Picture Perfect

There is no better time for televised entertainment than February. Old Man Winter’s grasp leaves many of us feeling restless after months of being trapped indoors. With Super Bowl 50, NCAA basketball, sweeps week, and the Academy Awards in queue, no other month offers more televised entertainment. ABC boasts an Oscars’ night viewership in 225 countries making it one of the most widely viewed telecasts after the Super Bowl and other NFL-related broadcasts. Whether you are watching for the Red Carpet hoopla, the controversial dress, or to determine if it is finally Leo’s year, the 88th Oscars are sure to deliver. Although quality cinematography seems exclusive to Hollywood, filmmakers are drawn to the Pacific Northwest for its feasible production costs and serene backdrops.

It is anticipated that nearly 40 million Americans will tune in again this year as Chris Rock hosts this annual event to honor supreme cinematic achievement. Hollywood and its fans from around the world will be waiting in eager anticipation as each presenter utters the words “and the Oscar goes to…” Will the force be with Leo this year for his work in “The Revenant”? Will someone please give that man an Oscar! Critics will be watching for the Red Carpet showcase of dresses as actresses make their way down a runway that can make or break their career. Nothing sets social media more ablaze than a dress.

The world is preoccupied with the insatiable need for entertainment and certainly can obsess over stardom. I didn’t think I fit this mold until I encountered 2008 Oscar nominee, Viggo Mortensen. What does one say to an Oscar nominee? You introduce yourself and say something where your only option is to retreat to your vehicle with a desire to punch thy own-self in the face. I had a second opportunity to meet him and he remembered my name. I like to make an impact wherever I go. I don’t know that Viggo gets enough credit for what he endures.

Of all of Mr. Mortensen’s films, I deem Cormac McCarthy’s post-apocalyptic drama, “The Road,” partially filmed in Oregon to be one of the most thought-provoking films from 2009. My cinematic critical approach is not very complex; I gauge the quality of a movie by my ability to avert the prospect of nodding off. This two-hour drama is so profound and emotionally provoking that I not only remained alert through its entirety but for the next six years in its aftermath. To cultivate the intensity of the film, the producers utilized the serene backdrop of Fort Stevens State Park, Oregon. No place on Earth gives such chilling plausibility to a disturbing plot than the misty Oregon Coast.

Of all of the movies filmed in the Pacific Northwest, the 1985 cult classic “The Goonies” has as many as 1,000 visitors a day flocking to Astoria, Oregon. The premise of the movie entails a group of pre-teens that set out in search of hidden pirate’s treasure to save their home from foreclosure. Sadly for “Goonies” everywhere, Mikey’s house was closed to visitors by the owner in June 2015. Maybe it was that 1,000 people approached their personal residence each day. Where other than sleepy, yet mysterious Astoria, Oregon could Steven Spielberg conjure the quaintness of the small town of Goondocks?

“The Goonies” isn’t the only flick to cast teen characters in a film created in the Pacific Northwest that would captivate a colossal audience. Much of the “Twilight” saga was filmed in Oregon (despite author Stephanie Meyer’s setting of Forks, Washington). The mystical feel of Cannon Beach, Oregon is difficult to rival when fostering a supernatural plot. The only thing colder than a misty Oregon beach is quite possibly Edward’s handshake. Nevertheless, nearly 4 million people watched “Twilight” on its opening night and Fandango reports that five tickets were sold each second. It was third for pre-sold ticket sales, only behind “Star Wars Episode III” and “The Dark Night.”

Fans of Sean Penn’s adaptation of Jon Krakauer’s nonfiction book, “Into the Wild,” might be interested to know that it was filmed in parts of Oregon, Washington and Alaska. The premise of the story is based upon the travels and untimely death of Emory University graduate, Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch). The film includes a robust soundtrack from Seattle’s rock legend Eddie Vedder. Instead of embracing an illustrious and prolific career, McCandless leaves all of his finances, possessions and family behind. He reinvents himself as Alexander Supertramp and sets out on a cross country adventure. Eventually, he makes his way through the Pacific Northwest and into the Alaskan wilderness.

The Pacific Northwest’s repertoire of films is not complete without “Sleepless in Seattle.” The romantic comedy starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks has forever linked the minds of movie buffs to the Queen City. We could venture to suggest that “Fifty Shades of Grey” is the contemporary and darker twin that “binds” our minds to a Seattle cinematic love story. Either way, both films pack a powerhouse punch when it comes to movie-making.

Hollywood production companies aren’t the only contributors to the big screen. Tacoma’s Fireshoe Productions was founded in 2007 as a feature film and full-service media production company. Owners Eric Colley and Hallie Shepherd are both native to Western Washington. Colley states, “We shot our first film in the Tacoma area and have been here ever since. It’s a great area that feels like a small town but still has the city feel to it as well.”

Fireshoe recently released a World War II action/drama titled “The Last Rescue” that stars Cody Kasch (“Desperate Housewives”) as Private Lewis. “The Last Rescue” is currently available on Redbox and is coming soon to video on demand and other outlets in the United States. It premiered in many countries throughout the world in 2015. You can visit their website and view the trailer at: www.thelastrescue.com.

Next in line for Fireshoe is the suspense thriller, “Last Seen in Idaho.” The movie was recently filmed in Gig Harbor. The nail-biting plot is of a young woman who flees the scene after witnessing a brutal murder. She wrecks her car after fleeing the scene and awakens from a coma days later with amnesia. Despite losing her memory, she begins to have visions of her future kidnapping and murder.

“Last Seen in Idaho” is in its post-production stage and is set for release in the next few months. Several Gig Harbor residents, including the owner of the home, Marlyn Jensen, were used as extras in the film. Colley affirms the importance for a film to have interesting locations. “There is such a variety of places to choose from in Pierce County and the willingness of the property owners and their desire to be involved in a film is also very helpful. We’re always looking for great locations to shoot our next film, and sometimes we even write scenes tailored to a specific place that we have access to.” Photos, video clips, and the latest up-to-date information can be accessed at www.fireshoe.com, or you can follow them at www.facebook.com/fireshoe. When Fireshoe Productions isn’t working on a feature film, their company also does commercial video projects for every size of business.

So, why filmmaking in the Pacific Northwest? More and more states are offering filmmaking tax breaks and incentives. It has progressively become more economically feasible to film outside of Hollywood. Movie makers are catching on that we in the Pacific Northwest are more than just Starbucks, flannel and a Space Needle. As one anonymous blogger so humorously states, “This part of the Hollywood Atlas is home to magnificent forest scenery, Vancouver, mountain lions, a couple other lions, Bigfoot, log cabins, lumberjacks. Oh, and crazy people that live in shacks, write manifestos, and send letter bombs. Also expect to see hippies. Alternatively, we may get a beautifully forested small town, usually for the local kid heroes, who may be subjected to a horrible camping trip.” Having said all of that; when it comes to quality filmmaking, the Pacific Northwest has it all.

• The Oscars are Hollywood’s glitziest and most exclusive star-studded event, but the very first ceremony in 1929 was a private affair held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel - and a ticket was only $5.

• Chris Rock will host the 88th Academy Awards on Sunday, February 28, 2016 from Dolby Theatre.

• Not everyone can be awarded an Oscar or they would cease to mean anything.

• “I don’t think I ever expected anything like an Oscar ever, to tell you the truth. That is not my motivation when I do these roles. I really am motivated by being able to work with great people and create a body of work that I can look back and be proud of.” –Leonardo DiCaprio

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