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Seattle Film + Music Blog

Survey sheds light on state of Seattle’s creative economy

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Darryl Anderson* is forty years old, and a Seattle native. Darryl has been working in video production at a local TV news station for fifteen years, and recently lost his job. With having to pay his own health insurance and rising housing costs, Darryl is uncertain of how to continue working and living in Seattle. Darryl is struggling to make a living as a creative professional  in this city.

In order to better understand the state of Seattle’s creative economy and the challenges facing local creators like Darryl, the Office of Film + Music (OFM) conducted a Creative Economy Survey in September 2017. The creative economy is defined as the network of industries whose work, products or services are inherently creative or artistic. This includes sectors such as architecture, creative technology such as virtual reality, preforming arts, music, film and media, and other fields.

The Creative Economy Survey was an online questionnaire, distributed through OFM and partner organizations’ networks. This should be not viewed as as a scientific study or representational sample of the entire city. A forthcoming study will be designed to be more inclusive, comprehensive, and reflective of many facets of the economy. That said, of the 549 people who responded to this survey, we were able to begin to recognize some broad trends that will help inform future study. Here are some of our findings:

What do they need? #1: Affordable Housing

89% rated access to affordable housing as difficult or very difficult.

What do they need? #2: Affordable Workspace

82% rated access to affordable workspaces difficult or very difficult.

Who responded: race. 79% white respondents. 10% preferred not to answer. 4% African American. 4% other. 3% Asian American. 3% Hispanic/Latino. 1% American Indian/Alaska Native. .4% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander.

79% of survey respondents were white, while 11% of the respondents identified as people of color, with 10% preferring not to indicate their race. For comparison, roughly 70% of Seattle’s general population is white and 30% are people of color.

 

People of color more often rated financial resources and professional development as “very necessary” to achieving success in their creative careers. 35% of people of color rated financial resources as very difficult to access, as opposed to 19% of white respondents.

The Office of Film + Music is committed to ensuring that all communities are fairly represented in the forthcoming study.

Survey respondents emphasized how much they value Seattle’s reputation as a creative and progressive city. In their view, the creative economy benefits Seattle by developing Seattle’s unique global identity, creating a sense of community and increasing cultural diversity. When asked about their vision for the future, they stressed the importance of affordability, maintaining a vibrant arts and culture ecosystem, and diversity and inclusion.

This initial survey laid the groundwork for the larger Creative Economy Study to be completed this year. The results of the study, in conjunction with other data, will help the City move forward in finding solutions to help artists and creative professionals live and thrive in Seattle.

Stay up-to-date on the Creative Economy Study and other news from the Office of Film + Music by subscribing to our newsletter.

*name has been changed to preserve anonymity

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First Mixer of 2018 explores virtual reality

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Crowd of guests at the January 2018 Mixer.

The Seattle Office of Film + Music’s first monthly Mixer event of the year allowed guests to immerse themselves in the latest virtual reality technology while networking with other industry professionals. Hosted this month at the Vera Project, attendees tried out HTC Vives and demos from multiple VR/AR/XR/360 video creators. Local nonprofit SIXR, UW CoMotion, and XR cinematic content creators Electric Dream Factory were all on hand to show guests the latest and greatest in this pioneering industry.

A guest at the Mixer tries out a VR headset.

Seattle’s booming tech scene makes us one of the most exciting places to be in VR technology. The January Mixer showcased some of the best of this new technology and the possibilities it offers for new ways of filmmaking and creative storytelling.

The Mixer is held on the last Wednesday of every month, featuring rotating activities and presentations throughout the year. Guests of all ages are welcome to come enjoy food and drinks and mingle with Seattle’s creative professionals.

The Mixer will be hosted at Seattle Center throughout 2018, with February’s Mixer shaking down at KEXP on February 28. Have something you’d like to see at an upcoming Mixer? Email us at filmandmusicoffice@seattle.gov.

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Workshop provides free business training to creative entrepreneurs

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Picture of class at Ventures' Business Planning for Creatives workshop.

A pilot workshop held in late 2017 provided a group of Seattle-area artists and creative enterprises with free training on how to turn their creative passions into successful businesses. The two-day workshop, hosted by Ventures Nonprofit in partnership with the Seattle Music Commission and the Seattle Office of Film + Music, helped participants work through the basics of starting or growing their small business.

Ventures Nonprofit provides training, resources and mentorship for people with limited resources to be successful in entrepreneurship. This pilot workshop series, funded by the Seattle Music Commission, applied Ventures’ traditional business education to the world of film, media, music and dance. Participants worked individually and in groups to develop elevator pitches for their businesses, practice the nuts and bolts of finance, and more over the six-hour course.

View the workshop – divided into lessons on different topics – on OFM’s YouTube channel.

Stay tuned for information about future training opportunities.

Do you have feedback or ideas about supporting creative businesses? Email us at filmandmusicoffice@seattle.gov.

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Screenings at SIFF: International Cat Day

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A picture of the SIFF theater in Uptown

Seattle has earned its reputation as a city of cat-lovers, so it comes as no surprise that an audience of over a hundred joined the SIFF Uptown Theater for an International Cat Day Celebration on October 29.

While SIFF is best known for its annual Film Festival held every spring (the largest film festival in the United States), it also hosts special screenings, educational events, and regular cinema programming throughout the year. Locally owned and operated since 1976, SIFF offers its patrons a bevy of unique films and events (and reasonably priced snacks) year-round at SIFF’s three classic movie houses. The National Cat Day Celebration featured a special screening of the documentary Kedi and hosted a cat toy-making station, courtesy of Mud Bay.

The screening began with a 50-minute curated selection of the best cat videos the internet has to offer, including an extended collection of the YouTube famous Maru and ending with the quintessential (and local!) keyboard cat. While most of us know what it’s like to watch a cat video at home, the SIFF show was a unique chance to watch along with a crowd of vocal and enthusiastic cat lovers.

The collection was followed by Cats of the Urban Wild, a 10-minute short film from the New Yorker about volunteer efforts to effectively and humanely control the overpopulation of stray cats in New York City.

The feature presentation, Kedi, is a critically-acclaimed documentary on Istanbul’s street feline population, directed by Ceyda Torun. The film is a charming series of vignettes on individual cats across Istanbul and the humans in their lives, all interspersed with beautiful, sweeping shots of the city.

As the audience was reminded at the beginning of the screening, “National Cat Day is not just a day to celebrate cats, but also remember there are lots of cats out there who need homes.”

You can find information about SIFF’s variety of upcoming events here. SIFF also offers year-round educational programming for youth, filmmakers, and the general public. See what they’re up to on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and on their very own media page.

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Giants in the Trees: Local Band, Former Nirvana Bassist

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Krist Novoselic – the former bassist for Nirvana, has formed a new band. Giants in the Trees was formed in Wahkiakum County Grange, and have recently released their first single “Sasquatch.”

Although this isn’t the first band Novoselic has been in since Nirvana, it’s an exciting new project with experienced and talented musicians. Novoselic did some recordings with Foo Fighters, the band Nirvana’s former drummer, Dave Grohl founded after Kurt Cobain’s passing.

Giants in the Trees was created only last year, and have been mostly playing local small venues. Over the summer, they have played shows in Seattle, Portland, Spokane, Skamokawa and Olympia.

Jillian Raye, Erik Friend, Ray Prestegard and Novoselic met through the local Grange organization, and are heavily involved with environmentalism. The band values “inclusive democracy, humanity, peace, prosperity, sustainable living, compassion, community, decentralization.”

Giants in the Trees is still small and local, despite having former member of a widely recognized iconic band as their bassist.

Krist Novoselic is a Grammy award winner and a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The band has been recording new music for a project that has yet to be titled.

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Q&A with ‘Captain Fantastic’ Location Manager, Dave Drummond

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It’s no secret that we live in a gorgeous part of the world here in Washington. The diverse and scenic terrain of our region helps attract films, commercials, and television productions to film here.

Indie hit Captain Fantastic is a recent example of a production that benefited from – and draws attention to – our local landscapes.

The film last year took home SIFF’s Golden Space Needle Award for Best Film (pictured below) and received a 10-minute standing ovation at Cannes. The accolades have continued to roll in, with the film’s star Viggo Mortensen up for Best Actor at this weekend’s Academy Awards.

 

As we head into Oscars weekend, we turn to Captain Fantastic location scout and manager, Dave Drummond, to learn more about the production and what it means for our local film industry.

 

OFM: How did you get your start in film, and how has your career evolved?

DD: After working in the corporate world for several years, I left to pursue a career in the film & video business.  I started out working in a variety of roles, but over time determined that location scouting & management were a good fit for my skills.  After initially working on short films and small industrial videos, I was fortunate to mentor under a longtime location manager, who gave me the opportunity to work on Grey’s Anatomy.   From there I began working on larger and more complex projects, including several different films and television shows that have shot in Washington.

 

OFM: How did Captain Fantastic come to be filmed in Washington?

DD: The story was written with the forests of the Pacific Northwest in mind, but we had to prove to the filmmakers that Washington was the best fit for the project.   I met with the director and producers very early in the process, showing them various wilderness areas in the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges.  They were thrilled with the possibilities, but it was the Motion Picture Competitiveness Program that solidified their willingness to shoot here.  Without the film incentive, they would have taken the project to Oregon or Northern California.

'Captain Fantastic' location manager Dave Drummond

Location manager Dave Drummond sizes up one of the many Washington state locations where ‘Captain Fantastic’ was filmed

OFM: Captain Fantastic filmed in more than 25 different locations in Washington. How does that compare to other films you’ve worked on?

DD: Captain Fantastic was one of the most challenging projects I’ve worked on and included locations in several different parts of the state, including the Olympic Peninsula, the North Cascades, and eastern Washington.  The nature of the story required many of our locations to feel wild and remote.  One of our primary sets required the building of a new road in order to reach it.  We also worked with the US Forest Service and the Department of Natural Resources to film in wilderness areas that had not been seen before on film.

 

OFM: What was your favorite part or a noteworthy memory of working on this production?

DD: One of many highlights was the filming of a climactic scene at Deception Pass State Park, overlooking the Rosario Strait.  It was a spectacular location, but one that often experiences low-flying aircraft from the nearby Naval Air Station on Whidbey Island.   The Navy was kind enough to provide us with an air traffic control officer, who spent the day with us on set.  He coordinated directly with the control tower to minimize flights directly over our filming location.

 

OFM: What’s your take on the economic impact that Captain Fantastic and other films have on Seattle and Washington state?

DD: As the location manager on films like Captain Fantastic, I see the economic impact these projects have firsthand.  Just one project like this injects hundreds of thousands of dollars into local economies.  Much of that money goes to businesses and support services that are not specifically part of the film industry.  In the location department alone we typically spend money on things like motels, restaurants, facility rentals, contractors, wilderness guides, off-duty police officers and security services.  On Captain Fantastic we also made donations to a number of non-profit organizations that supported our efforts, including Camp Korey, the Washington Climbers Coalition and The Mountaineers.

 

OFM: What are your hopes for the local film community? For our region as a place where films are made?

DD: Washington State is poised to become a much larger player in the nationwide film industry, but only if the Motion Picture Competitiveness Program is renewed and increased.  The industry talent and services we have developed locally, as well as the diversity of locations the state offers, can compete with anyone in the U.S. or Canada.  But without a strong film incentive, producers in today’s competitive market will look elsewhere to make their films.

 

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Dave Drummond is a film location scout and manager based out of Seattle. See what he’s been up to at drummondmedia.com.

On Sunday, February 26 (before the Oscars), Dave will be giving a presentation at the SIFF Film Center, featuring clips from over 25 different movies that have filmed in Seattle and other parts of Washington State.  Dave will share some of his experiences working as a location scout and manager, revealing some of the unique and memorable locations featured in the history of Seattle films.  For more information or to purchase tickets visit siff.net/education/film4all/made-in-seattle.

 

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Kate Becker Statement About Shooting Outside Crocodile on Thurs

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Kate Becker, the Director of the Office of Film + Music + Special Events, released the following statement in response to a shooting outside the Crocodile on January 19, 2017.

“I would like to express my deepest condolences to all those affected by the shooting last night at the Crocodile Café, particularly the three hospitalized victims, as well as the concertgoers, performers, staff and management of the club.

“Rest assured all steps are being taken to apprehend the shooter and ensure the safety of our city.

“This morning, I met with the Seattle Police Department and the Mayor’s Office to discuss the investigation.  I also met with the owners of the Crocodile to share our support. I was inspired by their courage and determination to keep the music playing. The Crocodile will be open for business tonight. We encourage the community to show their support for the Crocodile.”

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5 Ways to Get Excited for Pearl Jam’s Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

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pearl-jam

Pearl Jam will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 7, 2017.

 

On Tuesday, December 20, it was announced that legendary Seattle rock-band Pearl Jam will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They will join fellow Seattle music groups Heart, The Ventures, Jimi Hendrix, and Nirvana in the Hall. The Seattle music titan first emerged as a household name in the early 90’s and have not slowed down since, producing 10 studio albums, touring 38 countries, and playing 968 shows during their career. Below are five pieces of media that epitomize their energy and approach to making music.

1. Why Pearl Jam is Seattle’s Band

Published on the day of the induction, this Seattle Times article by Charles R. Cross explored why Pearl Jam is unlike other Seattle bands and how central Seattle is to the band’s identity.

2.  Pearl Jam on The Late Show Discussing Their Activism

In this 2015 interview with Stephen Colbert, Eddie Vedder discussed the role activism plays in the band’s music. In 2006 Pearl Jam started The Vitalogy Foundation, a non-profit that focuses on community health, arts and education, the environment, and social change.

3.  Pearl Jam Performs Even Flow in 1991

Pearl Jam has always known how to rock the house, and this performance was no exception. And oh how we miss that hair.

4. Rolling Stone’s 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Pearl Jam

After 26 years together, Pearl Jam shared some fun facts about their debut album.

5. Pearl Jam’s “Ten” on Spotify”

Where it all began. Ten was recorded at London Bridge Studios in Seattle and reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart in 1992.

The incoming Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class were voted on by 900 members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. The induction will occur on April 7, 2017 at Barclays Center in New York. Tickets will go on sale in January and the event will be broadcasted on HBO. Congratulations to Pearl Jam on their upcoming induction that reflects their momentous career of music making. Seattle could not be prouder!

 

 

 

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Welcome Scott Plusquellec to the OFMSE Team!

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Scott comes to the Office of Film, Music + Special Events from the Office of Intergovernmental Relations, where he served as one of the city’s in-house state lobbyists.  In that capacity, Scott worked on a wide variety of issues including cannabis policy, economic development, arts, culture, City Light and public utility issues, and pensions.  Prior to his time at OIR, Scott served 3 years as the chief legislative aide to then-Senator Ed Murray, working on marriage equality and LGBTQ rights. He also managed the operations of the office, constituent relations and scheduling.  During this time, Scott pursued and received his Executive MPA from the Evans School at the University of Washington.

Scott received his BA in Theatre Administration from the College of Santa Fe, NM. After arriving in Seattle he worked stints at the Bathhouse Theater, the Group Theatre, Cornish College for the Arts and Annex Theater.  He also pursued a successful acting career, performing at Annex, Empty Space, Intiman, A-Ha, Theater Schmeater, Seattle Shakespeare Co., Book-It Repertory, ReAct Theater, and Wooden O, among others. He also worked in numerous independent film roles, commercials, and voice-over bookings.  After a 3-year shot at an acting stint in Los Angeles, Scott returned to Seattle to pursue his current career in public service.

On our team, Scott will be developing nightlife policies, serving as a nightlife advocate, and creating useful and timely resources for nighttime business owners and patrons.

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Seattle Based Freakout Record Label Organizes Music Festival

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Ryan Devlin of the band Smokey Brights, who will be performing at the Freakout Music Festival. Credit: Lindsey Wasson/Seattle Times

Ryan Devlin of the band Smokey Brights, who will be performing at the Freakout Music Festival. Credit: Lindsey Wasson/Seattle Times

 

The Freakout Festival, produced by Freakout Records, will take place on December 8 and 9 and features Seattle-based artists such as Spencer Moody (of The Murder City Devils), Smokey Brights, Erik Blood, MASZER, Maiah Manser, and Acid Tongue. Attendees will be able to enjoy the show at four different lively Capitol Hill venues: Chop Suey, Pony, Bar Sue, Lovecitylove.

Freakout Records launched in January and already expanded to New York. They currently have seven local artist groups signed and are determined to continue growing their label. A recent profile of Freakout by the Seattle Times commented on what the music festival means for Freakout Records:

“The festival marks the public debut of the Freakout label, which began in January and released its debut in July, a soundtrack to the movie “Alien” by the band Newaxeyes. Freakout has since put out EP’s by Acid Tongue (made up of two of Freakout’s founders, Cunningham and Keltner) and more notably “Hot Candy,” the latest full-length by Seattle rock darlings Smokey Brights.”

Learn more on the Freakout Festival Event Page and visit their website to read more about their label.

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