Action!

By BRIAN WALKER
Staff Writer

Fledgling local film industry takes strides

POST FALLS -- Civil War scenes filmed on the banks of the Spokane River on Friday showed more than battle wounds.

They showed how the fledgling local film industry is alive.

Fred Plonske's property south of Post Falls became Harrison's Landing on the James River in Virginia circa July 1862 when Union army Gen. George McClellan withdrew his troops after fighting the Peninsula Campaign.

"We're out here to help the youngsters learn and let the old-timers be mentors," said Syd Albright, CEO of Post Falls-based K County Productions. "Everybody is excited about making movies."

The film is called "TAPS." It will be made into a half-hour show and submitted to film

festivals and cable TV channels such as The History Channel, The Discovery

Channel, The Learning Channel and others, Albright said.

TAPS started out as a short feature for another community film project, but grew into a bigger story involving re-enactment soldiers from the Washington Civil War Association, he said.

"One of the purposes of the preview that we are filming is to help us find sponsors for the big feature in the spring," Albright said.

TAPS is an example of how the area's film industry has evolved into a life of its own.

KNIFVES (Kootenai North Idaho Film, Video and Entertainment Society) was started about two years ago to promote a motion picture industry here. It now has more than 90 members. The Idaho Film Advisory Council was also established to promote production.

Besides monthly meetings and creating productions utilizing professionals as mentors, KNIFVES created a "KNOWledge Series" of weekend workshops taught by experienced filmmakers to assist members in getting jobs.

Before W.J. Lazerus began KNIFVES, he said there were "hardly" any productions in the area.

"This summer there are five or six independent short films being shot," Lazerus said. "We hope to double that next year. These aren't being shot by out-of-state, Hollywood types, but by talented Idahoans who are our next-door neighbors."

The films and workshops have helped local filmmakers and merchants to further understand the industry and be prepared when a large-budget movie arrives here.

Last year, the Idaho Legislature passed a film rebate bill, which hasn't been funded but will provide production companies rebates on qualifying films shot in Idaho utilizing a percentage of local crew members.

Paul Brand of Pretty Good Productions said Idaho is trying to make up lost ground in the area of tax incentives to attract filming.

"States such as Louisiana and New Mexico have seen a lot of companies come to their states with jobs because of favorable tax incentives," Brand said. "Canada has been subsidizing the film industry for years, and attracting a lot of productions north of the border."

But producers are banking on movie experience in the area to help spur the industry.

"There are quite a number of folks here who have extensive Hollywood experience," Albright said.

Among them is Hayden's Don Thorin, a retired Academy Award-winning photography director who shot films such as "The Scent of a Woman" with Al Pacino and "An Officer and a Gentleman" with Richard Gere.

"Making movies here puts them to work, offers new career opportunities for those interested in being part of the film industry and brings outside capital into the community," Albright said.

Lazerus said the economic impact factor is an incentive in itself.

"If a film company spent $1 million in North Idaho, the return is really three to five times more," he said.

Film production is a natural fit for scenic North Idaho, Lazerus said, and people from Hollywood professionals to amateur enthusiasts want to make it happen.

He said there are a lot of Idahoans and regional people who are working hard to make filmmaking a valid Idaho profession.

"The common factor is that everyone has a love of film and a desire to see production happen in our local area," Lazerus said.