Speaking Of My Past Work
Yesterday was my last class at Pacific University for the academic year and we ended it with a screening of my first feature, Birddog.
This is not a vanity thing for me. One of many issues we discuss is racism and the final class is about Oregon’s history of racism. It really opens up the student’s eyes because they all have this idea Oregon and Portland have always been these liberal places and the reality is quite different.
I rarely sit in class when my film plays, not because I don’t like Birddog, it's because I’ve seen it a million times over it’s 20+ year lifespan. I don’t like revisiting my past work as I tend to see the flaws and compromises. It's hard for me to sit back and enjoy the accomplishment of completion.
Well I sat in class yesterday and watched it along with everyone. I am amazed by all of the people and places in the film that are no longer. Some of the actors have passed away, one of the composers is gone, and so many places that were so integral to my youth and my formative years are gone as well.
Yes, time marches on for all of us and places change. Portland is a lot different now than when I shot the film. There have been good changes and changes that are less good. I have always had a love/hate relationship with this place probably because I was born and raised here. There are places and people that I miss.
Pagers and Pay Phones?
There's been a huge change in technology. Birddog was shot in 35mm film, and Harv; the main character has a pager that is always going off at inopportune times. And then he has to go find a pay phone. (When was the last time you even saw a pager?)
Although pay phones back in the day were prevalent we had our own portable pay phone set up that we carried on the Grip Truck so we could place it in different locations. This made things easier as far as shooting. Drop the payphone somewhere with an interesting background and shoot.
I look at the film now and it still holds up. The cast and crew did a hell of a job bringing my vision to life and I'm forever grateful to them.
It’s weird for me looking at my older work. Remembering what I was thinking about at the time we shot different scenes.
Revisiting this film I see changes in so many of the people and places. A lot of changes.
Sometimes I wonder what happened to the guy who made that film.
Originally posted January 25, 2022