Film for film’s sake

WASILLA — Lundon Boyd grew up in the Mat-Su Valley but now the self-described “Valley kid” lives in Los Angeles, California, immersed in film. After acting, directing, producing, and writing a handful of independent films and spending time with actors like Clarence Gilyard Jr., Michael Shannon, and Justin Chatwin, Boyd is staying the course in his cinematic adventures.

“Anything from my movie obsession to where I’m at now in some way to goes back to the Valley,” Boyd said.

Boyd graduated from Wasilla High School in 2003. He got his minor in theater after two years at the University of Alaska Anchorage only to realize he’d rather switch over to his lifelong passion: film.

“I was maybe disappointed and quite frankly a little lazy for theater. I like working with the film kids more…”

After UAA, he transferred to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas film program, packing up most of his Alaskan life, chasing his cinematic dreams in the Lower 48.

“I could tell if I were on drugs, movies were the drugs,” Boyd said.

While attending UNLV, he returned to Alaska over the summer to work in the construction field, removing asbestos across the state. He worked all the major cities but spent most of his time working in the countless, small villages scattered across Alaska. He said that broadened his horizons, showing him how different rural, remote living is compared to conventional, city life.

“Then showing people what I did, they were like oh I didn’t realize places like that existed in America,” Boyd laughed.

Boyd said that a family friend owned Knik Country Video, which used to be off Knik-Goose Bay Road. He said that he would always get movie recommendations and free copies of classic movies to catch him up to speed. Knik Country Video was one of his first “under-the-table” jobs and one his first official job was managing the original Blockbusters in Wasilla within of the Carrs/Safeway strip mall. Both of those stores are now closed but Boyd’s memories play back like a rental that you never have to return.

“Whenever it was snowing, I would be able to just walk over with a bunch of rentals and watch movies forever and ever, ever and ever. I miss it,” Boyd laughed.

Once Boyd got his film degree at UNLV, he’d already acted and written for several short films. He co-wrote his first, feature-length film with and award winning director Jeremy Cloe. Their movie, “Liars, Fires, and Bears" performed quite well on the festival circuit, garnishing several awards along the way, according to Boyd.

“Liars, Fires, and Bears” was released in 2012 and follows the story of a 9-year-old girl named Eve (played by child-actor, Megli Micek) who runs away from her neglectful foster parents, meeting Dave (played by Boyd). The two embark on a road trip to reunite Eve with her estranged brother in dramatic/comedy- telling the story of a serious, hardened by life girl with a laid-back “man-child” whom eventually discover themselves from each other in the end.

“Acting is my passion, but I love directing as well; I guess whatever opportunity presents itself,” Boyd said.

Boyd’s other passion is writing. He’s currently working on two screenplays while working assorted acting gigs. The first screenplay is a thriller based in Alaska called “Point Lonely,” based on his experiences working in a remote, radar base here in Alaska on the North Slope with the same name.

While he was working on the desolate U.S. Air Force Air Force short range radar site, Boyd thought to himself, “that would be a cool place for like a Shining-type thriller.”

“Because it’s just you and one other person and you’ve gotta’ split up the chores, split up the cooking… you kinda’ will go nuts as I’ve seen in real life,” Boyd said.

Boyd said that his second screenplay, “You Don’t Own Me,” is an ensemble comedy that connects three different stories that wind up colliding during the conclusion- all centering on “serious, hot button issues of the day.” He hopes the edgy content won’t alienate people and said that comedy is how he usually process serious issues in his writing.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com