everett.wa.us

Cowlitz County Tourism/Visit Mt. St. Helens 1900 7th Ave Longview, WA 98632 360-577-3137 www.visitmtsthelens.com Dayton Chamber of Commerce 166 E Main St. Dayton, WA 99382 509-382-4825 www.historicdayton.com Deer Park Chamber of Commerce 316 E Crawford Ave Deer Park, WA 99006 509-276-5900 www.deerparkchamber.com Destination Packwood 13011B US Hwy 12 Packwood, WA 98361 360-494-2223 www.destinationpackwood.com Enumclaw Visitor Center 1421 Cole St. Enumclaw, WA 98022 360-825-7666 www.enumclawchamber.com Forks Chamber of Commerce 1411 S Forks Ave Forks, WA 98331 360-374-2531 www.forkswa.com Grays Harbor Tourism PO Box 1229 Elma, WA 98541 800-621-9625 www.visitgraysharbor.com Greater Goldendale Area Chamber of Commerce OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

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903 E Broadway St. Goldendale, WA 98620 509-773-3400 www.goldendalechamber.org Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce 2409 Jefferson St. Port Townsend, WA 98368 360-385-2722 www.jeffcountychamber.org Kettle Falls Chamber of Commerce 425 W 3rd Ave Kettle Falls, WA 99141 509-738-2300 www.kettle-falls.com Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce 609 N Main St. Ellensburg, WA 98926 509-925-2002 www.kittitascountychamber.com La Conner Chamber of Commerce 511 Morris St., Suite 3 La Conner, WA 98257 360-466-4778 www.lovelaconner.com Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce 216 East Woodin Ave Chelan, WA 98816 509-682-3503 www.lakechelan.com Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce PO Box 327 Leavenworth, WA 98826 509-548-5807 www.leavenworth.org Lind Chamber of Commerce PO Box 561 Lind, WA 99341 509-677-3655 www.lindwa.com Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau 3914 Pacific Way Seaview, WA 98644 360-642-2400 www.funbeach.com Lynden Chamber of Commerce 518 Front St. Lynden, WA 98264 360-354-5995 www.lynden.org Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce 301 W Kincaid St Mount Vernon, WA 98273 360-428-8547 www.mountvernonchamber.com North Hood Canal Visitors Center 295142 Highway 101 Quilcene, WA 98376 360-765-4999 www.emeraldtowns.com Odessa Chamber of Commerce PO Box 355 Odessa, WA 99159 509-982-0049 www.odessachamber.net Okanogan County Tourism Council PO Box 626 Omak, WA 98841 888-431-3080 www.okanogancountry.com Olympic Peninsula Tourism Commission PO Box 670 38 MEDIA INC. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

Port Angeles, WA 98362 360-452-8552 www.olympicpeninsula.org Omak Chamber of Commerce PO Box 3100 Omak, WA 98841 509-826-5154 www.omakchamber.com Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce 121 E Railroad Ave Port Angeles, WA 98362 360-452-2363 www.portangeles.org Port Townsend Visitor Information Center 2409 Jefferson St., Suite B Port Townsend, WA 98368 360-385-2722 www.enjoypt.com Prosser Chamber of Commerce 1230 Bennett Ave Prosser, WA 99350 509-786-3177 www.prosserchamber.org Pullman Chamber of Commerce 415 N Grand Ave Pullman, WA 99163 509-334-3565 www.pullmanchamber.com Quincy Valley Chamber of Commerce 119 F St. SE Quincy, WA 98848 509-787-2140 www.quincyvalley.org Renton Chamber of Commerce 625 S 4th St. Renton, WA 98057 425-226-4560 www.gorenton.com Republic Regional Visitors and Convention Bureau 15-1 N Kean St. Republic, WA 99166 509-775-2295 www.republicwa.com San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau PO Box 1330 Friday Harbor, WA 98250 360-378-6822 ext. 6 www.visitsanjuans.com Sedro-Woolley Chamber of Commerce 810 Metcalf St. Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284 360-855-1841 www.sedro-woolley.com Sequim Visitor Information Center 1192 E Washington Sequim, WA 98382 360-683-6197 www.visitsunnysequim.com Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce 215 W Railroad Ave Shelton, WA 98584 360-426-2021 www.sheltonchamber.org Shoreline Film Office 16101 Greenwood Ave N, Room 4108 Shoreline, WA 98133 206-546-5829 www.cityofshoreline.com/business/ shoreline-film-office Skamania County Chamber of Commerce

167 NW Second St. (Highway 14) Stevenson, WA 98648 509-427-8911 www.skamania.org Snohomish County Tourism Bureau 1133 164th St. SW, Suite 204 Lynnwood, WA 98087 425-348-5802 www.snohomish.org Tacoma Regional Film Commission 1119 Pacific Ave, Suite 500 Tacoma, WA 98402 253-284-3267 www.traveltacoma.com/media/filmcomission Twisp Chamber of Commerce PO Box 686 Twisp, WA 98856 509-997-2020 www.twispinfo.com Visit Bellevue Washington 11100 NE 6th St. Bellevue, WA 98004 425-450-3777 www.visitbellevuewashington.com Visit Kitsap Peninsula 9481 Silverdale Way NW, Suite 281 Silverdale, WA 98383 360-692-1084 www.visitkitsap.com Visit Lewis Clark Valley 847 Port Way Clarkston, WA 99403 509-758-7489 www.visitlcvalley.com Visit Spokane 801 W Riverside Ave, Suite 301 Spokane, WA 99201 509-624-1341 www.filminspokane.com Visit Tri-Cities 7130 W Grandridge Blvd., Suite B Kennewick, WA 99336 509-735-8486 www.visittri-cities.com Visit Vancouver USA 1220 Main St., Suite 220 Vancouver, WA 98660 360-750-1553 www.visitvancouverusa.com/media/ film-assistance Visit Walla Walla 26 E Main St. Walla Walla, WA 99362 877-998-4748 www.wallawalla.org Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce 1 S Wenatchee Ave Wenatchee, WA 98801 509-662-2116 www.wenatchee.org Winthrop Chamber of Commerce PO Box 39 Winthrop, WA 98862 509-996-2125 www.winthropwashington.com Yakima Valley Tourism 10 North 8th St. Yakima, WA 98901 509-575-3010 www.yakimavalleytourism.com

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

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Location Management and Production Support Creative & Thorough Location Scouting • Friendly & Reliable Service

425.269.3396 dave@drummondmedia.com • www.drummondmedia.com

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40 MEDIA INC. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

NW

LOCATION MANAGERS/SCOUTS COMPANY CITY, STATE PHONE; FAX E-MAIL WEBSITE

CONTACT

UNION

SERVICES

RECENT CREDITS

A Hidden Location NW; Kennewick, WA 509-531-5454; fax 509-586-1957 ahiddenlocation@aol.com www.ahiddenlocation.com

Alissa Desler

N/A

Liaison for all government communication/film permits, scouting services, film friendly location database, 24/7 location security, transportation, accommodations, local background talent/local music artists, food crafts, production assistance.

If There’s A Hell Below, Family Escape short, Nature Valley commercial

Peter Allen Locations; Seattle, WA 206-601-1585; fax 206-774-2785 inquiry@peterallenlocations.com www.peterallenlocations.com

Peter Allen

Teamsters Local 174

Full service location scout and manager. Library of homes available for shoots listed on web site. Also a member of Northwest Location Professionals (NWLP).

Microsoft, Petsmart, TireBuyer.com

AOK Productions/Kathleen Lopez; Lake Oswego, OR 503-780-2767 filmmakerlopez@aol.com www.oregonproduction.com www.nwlocationscout.com

Kathleen Lopez

N/A

Director’s visions become reality. Washington/Oregon native, 20 years On Time, On Budget. Commercial, corporate, feature, indie, documentary, print, web, cable.

DreamWorks, ScottFree, Boeing

BK Locations; Ketchum, ID 206-669-8445 bklocations@aol.com www.bklocations.com

Bruce Kendall

N/A

Photography, still production, locations.

Wells Fargo, Toyota, FedEx

Jimmy Canavan; Seattle, WA 323-363-3062 jimmycanavan@me.com

Jimmy Canavan

N/A

Location manager and scout for commercials, films, music videos, corporate videos, and still photo shoots.

4 Minute Mile, Laggies, Lucky Them

Ken Coble; Seattle, WA 206-755-3584 ken@harvestmoonpictures.com www.harvestmoonpictures.com

Ken Coble

Teamsters Local 174

Location scouting & managing for commercials, features, television, corporate and print. Experienced & resourceful Northwest native.

Porsche, DreamWorks, Carhartt

Denise V Collins; Central Point, OR 530-545-0255 denise@denisevcollins.com www.denisevcollins.com

Denise V Collins

N/A

Over 20 years experience location manager & scout on features, commercials, still photography, TV & MV. COLA Location Professional of the Year 2007. Four time nominee. LMGA member.

Ford, Mercedes, Bentley

Common Good Films; Portland, OR 503-317-8456 enrique@commongoodfilms.com www.commongoodfilms.com

Enrique Arias

N/A

Location scouting and managing in the great Northwest.

Corporate: CMD, Respond2; Film: Raising Flagg

Dave Drummond; Seattle, WA 425-269-3396 dave@drummondmedia.com www.drummondmedia.com

Dave Drummond

Teamsters Local 174

Location scouting and location management for feature films, commercials, industrials and new media.

Serving Washington and the Pacific Northwest.

Captain Fantastic feature film, Laggies feature film, Macklemore: Dr. Pepper commercial

Doug duMas; Seattle, WA 206-300-6345 doug@dougdumas.com www.dougdumas.com

Doug duMas

Teamsters Local 399

Scouting the Northwest for 25 years.

The Architect, 7 Minutes, 21 & Over

Roger Faires; Portland, OR 503-975-1936 rogerfaires@me.com www.rogerfaires.com

Roger Faires

Teamsters Local 305

Location scout and manage features, commercials, TV, Wild (feature), The Librarians (10 episodes - TV), print ads.

Meek’s Cutoff (feature)

Floyd’s Locations; Portland, OR 503-704-0076 mike@floydslocations.com www.floydslocations.com

Mike Floyd

N/A

Location scouting and managing for the advertising photography industry, including location research, scouting, permitting, parking reservation, and on location managing.

Nike Running photo shoot for Connect the Dots Productions, Adidas photo shoot for Savage and Company Productions, Vero Moda photo shoot for Nee’em Productions

Mark Fristad Productions, LLC; Portland, OR 503-680-6807; fax 503-246-8716 fristad@teleport.com www.markfristad.com www.mthoodphotolocations.com

Mark Fristad, location producer

N/A

We have over 350 locations in the Pacific NW for still photography shoots. We also scout and produce for advertising and the apparel industry.

Ralph Lauren, Peruvian Connection, Reebok, & more

Sherrie Garcia; Spokane, WA 509-922-2362 garciaentertainment@yahoo.com www.visitspokane.com

Sherrie Garcia

N/A

Montana girl specializing in the Inland Northwest’s spectacular scenery. Montana’s Kootenai, Flathead, Mission, Bitterroot, Swan and Yaak Valleys; Kootenai Falls (River Wild), Bull Lake (Always), Washington’s Palouse; north Idaho’s Coeur d’Alene, Clark Fork country.

Target Corp., Coldwater Creek, Wilhelm Schultz Photography

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NW

LOCATION MANAGERS/SCOUTS COMPANY CITY, STATE PHONE; FAX E-MAIL WEBSITE

CONTACT

UNION

SERVICES

RECENT CREDITS

Rocky Garrotto; Grants Pass, OR 541-441-0842 rockyg1960@yahoo.com

Rocky Garrotto

N/A

Location scout with 5 years experience, specializing in Southern Oregon from the Coast to Bend.

Wild (Feature Film), GMC (National Commercial), LL Bean (Fall Catalog)

Shaun Gavin; Portland, OR 503-539-6113 spgavin63@gmail.com

Shaun Gavin

Teamsters Local 305

Scouting, permitting, and managing locations in Oregon and SW Washington for film, TV, and print.

NBC’s Grimm, Chevy Silverado, Nike

Girl Scout Locations; Portland, OR 503-998-2793 sara@girlscoutlocations.com www.girlscoutlocations.com

Sara Burton

N/A

Oregon native, ten years of Los Angeles residency as a member of highly seasoned production teams.

Commercials, still, feature film.

Toyota, Nike, Kroger

Mike Gust; Portland, OR 503-329-5251 mikegust@teleport.com mikegust.locations.org

Mike Gust

N/A

Location scout and manager.

N/A

JFoto/AllOverIt Locations; White Salmon, WA 541-387-4292 jay@jfoto.com www.jfoto.com

Jay Carroll

N/A

Location scouting and management.

Chevy Silverado (Roe), GE “Wind” (JTP Fifth Column), Proctor & Gamble “Mother Nature’s Gift” (Crossroads)

Locations PDX; Clackamas, OR 541-510-1434 bobbywarberg@yahoo.com www.locationspdx.com

Bobby Warberg

Teamsters Local 305

We provide location scouting and managing. We also provide location related equipment rentals.

Grimm, Leverage, The Librarians

Heather Murphy; Seattle, WA 206-548-9859/206-913-7312 (cell) murphh@earthlink.net

Heather Murphy

IATSE

Experienced lifetime resident of the Pacific Northwest with knowledge of Seattle and those beautiful hidden places throughout the state and beyond. Permits to personnel and history in all facets of production.

Kayak, Amazing Race, Percy Jackson 2 - Sea of Monsters, myriad of commercials from Amazon to video games

Northlight Locations; Portland, OR & Los Angeles, CA 503-780-7989/310-779-5683 northlightlocations@mac.com northlight.locations.org

Beth Melnick

Teamsters Local 399, 305

Over 20 years location scouting and management throughout the United States but centered in the Northwest for TV commercials, film, television and still photography.

Wild, Twilight, numerous commercials

Pacific Northwest Location Services; Everett, WA 310-770-3930 mark@northernlocs.com www.northernlocs.com

Mark Freid

Teamsters Local 399

Planning. Budgets. Permitting. Scouting. Management. Nissan - Imperial Woodpecker, Powerade Anonymous Content, National Lampoon Vacation - Warner Bros.

Jennifer Popp; Seattle, WA 206-617-8207; fax 206-937-8001 jenpopp@comcast.net

Jen Popp

N/A

Spin Creative “Wave”, MidCoast “Volvo Trucks”, Location scouting and managing for film, video, and photo shoots. Includes permitting, maps/directions, Sanmar “Nike Golf”, “Sports Brand”, “Workwear parking. One stop shopping - providing additional pro- Brand” duction support with casting, hiring crew, producing, production managing, coordinating, AD’ing, and props.

Doug Reynolds; Gaston, OR 503-936-4525 doug@locationsnw.com www.dougonlocation.com

Doug Reynolds

N/A

Location scout and manager.

Mazda, Nike, Ford

Craig Stewart; Seattle, WA 206-818-6357 craig@craigstewartlocations.com www.craigstewartlocations.com

Craig Stewart

Teamsters Local 174

Full locations services.

Tool of North America - Bob Richardson, Furlined, Rabbit Content

SYS Location Protection; Portland, OR 323-490-5849 josh@syslocationprotection.com

Josh Gambin

IATSE Local 488

SYS provides equipment rental and supplies (reusable layout floor mats, bubble wrap, carpet film, etc.) for location protection, and installation and layout management during filming.

Grimm, Librarians, Fred Meyer

TMKey Film/Research; Olalla, WA Dale “Doc” Thoemke 253-857-7402; fax: same thokefilm@yahoo.com www.tmkeyfilm.com / www.drthoke.com

N/A

Location provider, grip boat, and media rentals.

Presently filming the sea floor in depths over 800ft., locating, identifying, and removing lost fishing nets.

“Ghost Nets”.

US. Government, Washington State Government, North West Tribal Fisheries film production

Mark Wygant Productions, Inc.; Kenmore, WA 206-679-3072 wygant1@mac.com

Teamsters Local 174

Nationwide in motion and still photography. Location scout/manager in any medium.

John Deere, Chase Bank, Microsoft

Mark Wygant

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Helicopter • Scenic Tours • Commercial Ops

503-376-0190 • konect-aviation.com

Photography by Julian Wilde

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OUR PLEASURE. YOUR CONVENIENCE.

360-606-3489

www.FormalFlush.com Private 2 Stall Restroom • High End Toilets with Hand Free Flushing • Large Counter Space with Copper Sink • Fully Decorated Inside like a Luxury Home • Heating & Air Conditioning • All Supplies Included • LED Lighting Inside and Out • Hot Water for Washing your Hands Delivery and Pick Up

44 MEDIA INC. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

LUNDGRENS RELEASE BLACK ROAD DUO’S THIRD MOVIE FILMED IN SOUTHERN OREGON

U

tilizing a vast array of locations, including beaches, mountains, rivers, lakes, restaurants, retirement communities, universities, a minor league ballpark, city streets, campgrounds, redwoods, winding roads, and the Great Cats World Park, Gary and Anne Lundgren have leveraged the beautiful landscape and ease of shooting in Southern Oregon on three feature films.

Their third feature, the sci-fi thriller Black Road, starring Sam Daly, will be in theaters in October 2015. In addition to great locations, the film benefited from partnerships with members of the Southern Oregon community, including Brammo Electric Motorcycles, the Neuman Hotel Group and multiple local restaurants and equipment houses.

The Lundgrens have always been drawn to the area. In 2007, they traveled from Los Angeles to film their first feature, Calvin Marshall (starring Steve Zahn). This college-aged baseball film was shot at Southern Oregon University and Harry & David’s impressive, professional-sized baseball field.

After a great experience with local crews and locations, the Lundgrens moved their production company, Joma Films, to Ashland permanently.

In 2012, they made Redwood Highway, the story of a 75-year-old woman walking alone for 80 miles between Grants Pass and the coast. It was filmed at over 40 locations in 19 days across 200 miles and 4 counties. The ease of navigating Southern Oregon with minimal traffic and supportive communities made the arduous schedule a possibility.

The Lundgrens’ third film, Black Road, is set in the State of Jefferson, the mythical joining of Northern California and Southern Oregon. It was filmed completely in the Rogue Valley and on the beach at Arcadia Vacation Rentals between Brookings and Gold Beach.

In October, the Lundgrens are embarking on a screening tour through Oregon to show Black Road to their fans and to the communities that participated in the filming.

“The community has been incredibly supportive,” says producer Anne Lundgren, who also worked as the Ashland location manager and liaison between the city and the production company for the 2013 production of Wild. “We love living and making movies here. We have a talented crew we’ve worked with for many years. The people are great, the crews are professional, the landscape is beautiful, the light is perfect, and the clouds billow. There are plenty of great local restaurants and hotels to house guests due to the strong tourism industry. The community is supportive, the loca-

tions are accessible, varied and numerous. And people are still proud that movies are made in their town. It’s a wonderful place to raise our family, and we plan to make movies here for many years to come.”

Join the Southern Oregon ranks of working filmmakers or come enjoy what the region has to offer for a few months while you shoot your next feature! MI For more information about filming in Southern Oregon, please visit Southern Oregon Film & Media (SOFaM) at www.filmsouthernoregon.org.

Gary and Anne Lundgren.

Black Road shoots in Southern Oregon.

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46 MEDIA INC. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

DANGER DIVA LIGHTS UP SEATTLE

Photos by Regan MacStravic

L

ocal feature film Danger Diva recently wrapped after a successful 20-day shoot in Seattle.

Written and directed by Robert McGinley, whose 1989 film Shredder Orpheus remains a local cult favorite, Danger Diva is a cyberpunk musical/thriller about a hard rocking singer who is coerced into becoming an electronically enhanced new-music diva by her high tech billionaire patron. Set in the near future, her singing voice is used to control and energize the brains of employees that are being used as external hard drives for the corporations’ high tech clients.

Danger Diva stars Molly Sides, lead singer of Seattle band Thunderpussy, as well as Tim Gouran and Charles Mudede. The film was produced by Brian Faker, with line producer Elizabeth Heile, cinematographer Christopher Tufty, and music composition by Regan Remy. MI Visit www.danger-diva.com for more information about the production and forthcoming release.

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48 MEDIA INC. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

Red Door Films SECURES MULTIPLE TELLY AWARDS

By Mary Erickson Associate Editor

P

ortland’s Red Door Films has been operating in one form or another for over 25 years. Filmmaker and owner David Poulshock has accomplished multiple types of media productions, from ad spots and industrials to documentaries and children’s programming. Over the years, Red Door has been recognized by the production industry, but 2015 marks the first time that the studio has received nine awards in one ceremony.

The Red Door team on location at Goodwill.

Sometimes directing is like coaching a football game. Here’s Poulshock at the 50 yard line (center, back row, with the glasses) with his coaching staff. No, really, they were on location at a Costco.

Director Poulshock interviewing Goodwill’s “Teddy” in the style of Errol Morris.

Several of Red Door’s newest ad spots were recognized with Telly Awards this year, including a Silver Telly for “What Goes Around,” a spot produced for Goodwill Industries of the Columbia-Willamette. “The Goodwill projects are full of heart,” says Poulshock. “We can get into the lives of people who are willing for their stories to be told. The end result is good stories.” Seven other Goodwill ads won Telly Awards, as well.

One of Red Door’s strengths is its storytelling. “Storytelling is often used as a buzz word,” reflects Poulshock, “but that’s where the real craftsmanship comes in. A good story activates certain areas of the brain to produce a sensory experience.” As a result, Red Door’s projects are recognized for their storytelling excellence.

A series of Spirit Mountain Casino ads emphasized excitement and adrenaline, both on- and off-camera. Poulshock stepped into the shoes of the ads’ characters, trying bungee jumping and zip lining for the first time. “Dare to Have Fun,” which takes place on a roller coaster, won a Bronze Telly.

Red Door Films is shifting its focus to finishing post-production on a documentary, Raw Materials. Featuring three people who work in a Virginia plastics factory, Raw Materials gives Poulshock a chance to focus on character and integrity by showcasing the real people of blue collar work. Onscreen, we find a cowboy, an ex-felon and a seventh generation hillbilly as people worth knowing.

Poulshock’s one-man shop can take on work that fits his criteria, partnering with producers and other crew with whom he works well. The studio has grown and contracted over the past 25 years, depending on the size of current projects. Now, Poulshock is looking forward to raising funds for a feature film and continuing to fashion projects that are close to his heart.

“It’s a joy to get into the sandbox and play,” he notes. MI More information about Red Door Films is available at www.davidpoulshock.com.

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The Best in the Business www.sagaftra.org/locals/seattle 123 Boylston Ave E. Seattle, WA 98102 206-282-2506

50 MEDIA INC. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

A FATHER AND SON TEAM UP TO MAKE INDIE FILM IN PORTLAND

By Blake Laitner

A

wise man once said: “Never mix business with family.” But I decided it would be worth the risk to make another short indie film, this time with my dad (Mort Laitner). The movie is called The Stairs and being shot in Portland on September 30, 2015.

It is a personal piece to both of us, because it is a true story about my father, who as a 10-year-old overheard his father, my grandpa, tell about almost being gassed to death in a concentration camp.

In 2014, my dad wrote and published his memoir, entitled A Hebraic Obsession, and the first chapter of the book is the basis of our script.

Working with my father on this production has been a learning experience, especially because we are working with a tight budget, not like my first short film, The American Dream (available on YouTube), which had little or no budget. There, most of the cast and crew volunteered to be a part of the project.

On this movie, my dad, the executive producer, is quite demanding. The wise man knew what he was speaking about.

Now that we have a screenplay, insurance, a formal budget, a location site, a cast and a crew, we are all biting at the bit to shoot the film.

By the way, my mother, Shelley, is the security officer and catering director on the set. She is working gratis as a labor of motherly love.

To read The Stairs, Google it with my father’s name or find it on Amazon as a giveaway under the title of the book. MI

Corporate communications specialists.

Deep experience throughout the Northwest.

• Digital Cinema/Crews • Studio/Greenscreen • Post, Animation, EFX

sierra-media.com

425-259-4429

Everett, WA OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

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52 MEDIA INC. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

TRUE COLORS

By Sonja Johansen Waters

A CONVERSATION WITH JOHN DAVIDSON

J

ohn Davidson’s career as a colorist has spanned many decades. He has watched as the industry changed from celluloid, to its current digital format. The wealth of software out there allows many to try their hand at the craft of color grading, but few understand the intricate attention to detail nor have the eye or experience to correct the flaws, so his work stands on its own.

John and his performer wife, Cathryn Davis, recently relocated to the coast of Washington, where the vast beaches and windswept dunes and cliffs provide the backdrop for limitless creative expression. He walks the beaches every day, rain or shine, taking in the salty air and the vastness before him.

I sat down with him recently to discuss his long career.

What was your favorite project? “Hm. I love so many different types of work but one stands out. Back in the telecine days, I worked on a short film for Nike that allowed me to utilize all sorts of new and unusual filters. I found Fremont Glass and created a look that the makers loved. This client allowed me time and space to enhance their vision. I have also loved working with filmmakers who are crystal clear what they want, and those who are new to the world of film and ask my advice. I truly love the collaborative process.

“A project is not finished without correcting the light. Multiple cameras from different angles, or shots over several days can’t possibly mimic the same light. I correct that. Or what about the hands? No one puts makeup on the hands. They don’t match! People often can’t explain why they love a movie. It is the nuance that I notice and correct. It is the nuance, the attention to detail, that makes a film go from strong to powerful.”

John’s company is solely dedicated to color and he has the flexibility to work with you at his beach studio, travel to your location, your studio, or to work virtually, over email and cell. It requires hyper focus and strong attention to detail. He has strong connections with many filmmakers and producers, and has been called one of the best, if not the best, colorist in the business.

John continues to enjoy working with new filmmakers to produce a professional product with surprisingly reasonable rates. MI

Clients love John Davidson’s new coastal color studio where the noise of the cit y melts away and one can focus on art.

(Above) Cinque Terre. Courtesy of Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back Door. (Inset) John Davidson at Pacific Beach, Washington.

Visit www.johndavidsoncolor.com for more information.

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IN IT FOR THE FUN OR FAME?

By Stephen Salamunovich C.S.A.

I

’m sure that given the stats you’ll read about below, most of us in the media field have encountered kids or their parents who are interested in getting their kids into the on-camera acting fields. Since I’m asked about this far more than any other subject, I wanted to address this subject for many readers who’ve probably also come across this situation. And unfortunately, there are a lot of people out there willing to prey on the desire of kids to become famous and for parents to provide opportunity for their kids.

If your child approaches you and says they want to act, that’s potentially a wonderful thing, as may also be the case if they approach you about the desire to dance or play an instrument or paint or engage in any of the arts. But this particular request of acting may require more scrutiny, as it may potentially reveal a more concerning reason than just getting involved in organized “make believe.”

A recent statistic published in The Economist stated that in a 1976 survey, “people ranked being ‘famous’ 15th out of 16 possible life goals. By 2007, 51% of young people say that it was one of their principal ambitions.

The proportion of American teenagers who believe themselves to be ‘very important’, jumped from 12% in 1950 to 50% in 2005. On a test that asks subjects to agree or disagree with statements such as, ‘I like to look at my body’ and ‘someone should write a biography about me’, 93% of young Americans emerge as being 54 MEDIA EDIA INC. IN OCTOBER/NOVEMBER OCTOBER/N ER/NOVEMBER 2015

more narcissistic than the average of 20 years ago.”

I hope I don’t have to tell you how alarming this is. The rise in taking and posting an abundance of “selfies” has already started to be analyzed by psychologists as a symptom of narcissism among children and adults.

“FAME FOR ITS OWN SAKE IS AN UN SUSTAINABLE PHENOMENON OVER THE COURSE OF A LIFETIME. THE DRIVE TO CREATE, HOWEVER, IS LIKE AN ITCH THAT MUST BE SCRATCHED REGULARLY AND THUS CAN ABSOLUTELY BE SUSTAINABLE THROUGHOUT A LIFETIME.” Between my 31 years as a casting director and growing up the son of my father in the media town of Los Angeles, I’ve known many people who were famous, and most of them before they were famous. The only difference between the two situations is somewhat obvious, but given the stat above, it bears repeating and remembering—frequently! It’s this: More people know who you are… That’s it! It doesn’t mean you’re more talented or valid than you were before. I get about 10 “selfies” a week from kids who have been indoctrinated in our celebrity-worship society with its warped values of fame, no matter how dubiously

attained. They think that they can simply snap a shot of themselves and send it to a casting director and then clear their schedule for the next week for all the red carpets and awards shows that will surely follow without an ounce of study and preparation!

The fact that more people know who or what Kim Kar-whatshername is than know who Mother Teresa was is disturbing on so many levels. And don’t even get me started on the cast of the Jersey Shore, which I believe to be one of the signs of the apocalypse! It’s also the reason why the arts are being devalued left and right in the form of actors and musicians not being offered fair monetary compensation in a fit exchange of their gifts, and instead being offered the hollow payment of “exposure”, as if you can then turn around and offer it to your grocer or in place of your rent or your health insurance premium. Ego and vanity are enormously expensive commodities to which to aspire, and is the equivalent of worshiping sand, never realizing the beaches are covered with it. And fame for its own sake is an unsustainable phenomenon over the course of a lifetime. The drive to create, however, is like an itch that must be scratched regularly and thus can absolutely be sustainable throughout a lifetime. And the true expression of it will bring fulfillment whether one is famous or not. The expression of creativity can bring fame as a byproduct, but it isn’t the main motivation of true artists.

Having grown up in Los Angeles, I knew several child stars, some of whom have become famous adults. It requires

an enormous amount of emotional intelligence to navigate the challenges that follow fame for adults, let alone children. But acting for the sake of creativity should be its own reward, just like painting a beautiful picture or dancing to the full extent of your heart’s creative expression. The urge to create is a beautiful one and is an archetype exerting a pull, to some degree, in all of us. And it should be nurtured and kept in its purest state. So if your child comes to you and says they want to pursue acting, put them in a theater setting first to see if it’s acting they prefer. If it’s fame, you’ll be able to tell because they won’t be interested in the expression of acting as an end in itself. They’ll want to be on TV or in the movies. That’s your clue that their value system is in drastic need of a course correction.

Carl Jung, the philosopher and psychologist, theorized that the archetype covering the human desire to create could be found in the mythology of the mating of Eros and Psyche and their offspring was Pleasure. In the film Chariots of Fire, the lead character’s sister tries to get him to give up his desire to run and return home to become a minister like his father and grandfather. She finally asks him why he runs anyway since she finds it a frivolous preoccupation. His answer is brilliant: “Because when I run, I feel God’s pleasure.”

There is no better reason to engage in any artistic pursuit. I wish your child pleasure in all of theirs! MI For more information on casting director Stephen Salamunovich or his services, visit www.completecasting.com.

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56 MEDIA INC. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

A SIZZLING SUMMER FOR Water Buffalo FOR MANY NORTHWEST INHABITANTS UNACCUSTOMED TO HOT WEATHER, THIS PAST SUMMER WAS A SCORCHER. BUT FOR WATER TRUCKING COMPANY WATER BUFFALO, THAT MEANT BUSINESS WAS BOOMING. Water Buffalo’s new truck.

Showering people off at the Warrior Dash.

A Water Buffalo truck filled train cars up at the US Open.

“T

his summer was super busy due to the hot weather,” said Phyllis Brown, the Bonney Lake, Washington-based company’s owner. “Everything needed water. The first part of our summer, we filled up a lot of swimming pools. We also did a lot of dust control and landscape watering. Many wells have been going dry and we have filled holding tanks for homeowners.

Also, a couple of resorts had well problems and called on us for bulk water hauling.”

In addition to providing water services to homes and businesses, Water Buffalo also helped out on a number of local productions and events, including Hempfest, Pacific Raceway Nationals, Dirty Dash, The Warrior Dash, Rock and Roll Marathon, Festival of the River, Brinnon Shrimpfest and more.

“We especially love helping out at events and productions,” said Brown. “Water is such an important part of many of these events and I love reconnecting with the promoters annually. This year we were also excited to haul water during the US Open, filling holding tanks on a train carrying dignitaries.”

As for productions, Water Buffalo has more than 10 years of experience working closely with local film, television and commercial projects. According to Brown, most productions request rain-making or that “just rained” look.

Water Buffalo’s fleet includes six water trucks and two water trailers, but with such a busy summer, Brown has added another truck to the arsenal: “A 2,500-gallon stainless steel tanker that is perfect for smaller jobs and doing landscape watering.”

As 2016 approaches, Water Buffalo is looking forward to celebrating their 20th year in business.

“We are grateful for all the new and repeat customers from over the years,” said Brown. “We look forward to our many annual events and another great season of hauling bulk water for whatever projects arise.” MI For more information, visit www.waterbuffaloinc.com.

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58 MEDIA INC. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

FILM FESTIVALS

SEATTLE SHORTS FESTIVAL

CELEBRATES FIVE YEARS Photos Courtesy of Seattle Shorts

I

t’s been five years since the Seattle Shorts Festival launched, bringing with it the opportunity to see some of the best short films in the world, right beside their talented creators.

Since the festival fits so naturally in the Seattle filmmaking landscape, it might be easy to assume the event has always been around, lighting up November with award-winning animation, drama, comedies and more. The festival returns again this year with twice the number of short movies across two days, November 14-15, at the SIFF Film Center.

Says festival director Daniel Hoyos, “Our goal was and is to bring Seattle film lovers the very best short films from around the globe.”

And they’ve been successful!

Since the first event in 2011, the festival continually plays to sold-out audiences. Past lineups have included Academy Award-nominated shorts, such as Do I Have to Take Care of Everything? (2013) and Curfew (2012), which won the award for best live action picture. And 2015 may be another Oscar-caliber year: the festival will be screening the Student Academy Award finalist The Ballad of Holland Island House in the animation category.

One of the festival’s notable features is the number of Jury member Lucy Walters.

Festival director Daniel Hoyos with filmmakers from Fish Tale.

directors and actors who attend along with their movie, a luxury often overlooked in larger events that focus more on feature films. Last year, Seattle Shorts hosted over 30 guests, and anticipates an even bigger contingent of visiting artists this year, as the festival doubles in size from one day to two.

This year the festival is also proud to have a star-studded jury of powerful female entertainment leaders for the second year running. Jury members include: actress Alicia “Lecy” Goranson, well known for her role as Becky Conner on ABC’s Roseanne, but whose career spans indie film, television and New York theater; actress Lucy Walters, who gained notoriety as the Woman on the Subway in Steve McQueen’s Shame, and currently plays Holly Weaver on the popular Starz series Power; and actress Shannon Maree Walsh, who made a splash playing opposite Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo and Adam Levine in Begin Again.

And if that’s not enough of a draw, the festival is holding an all-night Karaoke party for filmmakers at Ozzie’s Five Star Dive-Bar, just down the street from the official hotel sponsor, the MarQueen Hotel, in the Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle.

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FILM FESTIVALS Still from short film Curfew.

The Seattle Shorts Film Festival is fast becoming a major Seattle event that attracts high-profile industry leaders and Hollywood fare, while keeping the main focus on filmmakers. Hoyos and programming assistant Jonah Kozlowski are looking forward to having two full days of programming to share with the region this year. The full lineup and tickets are available online at www.seattleshort.org. MI For more Shorts coverage, see page 61.

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FILM FESTIVALS

SHORT CUTS

Signs Everywhere

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hese films, both shot in Washington State, will be featured as part of the Seattle Shorts Film Festival, running November 14-15.

Even the Walls

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short documentary co-directed by Sarah Kuck and Saman Maydani, Even the Walls details the experiences of the residents of a public housing neighborhood grappling with the forces of redevelopment and gentrification.

Over the next few years, developers will be transitioning Yesler Terrace, one of Seattle’s poorest neighborhoods, to mixed-income, mixed-retail use, thereby destroying the tight-knit community that has formed there for more than seven decades. Even the Walls, which won the Golden Space Needle Award for Best Short Film at this year’s SIFF, explores the impact this is having on its residents.

“On a personal level, Saman and I created Even the Walls to explore our personal interests in home, culture and community,” explained Kuck. “Both being global nomads from birth (my father was in the U.S. military and Saman’s was in global development), we are deeply interested in what it means to belong. In Yesler Terrace, we were able to see the type of connectivity we had always been curious about. Although its networks had already been slowly dissolving (news of deconstruction were announced in 2006), we were still able to witness the relationships that make a neighborhood a community and a house a home.”

Kuck and Maydani used a series of personal vignettes to weave the film’s story, taking viewers inside the homes, experiences and memories of the residents themselves.

“Even the Walls does not ask a slew of architects, builders, academics or public housing experts about Yesler Terrace and its ‘track record,’” said Kuck. “Instead it takes a more personal approach and speaks with the experts on Yesler Terrace and its

Even the Walls

efficacy: its community members. Those who know viscerally the reality of what will be lost and what we can gain by shifting our perspective from short-term financial gain to long-term prosperity for all members of our city’s communities.”

She added, “The film’s storyline focuses on personal stories, seeking to foster empathy over sympathy. It avoids divisive thinking and finger-pointing, and instead exemplifies the life experiences we all struggle with, the joys we’ve known, and the desire for home, safety and belonging we can all feel.”

The film, shot throughout 2014, was made possible in part by the Seedworks Foundation, which gifted the filmmakers with its initial funding of $25,000.

“Only partially funded, we moved forward with production because the deconstruction was happening quickly,” explained Kuck. “Between post-production and distribution, we started a Tilt Campaign (similar to Kickstarter), which raised $8,000.”

Kuck and Maydani hope that the film will resonate with all those going through the process of displacement, especially those being asked to move because developers have decided the location of their community is now prime real estate.

“To destroy a place like this without honoring its existence, recognizing its place in a chain of incredibly similar events across the country, or viewing it as a great loss to Seattle’s social systems would be a disgrace,” said Kuck.

“We hope that the universality of the characters’ stories will help everyone connect to why gentrification is painful. Many people feel gentrification is for the best, and have a difficult time connecting with why being asked to move would be painful. We see this film as a tool for building empathy.”

Signs Everywhere

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rom director Julio Ramírez, the 12-minute short narrative Signs Everywhere follows a man who attempts to disconnect from reality, which results in an unusual visualization of other people’s struggles. As the images bring OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

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him into a deeper state of isolation, an unexpected event challenges him to break free from his unhealthy patterns.

The film, starring Tony Doupe and Cynthia Geary (Northern Exposure), was shot in Seattle over two and a half days, “which was a very ambitious schedule for the kind of script that we had,” said Ramírez. And time constraints weren’t the only tricky aspect of the production.

“We filmed in several outdoor locations that were challenging for us,” he added. “One of them was the intersection of Denny Way and Stewart Street, right across from the Orion Center. This was particularly challenging because I wanted to film during rush hour in order to create a more realistic world to immerse our main character. The other challenging location was the triangle park located at the intersection of Denny Way, Westlake Avenue N, and 9th Avenue, right across from Whole Foods. In both scenes we had a great deal of background talent participating, about 20 or more. We also used several cars as props, and had to stop the traffic with the help of the Seattle Police Department. I have to add that the Mayor’s Office of Film + Music was key in helping us reach our goals.”

For Signs Everywhere, TheFilmSchool—which boasts both Ramírez and the film’s writer Andrew Kwatinetz as graduates—not only served as the production house for the film but also partially funded it, along with two associate producers.

“The rest of the services and/or in-kind funding came from my own work and the work of many generous local and out-of-town filmmakers and artist friends who participated in the making, all of which accounted for at least 35 percent of the total budget,” said Ramírez. “That’s independent filmmaking right there.”

The film utilized 90 percent local cast and crew, the only exceptions being the music supervisor, two musicians involved in the film’s scoring, and the mixing and mastering of sound, which was done by a recording studio in Bogotá, Colombia.

“Seattle has a remarkable film community that is able to fulfill the needs of any professional film production,” said Ramírez. “(Our people) are the best asset that the state can offer to the film industry, followed by the richness of the region’s landscape. The sense of community that I have found in this region is simply hard to beat. And I mean in general, because I have found support from all kinds of people for every project that I have produced in Washington State.

“Many of them had never been involved in any film or artistic endeavor, but the idea of being a part of something that is bigger than any of us—that creates a sense of community and aims to make the world a better place—has always motivated people in this region to participate. I believe there is a natural desire here to support the arts, as well as the flow of ideas that challenges us all to move forward as a community.”

Signs Everywhere premiered in competition at the 2015 Salento International Film Festival Internazionale, winning the award for best film in the international competition. After screening at various other festivals around Europe, the film had its North American premiere at the World Film Festival in Montreal.

“Now we’re happy to be able to showcase Signs Everywhere in the Northwest before continuing the journey through the festival circuit,” said Ramírez. “IndieFlix has partnered with us to distribute the film.” MI

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FILM FESTIVALS

HERSKOWITZ JOINS ASHLAND TO PROGRAM FESTIVAL

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fter Joanne Feinberg departed from the Ashland Independent Film Festival in April, the festival searched for a suitable replacement. Stepping into Feinberg’s shoes, Richard Herskowitz brings over 20 years of festival experience to Ashland.

Media Inc. talked with Herskowitz about his latest foray into festival programming.

Media Inc.: Tell us about your background with film festivals.

Richard Herskowitz: I became the director of the Virginia Film Festival in 1994 and did 15 of those, leaving in 2008. This was an unusual festival. It was hosted by the University of Virginia and it focused on a theme each year (“Cool,” “U.S. and Them,” “Animal Attractions,” “Speed,” etc.). We mixed a variety of new and classic, narrative and documentary and experimental films. There were one or more big stars each year, and I hosted Morgan Freeman, Anthony Hopkins, Sandra Bullock, Vanessa Redgrave, as well as Arthur Penn, Michael Moore, Paul Schrader and many other celebrated guests.

MI: How long have you been in Oregon?

RH: I moved to Eugene in late 2008 when my wife, Jill Hartz, became the director of the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art (JSMA). She had followed me to Charlottesville, and it was my turn to follow her. Before I got a job in Oregon, though, I was hired by a coalition of arts organization in Houston to be the Artistic Director of the new Houston Cinema Arts Festival.

I’m currently programming my seventh edition, scheduled for November 1219, 2015. This is also an idiosyncratic film festival in that it has a specific, unique focus, which is films by and about visual, performing and literary artists. Once again, I can program a wide range of contemporary and classic, mainstream and experimental works, but there’s also a celebrity component; we’ve had Robert Redford, Isabella Rossellini, Tilda Swinton, Richard Linklater, and many other illustrious figures as guests.

Then, the University of Oregon invited me to start a film festival in conjunction with their new Cinema Studies and Media Management programs.

I started Cinema Pacific in Richard Herskowitz (Courtesy of Houston Cinema Arts Society) 2010 as a “teaching festival,” with a staff made up mostly of student interns. We also had a focus, which was films from Pacific-bordering countries, and had six great editions. Unforgettable highlights included bringing the Chinese movie star Daniel Wu, the Mexican screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga, and Seattle director Lynn Shelton, and importing the Adrenaline Film Project, a 72-hour mentored film competition I had started in Virginia. When I got the Ashland job, though, I told UO that I could no longer run the festival and teach, but that I hoped to continue two projects—the monthly Schnitzer Cinema film and gallery exhibition series, and the James Blue Project, centered on exploring the archive and promoting the films and teachings of this great, neglected Oregon filmmaker. Cinema Pacific continues, then, with these programs and my new role as Curator of Media Arts at the JSMA, and a film festival may return in the future.

MI: What drew you to working with the Ashland Independent Film Festival (AIFF)?

RH: First of all, I fell in love with Ashland soon after moving to Oregon and seeing the incredible quality of the productions at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Then, two years ago, I attended the Ashland Independent Film Festival and was tremendously impressed, and, frankly, jealous of the large, devoted audiences and great affection from independent filmmakers they had built up over 15 years. The program director, Joanne Feinberg, programmed it beautifully for 11 years; when she decided to move on, I jumped at the opportunity.

MI: Tell us about the World Film Week at the AIFF. RH: It takes place October 2-8, and is an annual collaboration with Coming Attractions’ Varsity Theatre. I had to proOCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

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Eugene filmmaker Jeremy Teicher, whose Tall as the Baobab Tree will screen at AIFF’s World Film Week.

The James Blue Project at University of Oregon celebrates the late Oregon filmmaker. (Courtesy of

(Courtesy of Visit Films)

UO James Blue Archive)

gram this quickly once I was hired, but I monitor international new releases and festival programs every day, and so I was able to choose films that were already on my radar. I wanted a broad range of countries, and we ended up with titles from Senegal, Brazil, France, India, Indonesia, Israel, Mexico, Norway, Australia, and the U.S. I was encouraged to bring filmmakers, and so I recruited Jeremy Teicher from Eugene, maker of the incredible Tall as the Baobab Tree, filmed in Senegal, and Beth Harrington, whose marvelous The Winding Stream: The Carters, the Cashes, and the Course of Country Music we’re also featuring. The full schedule can be found at www.ashlandfilm.org.

MI: What are some of your plans for the AIFF? RH: For the first year, at least, I’m going to follow closely in Joanne’s footsteps, and learn the ropes. Managing a screening process that attracts over 1,200 submissions is new to

JUSTINA’S CRAFTY

me, since my festivals in recent years have been curated and thematically focused. I did oversee a smaller “call for entries” section at the Virginia Film Festival and a “CineSpace” film competition in Houston, but this is much bigger. Even in my curated festivals, I solicit a lot of input from partners and audiences, so I’m not simply imposing my taste but also reflecting the audience’s interests; developing a good sense of the audience here will take a little while.

I do hope local audiences will be open to some of the interactive, new media works that I highlighted in Cinema Pacific’s Fringe Festival and Houston’s “Cinema on the Verge” section, since I think that film festivals should adapt to emerging modes of exhibition. I may also steal a tradition from the True/False festival in Missouri (my favorite American festival), and invite musicians and other performers to entertain while people take their seats. Finally, I have developed, over the years, very good connections in the “Indiewood” branch of the film industry, and I’m going to try to attract some of them to Ashland, hopefully with some major upcoming releases in tow. MI The Ashland Independent Film Festival hosts its World Film Week October 2-8, 2015. The festival will take place April 7-11, 2016. More information is available at www.ashlandfilm.org.

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San Juan Islands Sunset. Photo by Phil Green, TNC

FILM FLOURISHES WITH THREE FALL FESTIVALS IN THE San Juan Islands

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hree young festivals are establishing the San Juan Islands as a cinema-lover’s paradise for fall film watching. Each festival—the Orcas Island Film Festival and the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, both on Orcas Island, and the Friday Harbor Film Festival on San Juan Island—celebrates a sense of place and our connection to nature. Opportunities to meet directors and actors, Q&As with filmmakers, discussion about important cultural and environmental issues and the chance to explore the autumnal beauty of the San Juan Islands are just part of the appeal.

Eastsound beachfront. Photo by Robert Demar

The 2nd annual Orcas Island Film Festival – Off the Edge (OIFF) takes place in the artsrich village of Eastsound from October 9-12.

Venues include the Orcas Center, the newly upgraded Sea View Theater, and a beloved Eastsound music venue, Random Howse. The festival includes a short film contest, awarding three grants to filmmakers to use the islands as a canvas to create short inspirational works.

These shorts will be shown at the festival, in addition to a curated selection of feature-length and short films.

The festival focuses on films of the avant-garde, art house, trans-media and emerging edge film culture from around the world. OIFF curators work with the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) to choose the lineup. Visit www. orcasfilmfest.com for more information.

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FILM FESTIVALS Friday Harbor. Photo by Mike Bertrand

On San Juan Island, the third annual Friday Harbor Film Festival – Stories from the Pacific Rim & Beyond – carries forward the momentum of the past two years’ successes. In addition to award-winning documentary films and special events, Q&A periods with the filmmakers will enrich and engage participants. Five venues within easy walking distance of the ferry terminal present the opportunity to discover the historic waterfront town’s galleries, museums and shops without a car.

Running November 6-8, the 2015 lineup will offer more documentaries focusing on the Pacific Ocean and its Rim, with films about island cultures, marine ecology, environmental issues, great adventures and individuals who live and

work near the world’s largest ocean. A sampling of the over 30 films includes: Chihuly Fire & Light, which follows the renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly as he conceives and creates an extraordinary exhibition of his works; Unbranded, winner of the Audience Award at the 2015 Telluride Mountain Film Festival and Toronto’s HotDocs festival, about a real-life adventure that makes the case for better land and wild horse management; and Dancing with Thoreau, a unique environmental film told from the perspective of a naturalist and organic farmer.

The second Andrew V. McLaglen Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented at the festival’s Opening Night Gala on Friday, November 6, to actors Katharine Ross (who will be present to receive the award) and Sam Elliott, celebrating their outstanding careers in film and television. For more information, visit www.fhff.org.

Mt. Baker above Islands. Photo by Carl Silvernail

Finally, on November 14, the third annual one-day Wild & Scenic Film Festival at Orcas Center features short films made by change makers that are rethinking how we inhabit our planet. This year’s short documentary films combine stellar filmmaking, beautiful cinematography and first-rate storytelling with the festival theme of “A Wild Life.” Hosted by Orcas Center and the San Juan Preservation Trust. Visit www.orcascenter.org/calendar/showDetails.asp?key=747. MI OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

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Seattle South Asian Film Festival CELEBRATES LOCAL FILMMAKERS

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n its 10th year, the Seattle South Asian Film Festival (running October 15 – October 25) celebrates ties with the local filmmaking community that are closer than ever.

SSAFF has grown to become the largest, longest and most diverse South Asian film festival in the United States, featuring conversations about human rights, social justice, women’s issues, immigration and globalization engaged through the art of film from across the South Asian sub-continent.

Presented by Tasveer, a local non-profit whose aim is to provide a platform for South Asian filmmakers and artists, SSAFF 2015 will include 59 films, several of which were made by local filmmakers.

“SSAFF is a huge part of what makes this city rich with art and I am so proud to be a part of it,” says Amy Benson,

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whose Drawing the Tiger was presented by Tasveer as a work in progress in 2013 (as The Girl Who Knew Too Much). “Their involvement with and dedication to local film makes me proud to be a Seattle filmmaker.” Benson’s film will screen in its completed form at SIFF Film Center on Saturday, October 17.

Other local films at SSAFF 2015 include the short Flying Kiss by Tarun Seth, scheduled with Marathi family feature Killa on Friday, October 16, at SIFF Film Center. Cathy Stevulak’s uplifting documentary Threads plays at Seattle Asian Art Museum on Thursday, October 22. A local double-feature illustrates this year’s Festival theme of Coming Home on Saturday, October 24, with Songs of the Bards of Bengal- the Bauls and Fakirs by Monalisa Dasgupta and The Decision by Joydeep Das at Carco Theater in Renton.

Many of these projects are the first fruits of efforts by Tasveer and SSAFF to inspire, encourage, facilitate and exhibit the art of the northwest South Asian filmmaking community that continues to grow each year.

In addition to film screenings, as in past years, SSAFF 2015 will bring dozens of filmmakers and other guests to the Northwest to introduce their films and engage in post-film Q&As, and to dive deep into issues faced by filmmakers near and far during public workshops and symposia.

“As a film lover myself, I know it’s important to make our guests available to the community,” says festival director Kiran Dhillon. “Their experience is a precious resource and our panels and dialogues enrich the growing filmmaking scene here in Seattle.”

A two-day symposium titled “Human Rights and the Politics of Filmmaking in South Asia,” hosted by Dr. Alka Kurian, brings together filmmakers, film scholars, academics, and members of the community to discuss gender and sexuality, caste discrimination and violence, national and racial identity, secularism, and religious radicalization—and how these topics are represented in and influenced by film art.

The symposium will be held at University of Washington on

FILM FESTIVALS Monday, October 19, and Tuesday, October 20.

Also on Monday, October 19, a panel titled “The Art of Storytelling” will be presented at Northwest Film Forum, moderated by published author and management consultant Swami Jayanth with Tasveer creative director Smeeta Hirani and a powerful panel of visiting filmmakers. It is designed to be a time of conversation, inspiration and participation as these esteemed filmmakers share their secrets and guidelines to captivating audiences.

Both the symposium and filmmaker panel are free of charge and open to the public. MI To view a full list of film screenings and events, visit ssaff.tasveer.org.

TASVEER COFOUNDER NAMED GLOBALIST OF THE YEAR Rita Meher, co-founder of Tasveer, a Seattle-based South Asian cultural organization, was honored on Saturday, September 26, as Globalist of the Year by Seattle Globalist at their 3rd annual Globies.

Meher co-founded Tasveer (meaning “picture” in Hindi and Urdu) in 2002 with Farah Nousheen. Since then, the organization has grown to affect the broader Northwest community in its work of fostering, developing, curating and displaying thought-provoking work from and about South Asia.

“It’s an honor to have my work recognized,” says Meher. “It is still so important to bring attention to important social issues and spark conversation in the community through artistic expression.”

Visit www.tasveer.org for more information.

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