I have found that filmmaking is much like a good journey – a journey with very distinct and bookended chapters. It’s been almost one year since Heart of Alaska was funded through a kickstarter campaign and we are now finally ready to take the film on tour. Each step, or chapter, over the last year has brought me this point and I am excited to be able to share what we’ve created with audiences around the state.
There are many issues, points to consider and, I hope, take-aways within the film, but one of the strongest that resonates within me is the idea of personal choices and accountability to future generations. With that in mind, I have decided to do this first film tour by bicycle.
We will premier the film here in the ‘cosmic hamlet’ of Homer on November 17-18. These will be the events we pull out all the stops for. Hig, Erin, Katmai and Lituya (subjects of the film) will be in attendance and Homer artist Sarah Frary, who drew and painted all the beautiful maps for the film, will not only be attending, she will also be displaying her original art. The film will screen at the Islands and Oceans Visitor Center theatre. Local nonprofits Cook Inletkeeper and Kachemak Bay Conservation Society have partnered with the film and graciously covered the theatre rental.
After the two screenings in Homer, I will straddle my bicycle and make my way to Soldotna to show the film at the Kenai Peninsula College on the 20th of November. Then I head onward to Seward for a screening at the KM Rae Building on the 24th. Both my brothers live in Seward so I will take a little layover for Thanksgiving to spend time with them before biking to Whittier and catch the ferry to Cordova. We’ve partnered with Prince William Science Center to show the film in the brand new Cordova Center on the 28th. Lastly, I will return to Whittier by ferry and then bike to Anchorage in time for the Anchorage International Film Festival, which the film has been selected to screen at.
Another thing I’ve come to realize about filmmaking is that it is impossible to make films without a community. This film would be nothing without the support of the 170 kickstarter backers. It would be nothing without all the eloquent and willing subjects, and it would be a hollow display without the fantastically talented contributors: Mark Teckenbrock, Skyler Kline, Sarah Frary, Daniel Zatz, Luc Mehl and the amazing Anchorage band Historian. Being able to bring the film to these communities has been the effort of many amazing people and organizations. I will be biking alone on my beautiful Salsa bicycle but I will be carrying a piece of so many people on this next stage of the films journey.
There are still many chapters to come for Heart of Alaska but sharing it with audiences within Alaska is, for me, a big one. I hope many of you reading this will be able to join us for one of these events.
Schedule of screenings:
Homer: November 17-18 6:30 PM @ Islands and Oceans Visitor Center
Soldotna: November 20 6:30 PM @ Kenai Peninsula College
Seward: November 24 6:30 PM @ KM Rae Building
Cordova: November 28 6:30 PM @ Cordova Center
Anchorage: December 13 11:00 AM @ Alaska Experience Theatre
