Don’t Crush the Brush

Ifirst came to this festival in the mid-nineties while working for Republic Pictures. Republic was being honored that year and a bunch of the executives were invited. However; one VP couldn’t make it, so Republic’s President, Robert Sigman, invited me to take their place. So, depending on your perspective, you can either thank or blame Robert, because, nearly 20 years later, I am still here and still volunteering for this amazing celebration. And I am pleased to announce— with the deepest gratitude: Mr. Robert Sigman is back on the board of the museum.

I’d like to recognize the following members of the festival committee, all these dedicated individuals who’ve worked the better part of the year getting this festival into shape —and most of whom are hooked as badly as I am... Don Kelsen, Tour Coordinator; Greg Parker, Tour CoCoordinator; Ross Schnioffsky & Warren Davey, the two guys who come all the way from Australia; and Steve Latshaw, our projectionist and one of our moderators. Sadly, we lost our dear friend and committee member, Ken Harrison of KIBS Radio this past July, and he is surely missed.

And another big “thank you” goes out to all the celebrities attending this year! Our festival is so grateful for your taking the time to help us celebrate the films you’ve been a part of. Your being here brings the magic of the motion picture experience off the silver screen and into our lives – a special gift… we thank you!

Don’t miss this year’s autograph signing, held in the banquet room of the Lone Pine Smokehouse and A Word on Westerns at the Forum Theatre.

I also must offer sincere thanks and acknowledge the hard work of Museum Operations Manager, Peggy Ray and staff and our box office Manager, Barbara Bahl, who answers all of your phone calls and all of your questions.

Even if you’ve ‘been there, done that’ before: get yourself out and into the hills. Experience first-hand why filmmakers have been coming here for over a century to make their movies.

We put this festival together with sweat, tears, and an awful lot of blue words behindthe-scenes, all the while hoping to preserve the history of this place and westerns in general, while encouraging new filmmaking in this unique and glorious area.

The 32nd Lone Pine Film Festival

And please... Enjoy the show!