Indie films thrive in Eugene
Independent filmmakers
in Eugene often are inspired
by Hollywood productions
By Ryan Nyburg
Senior Pulse Reporter
Most people who witness filmmak
ers invading their town to shoot a
movie will remember it years later.
Some communities even bear it as a
mark of distinction.
People in Newport might remem
ber when Paul Newman came to
town and adapted Ken Kesey's novel
"Sometimes a Great Notion" back in
the early 1970s. Eugene and Cottage
Grove still celebrate the filming of
"National Lampoon's Animal
House," which remains one of the
University's claims to fame.
Maybe someday people will re
member that "Sisters," starring Chris
O'Donnell and Rip Torn, was partly
filmed on this campus.
But, while people tend to remem
ber productions that brought large
crews and famous actors into town, or
the films that played in theaters across
the nation, something else lies be
neath this — independent home
grown filmmaking. Emboldened by
others who made it big through the
freedom of expense and expression
that has become associated with
cheaper digital technology, these di
rectors, producers, actors and crew
members make movies right here in
Eugene with little or no money.
These filmmakers come from dif
ferent educational and economic
backgrounds. Henry Weintraub has a
high school degree and works at a lo
cal Circle K convenience store; he's di
rected six short films, including an
hour-long documentary on local
punk bands. Sophomore journalism
major Daniel Epstein helps run
House of Film, the University's film
club, and along with other club
Courtesy
Local filmmaker Henry Weintraub's “Eternal Lesson” is one of many independently made
films produced in Eugene. Weintraub has directed six short films.
members has created a teature-length
thriller entitled "Proctor." The rest
have equally diverse pasts, but one
thing that unites them is a love for
film and filmmaking.
"I've loved movies my whole life,"
Weintraub said. "I've been collecting
films since I was 10 and now have
about 350 DVDs. I swear I watch three
movies a day."
Many of these local filmmakers
have shared influences. Weintraub,
Epstein and Lane Community Col
lege student Tyler Benjamin, who
has directed a number of short films,
all cited Sam Raimi (most famous
for his "Evil Dead" and "Spider
man" series of films) as an influence
on their work. Other "do it yourself"
style filmmakers, such as Robert Ro
driguez, George Romero and Peter
Jackson, were also listed as artists
whose work was influential to these
small-time directors.
"Directors like Raimi and Romero
PART 1 OF 2
Today: A look at the independent
film scene in Eugene
May 27: How local independent
filmmakers fund, film and distribute
their work
have an original style of storytelling,"
Benjamin said. "They have created
movies which went on to set the stan
dard for their genre."
Storytelling is something else these
filmmakers value.
"I love entertaining people," Ep
stein said. "1 like to tell stories, but
when I'm just talking I don't always
have the enthusiasm to keep people
interested. When 1 make a movie, I
can tell a story while entertaining peo
ple. Movies just have that kind of
connection with the audience."
With the rise in new digital
Turn to INDIE, page 12
SLAM
continued from page 6
With a calm outer appearance, Kitt
Jennings shocked the audience with
inner rage and some of the most vio
lent and intense poetry of the evening.
I never realized expelling demons
could be so artful.
lire slightly bashful Cassie Sorensen
had some of the most beautiful and
spiritual poems of the six performers.
Her words were subtle yet fiery. Her
gently burning poems lingered in my
head long after she recited them.
Olivia Pepper's poems progressed
from heart-breaking to hilarious as the
night went on. She had a modest
quality that helped her poetiy get under
your skin. They were so heart-felt it sent
chills down the spine
The most impressive poet of the
evening was easily Jahan Khalighi. Me
seemed to summon ancient energy into
his body and release it eyes dosed, with
the passion of John Coltrane and the
delivery of a young Martin Luther King
Jr. People were gasping and whooping
and rocking to the rhythms of his meter.
His quivering voice and powerful por
trayal of the mystical idea of spoken
word gave him the highest score of the
evening, and he received an explosive
standing ovation from the crowd.
All of the poets were absolutely stun
ning. There was a great diversity of
stories and styles. Sometimes they left
you feeling raw and spent. Sometimes
they were hilarious. Sometimes they
lashed out. But they all revealed multi
ple truths that exist in this sometimes
ugly world. And there was hope buried
in all of the poets' work. In my opinion,
they all should have won.
Unfortunately, it wasn't up to me.
So, the four poets chosen to represent
Eugene in the National Poetry Slam
are Jennings, Pepper, Rutledge and
Khalighi.
After the winners were determined,
the crowd slowly dissipated into the
night as Eleven Eyes began to set up its
equipment. This was the end of the
event for many. The rest of the evening
was more of an insider's party, a cele
bration for those involved.
The 2004 Eugene Slam Team will
perform at the Willamette Valley Folk
Festival this Sunday at 1 p.m. in the Ben
Linder Room.
Contact the Pulse columnist
at carlsundberg@dailyemerald.com.
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