WHO TO CALL: Community Editor Entertainment Editor Andrew McCredie Layne Christensen 9856-2131 (147) 985-2131 (118) Wilds of Alaska close to WHEN CAST and crew head “north” to film Alaska. a good percentage venture no further than their own backyard. By Layne Christensen eee creme tienes Community Reporter This family adventure may be a big-budget Hollywood import. star- ring Charlton Heston and directed - by his son Fraser Heston, but the “-erew is decidedly home grown. A full one-quarter of the {50 crew members live on the North Shore. where a portion of filming has just taken place. At the core are five guys from Eagle Harbour. .Production manager Stewart Bethune is a Hillside grad: director of photography Tony Westman a former Deep Cove resident. and “B™ camera operator Jim Menard a one- time Grouse ski patroller. Focus puller Paul Guenette is an Edmonton native who moved to Eagie Isle five years ago at the urg- ing of John Clothier, Alaska's “A” camera operator. Guenette and Clothier are next- door neighbors who frequently “talk over the fence.” The others, who live "within two blocks of each other, say they see more of each other at work than at home. That's aside from what Bethune calls “the big social event,” a walk on the seawall. Alaska is the story of a 14-year- - old boy and his 12-year-old sister who brave the rugged. Alaskan wildemess to rescue their bush pilot father (played by Dirk Benedict of Battlestar Gallactica fame) whose plane has crashed far from civiliza- tion. Along the way, they befriend an orphaned polar.bear cub who is ' being trailed by a greedy poacher (Charlton Heston). Shooting has taken the crew to Tofino, the Bugaboos, Blackcomb ., Mountain, Baffin Island, Churchill, ‘Cheakamus . River and __ the home Pemberton Ice Cap. The togistics of producing an outdoor adventure 98% shot on location are. thal cast, crew. equip- ment and Agee the bear travel by land. sea and air. Helicopters transported — the whole lot to the top of a glacier in August. For Agee, who was born in a Swedish zoo, it was the first time the six-month-old polar bear had seen snow, Menard had his first experience rock climbing when he was called on to rappel down a sheer rock cliff to a camera platform, just 3 feet by 3 feet, suspended 400 feet above a raging river. Westman claims it's the skills of each individual that enable the team to work with the elements and get the shots they need, Menard used to be a commercial — fisherman: Clothier, a mountain climber: Bethune, a ski instructor. Westman calls on his skills as an award-winning documentary film- maker to find “low-tech solutions” to the unique challenges of shooting in the outdoors: “You think on your feet and use the resources avail- able.” He says there’s a “no-budget kind of thinking” that goes on dur- ing filming of this big-budget Castle Rock Entertainment production. That may mean a hand-held shot. even. when a camera-rigged heli- copter is at the crew's disposal for $30,000 a week. Or setting up an ersatz studio in an abandoned build- ing on the old Versatile Pacific Shipyard site when the producers could easily afford cosier digs else- where. “It could use some refinements.” says Bethune of his decaying sur- roundings, “But it’s cheap.” cuts in Menard. With good restaurants and a camera shop nearby, and an expanse of space to accommodate rigging and equipment, “Versatile, Studios” is a perfect location, claims Westman. Besides, it’s closer to home than Alaska. NEWS photos Paut McGrath NORTH MEETS west: North Vancouver residents Greg Beaton, Harvey Fedor (second and third from left)’ and Cam North (seated) muscle in on West Vanners (left to right) Jim Menard, Tony Westman, Stewart Bethune and John Clothier on the set of Alaska. A crew of 150 has been filming the feature-length movie on location throughout B.C. since July. One-quarter of the film crew hail from the North Shore. Whistler doubled as Alaska for scenes that depict the crash of a Piper Cub piloted by central character Jake (playea by Dirk Benedict). For closeup shots, the mountaintop crash site (right) was recreated within an abandoned building at the old Versatile Pacific Shipyard next to Lonsdale Quay. Filming at “Versatile Studios” wrapped Oct. 2. The producers hope fer a spring/summer release. ee KKromschroeder | TIME-LIMITED PRINT EDITION DECEMBER 29, 1995 ORDER DEADLINE. Print Image: Price: 27x18 $250 early booking $215. We are now taking reservations for the new, time-limited print, MOON DANCERS-WOLVES by | artist Lee Kromschroeder, Print edition size based | A on reservations received by Dec. 29, 1995. MOON DANCERS is also available in a Premier | Canvas Edition of 450. Price, $675 Now available at: BILTON’S ART CENTRE 109 E. First St., N. Van. 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