”
We have no mistakes this year, just a big learning curve,
”
says Kim Bush, who smiles, laughing in spite of herself at the
thought of it all.
”
It’s kind of exhilarating that we can create this opportunity.
If you had told me back when I lived in Boston that I’d be sitting
outside in the sun in November, let alone planning a film festival,
I would have laughed at you.
”
“We have no mistakes this year, just a big learning curve,” says Kim Bush, who smiles, laughing in spite of herself at the thought of it all. “It’s kind of exhilarating that we can create this opportunity. If you had told me back when I lived in Boston that I’d be sitting outside in the sun in November, let alone planning a film festival, I would have laughed at you.”
Thirteen years ago, Bush was an executive recruiter, but California’s golden allure has a way of doing things to people, taking them in directions they’d never expect.
Bush became a stay-at-home mom, started taking cooking classes through Morgan Hill’s Adult Access and ended up producing a vegetarian cooking show for four years before forming her own production company. She calls the sequence of events that led her to this point serendipitous, but her placement as the Poppy Jasper Film Festival’s first planning chairwoman was more hard work than happenstance.
Everything started with friend Bill Leaman’s idea.
“Bill was the president of Morgan Hill Access and he was looking for a way to generate more funding for the station’s operating budget,” said Bush. “He sort of settled on the idea of a film festival. It started out in a living room and went on from word of mouth.”
The steering committee now consists of 20 people, and another 80 are expected to volunteer their time and talents for the weekend festival. They’re currently working together on a daily basis, making sure that everything is in order for Friday’s opening.
The event will screen 39 films that fall into the category “30 minutes or less,” far more than were originally expected.
“If we got in 10 films we’d be thrilled,” said Bush. “We got over 70 submissions and the judges chose about half of those. What I liked about the films is that we have such a broad selection. When I looked at what the jurors selected they hit it right on.”
Jury members adjudicated the films separately, taking home 10 tapes at a time and reconvening to discuss their selections after viewing all of the entries. The process looked as if it would lead to confrontation, said Bob Freimark, a local artist and filmmaker, but it actually went off surprisingly smoothly.
“I thought we would have a struggle because we came from such different points of view, but we were remarkably of the same persuasion,” he said.
Disagreements over placement were settled with group viewings, and the cream of the crop in terms of submitted material will be shown in a special viewing Friday, Nov. 12.
“The proceeds from the benefit will go to promote our scholarship,” said Bush. “Beginning filmmakers cannot afford to do feature length works, so this is a way that we can reach out to them. Our goal is to promote emerging voices in the California arts community.”
All but one of the festival’s entrants, it turns out, are Californians by birth or transplant, and many of the weekend’s more prominent speakers are linked to the area in some way. Special effects master and Oscar winner John Bruno grew up in Monterey and writer/director Josh Carmichael’s wife, Michelle, grew up in Morgan Hill.
“I’m from the area,” said Bruno (who still keeps a house in Monterey), “so I thought it would be fun if I could generate some interest and give back to the area some of the stuff I’ve learned.”
Community members also jumped at the chance to get in on the action and support what organizers hope will become a yearly occurrence.
“We have artists and filmmakers, but there are also plenty of business people who wanted to help,” said Bush. “Everybody is just so stoked.”
The committee started off with scant resources – $2,000 in funding from the Media Access Coalition of Central California – but “beat the sidewalks” to get the things they needed.
“DKW salon designed the shirt for us,” said Bush. “Fry’s Electronics underwrote the hats. Manou Mobedshahi, who holds the lease on the Granada, lent us the use of the theater. That was really our first big boost, and it just continued from there.”
Things are still up in the air, which has Bush crossing her fingers, but she’s confident that the community’s support is behind her and is simply hoping to deliver on her project.
“There’s a little excitement, a little glamour,” said Bush. “We’re getting a little crazy, but we’re still laughing, still pushing on.”
The Poppy Jasper Film Festival will run from Friday, Nov. 12 to Sunday, Nov. 14, with showings and workshops spread between the Morgan Hill Community Center, the Granada and Gavilan College. Tickets to Friday’s Juror’s Choice screening and reception are $50 as are weekend passes for the rest of the show. Viewings will be separated into two-hour blocks, each of which is $10 to attend. Workshops are $5.
To purchase tickets, visit the city’s chamber of commerce during business hours, or swing by the Granada on Thursday between 5pm and 7pm. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, but all efforts will be made to accommodate weekend pass holders first.
Info: www.poppyjasperfilmfest.com
Workshops
Workshop No. 1: Saturday, 10:30 – 11:30am
Electronic cinematography using Panasonic’s 24p cameras Presented by Panasonic – www.panasonic.com. Gavilan College – Community Cultural Center
Workshop No. 2: Saturday, 1:30 – 2:30pm
“Exploring the Wonderful World of Filmmaking” presented by filmmaker Tamera Fields. A two-part workshop. Part one, Overview: How to create a short film. Part two, Panel discussion: Women filmmakers discuss personal experience in creating short films. Gavilan College – Community Cultural Center
Workshop No. 3: Saturday, 3- 4pm
“The Hollywood Game,” an insider’s perspective on acting, directing, and filmmaking. Presented by award winning actor, director, writer, producer, Josh Carmichael and actor, writer, Darin Heames. Gavilan College – Community Cultural Center
Workshop No. 4: Saturday, 4:30 – 5:30pm
“Making an Independent Film” presented by Gavilan College, Grant Richards. Gavilan College – Community Cultural Center
Workshop No. 5: Sunday, 10-11am
“How Racing Sports Films are Made and Produced” – from field shooting on 16 mm film – to production. Presented by Fox Racing – www.foxracing.com. Specialized Bikes 15130 Concord Circle
