CDAPress.com
Local and National News- Kootenai County, Idaho
Saturday, June 13, 2009 – 08:24:58 pm PDT
By Alecia Warren
Staff Writer
A soft-spoken fella in old jeans and faded plaid, Gary Edwards would seem an unlikely Shaker in the movie making world.
But thanks to the pull of some palls at KNIFVES, the budding network of film professionals in the Pacific Northwest, the lifelong Coeur d’ Alene resident touts several public access programs that feature his original soundtracks.
His business card reading “composer” was but a dream when he joined up four years ago, he said.
“When I first came I was just a beginner,” he smiled. “Now I’m doing pretty well.”
Film production can generate a waterfall of career opportunities, said Sheri Stone, owner of the Songbird Theater and member of KNIFVES, Kootenai and North Idaho Film and Video Entertainment Society.
“Once we get production here, everybody gets paid, takes are taken out, tourists will be coming.” Stone promised. “All we need is the guys from Boise to back us up so we can actually have some major productions.”
The screen writer was speaking of the newest hope for the film-making group: An incentive law where the State of Idaho matches a portion of revenue generated by locally made movies.
KNIFVES members pleaded for more of such funding at a special meeting Thursday, attended by representatives of local, state and federal government.
Their pitches honed in on how Idaho’s film industry could jump start the economy.
“Over the years, pun intended, we peaked with Dante’s Peak,” said Peg Owens of the Idaho Film Office, referring to the 1997 film shot in Wallace. “Everybody wants these major motion pictures because they sped so liberally during production.”
Movie makers shouldn’t hold their breath for state funding, though, said Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d’ Alene.
“I anticipate a very flat revenue stream for the state of Idaho,” Goedde admitted to the 60- plus crowd in the Songbird Theater. “After 2011, we lose our stimulus funding, and that’s a huge hole. I don’t anticipate we’ll be funding any additional programs.”
Rep. George Sayler, D-Coeur d’Alene, said filmmakers should keep floating their ideas to the state to ensure they’re considered when funding does open up.
“Some aren’t necessarily excited about a film industry in North Idaho, so those are the dynamics in the legislature,” Sayler said. “It took five years to get that legislation done, so don’t give up.”