Since the summer of 2002, the Juneau Underground Movie Picture Society (JUMP) has been entertaining Juneau-ites with its twice yearly film festivals, while at the same time nurturing the creative impulses of local filmmakers anxious to dip their toes into cinematic waters.<\/p>\n
Featuring a mix of cinematic polish and DIY spirit, the latest installation of the Summer Film Festival wrapped up Saturday night after five viewings spread over three days at Gold Town Nickelodeon Movie Theatre. The festival delivered all the diversity and fun that locals have come to expect from JUMP with this year\u2019s version heavy on documentary filmmaking and, as expected, the expansive beauty of the Juneau area and all of Alaska.<\/p>\n
Filmmakers must follow only two rules: their work must be no more than 10 minutes in length and their production must have a Juneau connection. This year\u2019s JUMP Fest contained 16 films ranging from \u201cGert Svarney,\u201d the portrait of an Alaskan artist, to \u201cVideotone News,\u201d archived footage of Juneau in the 1980s, from \u201cOregon Trail,\u201d an ode to the Oregon Trail generation, to \u201cThunderpussy,\u201d the documentary of an all-female band as it rocks the stage during the Sasquatch Music Festival.<\/p>\n
JUMP Society Board Members Aaron Suring and Jamie Karnik sat down with me the day after Thursday\u2019s opening, to talk about everything the Fest has accomplished in the last 15 years and this year\u2019s batch of films.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year ended up being a little more documentary focused for some reason,\u201d Suring said. \u201cIt\u2019s always interesting to see what you\u2019ll get, because you never know when you put out the calls what\u2019s going to come back. They\u2019re all really good \u2026 I was impressed with this group.\u201d<\/p>\n
A strength of this year\u2019s fest seemed to be in how each film fit with those that came before and after. The pacing was well-done, keeping the audience engaged and surprised by what they were seeing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe get all types of different films, so you never know what you\u2019re going to get; we try to place them in such a way where surprises will come along,\u201d Karnik said.<\/p>\n
Through the years, both Suring and Karnik say that the technical aspect of the films entered has gotten better, but the DIY spirit has not been lost. They stressed that JUMP welcomes the entries of all filmmakers, with nearly all genres fair game.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of our phrases is stop watching and start creating,\u201d Karnik said. \u201cWe\u2019re really dedicated to encouraging local filmmakers of all different perspectives, ages, and experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
Based on the opening night audience response, Suring was pleased.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was well received,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople liked the films this time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other films presented included a very short and funny \u201cEditing\u201d by Jeff Brown; \u201cAn Ode To The Falls\u201d highlighting visually gorgeous shots of water cascading through Alaska wilderness; \u201cGoing for the Gold,\u201d a documentary that brings viewers into the world of a modern-day miner whose wacky-looking, self-designed equipment, hunger for gold and eccentric sense of humor kept audiences highly entertained; \u201cWho\u2019s That In Your Restaurant,\u201d heavy on music as played by Playboy Spaceman; \u201cGoing Off Trail,\u201d an exploration of the Treadwell area; \u201cVivo Aqui: Episode 4,\u201d an ongoing series celebrating localization; \u201cInside Out,\u201d a short from a considerably longer film about Juneau inmates leaving prison; and \u201cPanhandlers MC Rodeo and Toy Run,\u201d a film about motorcycle club members honing their riding skills and bringing toys to children.<\/p>\n
Greg Chaney is a long time Juneau filmmaker who has been part of every JUMP Festival beginning with the first. His entry this year was \u201cReflections on Running With Pretty Sharp Things,\u201d an interview with local playwright Aaron Elmore who wrote the play the movie is based on and whose understated and sometimes humorous description of the play\u2019s innerworkings bounces nicely off of the action on stage. Chaney sees the film fest as being an important part of Juneau\u2019s creative spirit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe thing to know about the festival is that it\u2019s not competitive. It\u2019s really a very welcoming and easy environment for someone to try something new,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s been a very supportive and pleasant experience all around.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chaney has the added perspective of having been to film festivals in other locales.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been to other film festivals, some internationally with the stuff that I\u2019ve done and I\u2019ve talked to a lot of filmmakers who tell me that they\u2019ve never had a local experience like JUMP,\u201d he said. \u201cEvery six months it\u2019s all local content, non-competitive and with large audiences for five showings. I\u2019ve never seen that anywhere else in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sarah Betcher had two movies in this year\u2019s JUMP Fest, \u201cFishing In Nome,\u201d and \u201cGold Dredging,\u201d both documentaries highlighting events in the Nome area. Nearly all of the filmmakers featured show up to at least one screening. For Betcher it\u2019s a great way to gauge what audiences respond to.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really enjoy seeing how people react to my films, like when they laugh or show other emotions,\u201d Betcher said. \u201cI usually don\u2019t necessarily feel the same way just because I made it. I may be thinking of it in a different manner as an editor. Someone not involved in the editing may experience it in a totally different way and I learn a lot every time I have the opportunity to see a public showing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Just as winter always follows summer, so too another JUMP fest will happen in about six months\u2019 time with the arrival of new work.<\/p>\n
A fair number of the filmmakers who participate in the festivals have done so numerous times but Karnik is quick to point out the importance of new blood as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe love it when a new filmmaker pops up, someone that we don\u2019t even know,\u201d Karnik said. \u201cIt\u2019s really exciting to me when someone is showing their first film ever.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2022 Thomas Kellar is a freelance writer living in Juneau.<\/b><\/p>\n
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