A 24 Minute Film is 24 One Minute Scenes, a 90 Minute Film is 90 One Minute Scenes.

The video clips that can be viewed here are short sequences, or scenes, that will be stitched together by narration to create longer projects: 24, 45, and 90 minute films. As the sequences – scenes are finished they will be posted for review on Moviefeats. As background information, script copy and promotional concepts are written they too will be posted.

The process of making films is larger than the film maker and smaller than the subject.

Moviefeats is a preview of Anders Tomlinson’s Klamath River Watershed films. Many of these projects have been in progress for a decade or more. Now, they are in post-production preparing for editing and their moment to come alive through action, thought, color, emotion, and music.

The watershed stories had well over 900 shooting days during the past twelve years. 10 drivers, in their own vehicles, assisted on at least 300 days. Project mileage on various vehicles exceeded 100,000 miles. Four pilots and six boaters helped on water and in the air.

1,400 hours of videotape were shot: 300 hours of interviews, 350 hours of water issues meetings, 300 hours of nature studies, 200 hours of community events, 175 hours of rural American lifestyles and 75 hours of edited that were used for public presentations.

All of these films feature human nature and the migratory patterns that make up existence:
Tulelake, Crossroads of History, Fields of Splendor, Watershed Reflections– the Klamath River Watershed from Klamath to Klamath County, 2001-Water Shutoff, Refuges along the Border, My Face was My Crime and more.

The water shutoff of 2001 gained media attention. And the media got it wrong. It was not a “Klamath Basin crisis” it was the Klamath Reclamation Project crisis. There was no “Klamath Basin”, but there is a Klamath River Watershed, which was never mentioned. The closest thing to a “Klamath Basin” could be called the Upper Klamath Basin where Upper Klamath Lake is. And it wasn’t really farmers against fish or Indians against potatoes. It was Republicans against Democrats, and Federal agencies against Federal agencies. It was about power companies and metropolitan water users. It was urban versus rural, sound bites versus reason and fund raisers versus species in the name of species. It was a mess, and it was a reflection of the dilemmas of contemporary times. And it has not gone away. It is happening everywhere people struggle over resources as bigger powers attempt to make a profit during the turmoil. It is human nature close-up, and personal.

Most of Anders Tomlinson’s film work took place in the Upper Klamath Basin, a narrow 60 mile-long basin that runs from Oregon’s Crater Lake to California’s Lava Beds. It is an amazing landscape peopled by a hardy stock. This is the majestic backdrop to this series of modern American stories. And when they are put together they will roll across the screen like the saga of life itself. These films should, and need, to be seen.

Beside providing project background information, Moviefeats is a sounding board for concept and script development. It will also serve as a window onto the process and progress of these films. A sample of Anders Tomlinson’s watershed photos, writings and films can be seen at tule-lake.com/tule-lake

©2010 Anders Tomlinson, all rights reserved.