Local folks Four filmmakers mine Valley for talent
By Luis Gomez of the Union-Bulletin
Their names may not measure up to those of such filmmakers as Steven Spielberg, George Lucas or Alfred Hitchcock.
But that never stopped them from yelling, ``Action!''
Even in a place far and far away from Hollywood, local artists such as Brian Gurnett, Tiffany Sinclair, Brian Sheridan and Zachary Magan-Love are spotlighting one of Walla Walla's resources - actors.
The city may have had a short brush with local filmmakers in the past but some say a resurrection may have ensued after a 2004 feature-length film by Sinclair.
Gurnett, 23, isn't sure if Sinclair's film, ``Praey,'' a 102-minute thriller film about a woman's redemption, sparked interest among other amateurs.
But it could certainly explain a promising future for filmmaking in Walla Walla, he said.
Sheridan, 27, and Gurnett, who sometimes work together, agree this small town is an ideal place to make films.
Unlike major cities, Walla Walla offers a fresh crop of actors and plenty of scenic locations free of the legal hurdles, said Sheridan.
Fat Cat's, a tavern on Main Street, was closed one Sunday morning solely for the filming of a bloody scene in Sheridan's project, ``A day in the life,'' he said.
Had it been in another, major city the scene would have cost more to shoot because of insurance, he said.
For Gurnett's latest project ``The man who hated music,'' which is expected to be finished in two months, he has used student-filled classrooms for some of the scenes of the 30-minute film.
Just for the fact that Walla Walla High School's principal has opened the doors to Gurnett, he said it speaks a lot about the local response to filmmaking.
``I think people in this town want this,'' he said.
However, Sinclair has a warning for those with an itch to become the next Spielberg.
``It's a lot more work than people realize,'' Sinclair said. ``If you want to be rich and famous ... you've got a long way to go.''
She said modern technology has made filmmaking more accessible now than any time before. But it takes committment to stick with a project, she said.
One thing that separates a movie from a video is story and structure, said Gurnett, who works as a Hastings cashier while making television commercials on the side.
Magan-Love, who has taken strides with his current film project that has been interrupted by scheduling conflicts, believes in learning from one's own mistakes.
Magan-Love said it's a matter of taking the lessons of one experience and incorporating it into the next film.
Or as Gurnett says - he went to the school of ``trial and error.''
Magan-Love, a theater actor himself, said he would like his film, which is still untitled, to expose the talent of Walla Walla actors to the rest of the world.
Although there are small chances of the films getting picked for an Oscar, they offer the opportunity to put Walla Walla on the filmmaker's map, said Magan-Love.
Case in point, Sinclair's finished product ``Praey'' is in the works for being distributed worldwide on DVD by SRS Cinema.
Luis Gomez can be reached at lgomez@ubnet.com or by calling 525-3300, ext. 291.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION To learn more about some of these films:
More about Sinclair and Sheridan's projects such as ``Praey'' and ``A day in the life:'' www.carsinogeniccandy.com More about Gurnett's film and music projects:
www.apedogproductions.com
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