Last fall a company from Peru reached out with an "art film" project. They needed snow, ice, Natives, drama - in a word, they needed Alaska. We do all of that here on a nearly daily basis. We see it from our kitchen windows or in the rear view or as we climb the rise in front of us and Alaska reveals itself in such a way that leaves even Alaskans humbled.
Our days this past March with a film crew from Patria was a time like that. That perfect storm of energy, creativity and golden light. Cameras, talent, crew and story all converged for a week and together magic happened right before our eyes.
Alaskan Actor Ishmael Hope, in role of "ATKA" on the set of "Frontier Azul".
Alaskan Actress Theresa Babcock, in the role of "AGA" on the set of "Frontier Azul"
Rafael Acuña was the Producer for Patria and Jorges Carmona, the Director. We shot near Talkeetna, where we could build the set and burn it down without disturbing neighbors or the local fire department. It burned exactly as hoped and planned.
Atka looks on as his home burns to the ground.
It made for a great spectacle as we all stood back and watched the flames. With the burning of their house, ATKA and his wife, AGA load into their dogsled and head back to the village and lives left behind months earlier.
Iditarod Dog Musher, Nick Pettit
Nick Pettit supplied the dogs and sled. They were just weeks away from their run on the Iditarod. The dogs and Nick were a laid back team.
The crew looks on as the set burns to the ground.
Now fingers are crossed that somewhere in the final edit we have not lost what all of us found and witnessed and held our breathe for as Alaska spread it's wings and took us for a ride last March. The feature film "Frontier Azul" will be hitting the film festival circuit internationally this coming year as a universal story unfolds of life and death and life.
Paddling out of Blackstone Bay in Prince William Sound.