Meet the filmmaker

Tonya | 4/07/2007 11:47 am | Screen Siren

For a look at the Wisconsin Film Festival from a filmmaker's perspective, I interviewed Andrew Napier, whose film Keeping the Spirit will be playing at the Wisconsin Historical Society on Sunday, April 15 at 11:30 am. Part of the Wisconsin's Own series, Spirit was one of 32 films accepted out of 137 submitted. Napier, a high school student, received an award from History Channel's Save Our History Foundation for his work on the film. This fall, he will be studying film at UW-Madison and hopes in the future to direct documentaries and feature films.
 
What made you decide to make a film on this subject?
 
In September of 2004, after building up a reputation for my film work, I was invited to take part in a very unusual project based on a rare archeological site discovered in my hometown of Mauston, Wisconsin. Chloris Lowe, twice former president of the Native American Ho-Chunk Nation, had rediscovered a 1000-year-old Native American Panther Effigy Mound in Mauston. It was he who inspired and invited me to participate in the restoration and preservation of this mound.

In your own words, how would you describe your film?
 
In Keeping the Spirit, I wanted to focus on the story of a community joining together to save and preserve history.
 
What do you hope this film will accomplish?
 
The goal of Keeping the Spirit is to educate people on effigy mounds, the mound building culture, and the importance of cultural sensitivity.
 
How did you get funding for the film?
 
Funding for this film came from two sources:  my own film business, Napier Films LLC, and generous and supportive parents. Thanks guys!
 
How long did it take to make the film?
 
Two years.
 
What equipment did you use, and how big was your film crew?
 
The film crew consisted of, well, basically just me. Occasionally I would have a friend help me carry my equipment or man another camera, but I was on my own for most of the filming. However, a good friend of mine, and the coordinator of the Panther Spirit Effigy Mound project, Margie Hylkema, assisted in the writing and planning of the film.
 
My primary camcorder for this project was the Sony DSR-PD170. My current projects I am now filming on HD, and I love it!
 
Did you intend to submit this film to the festival from the start, or did someone encourage you to submit it?
 Since I first heard about the Wisconsin Film Festival when I was in 8^th grade, I have wanted to not only attend the festival, but to have a film accepted and shown there. So, this is kind of like a mini dream come true for me.
 
How does it feel that out of 137 films submitted to the Wisconsin's Own series, yours was one of only 32 selected?
 
Oh it is incredible! I was absolutely thrilled when I found out Keeping the Spirit was accepted! What an honor!
 
What were some of the difficulties you encountered while making this film?
 
The documentary required me to work around many people's schedules, which is fine and that's how it should be when a filmmaker sets up an interview, but this was difficult for me being in high school. Thankfully, my principal, guidance counselor, and teachers were all very supportive of this project, and helped me make time to film during the school day.
 
Have you attended the festival before?
 
No. For the last several years I have been dying to get down to the Wisconsin Film Festival, but school and other events were always a conflict. Now, I am honored to have my own film being shown! This proved to be a worthy excuse for me to miss school and my tennis match that weekend. I have gotten tickets for as many films as I could and I will be at the festival all four of the days. I am incredibly excited to watch the other films and meet and talk with other filmmakers.

Are there plans in the works for another feature film?
 
Oh yeah! This year I have started filming two new documentaries. One is about an 88-year-old woman who competes in triathlons and an 81-year-old man who recently set the national high jump record in his age group at the Badger State Games. My goal for this documentary is to inspire people of all ages, young and old, to become more active. Through telling their incredible story, I will show how staying active can benefit one's life.  The other documentary I am co-directing with a UW-Madison student, Josh Pfaff. This film is about life styles in Juneau County. We are following around six people of various economic and social backgrounds who all live in this interesting area of Wisconsin. For both of these films I plan on submitting them into film festivals worldwide, and working towards getting them on television, or in theaters.
 
 
For more information on Andrew Napier, his business, and his films please visit: www.napierfilms.com

To learn more about the Panther Spirit Effigy Mound project please visit www.pantherspiritmound.org

For information on when Keeping the Spirit will be available to the public, email andrewnapier@gmail.com.

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