The pride of Valley filmmakers, ‘Proper Binge’ debuts at Anchorage Film Festival

After a decade of production, from script to screen, the Alaska grown film, “Proper Binge” is finally ready for the big screen. Created by 1964 Motion Pictures, the film is a dark comedy/ drama following the story of an unemployed alcoholic looking back and looking forward as he starts to come to grips with the damage caused by his addiction. The Anchorage Film Festival started on Dec. 1 and will run until the 10th with the final films and award ceremony. Featured in the festival, “Proper Binge” will premier Wednesday at 8:15 p.m. at the Beartooth Theater Pub in Anchorage. The film was written and directed by Michael Burns and Dean Q. Mitchell. It stars Bradford James Jackson, Jeremy Blake, Berick Cook, Cassandre Leigh, Cheyenne Buchanan and D'artagnon Moonin.

“I was like film school for a lot of us,” Burns said.

Proper Binge had over 150 volunteers working with the cast and crew, from the Valley to Anchorage and beyond. According to Mitchell, hardly anyone was paid except for the actors who, in turn, mostly put the money back into the production. Burns said this was the first featured film project for much of the cast and crew. Prior to this, most of them had only done short films. Burns said that during this cinematic journey, people played off each other’s energy and grew along the way. It helped those involved to refine their craft, make connections and over time, it launched people into other filmmaking ventures.

“It brought all sorts of communities together and we all got along famously,” Mitchell said.

The movie appears in black and white for dramatic effect. This also plays off of the film’s origins as a parody of Reefer Madness. In the original short film, marijuana was swapped for alcohol. That skit appears in Proper Binge at one point. Mitchell and Burns were in the same writing group when they came up with the original skit. They took that idea and ran with it. As they kept writing, they kept making changes. The story morphed from a silly comedy to a darker narrative with more dramatic elements. The film still has a lot of humor intact, but a more in-depth, emotional journey emerged.

“I guess I just bring drama into everything,” Jackson laughed.

Jackson plays the main character, Burgess "Buzz" Zwink. Jackson currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife. He briefly stayed in Eagle River to shoot the film. He came in as one of the new faces as the list of actors changed around. Burns saw a lot of potential in Jackson.

“He brought a whole new level of intensity to it,” Burns said.

Proper Binge follows the trials and tribulations of Buzz. After nearly getting his friend killed in a drunken mishap, he attempts to get sober. He attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and is instructed to make amends to the people he hurt. His ensuing efforts are met with much strife and some humorous interactions: getting thrown off porches, getting kicked in the nether regions, and so on.

“There’s a loneliness in that character I think we all can relate to,” Jackson said.

Most of the film was shot in Wasilla and other parts of the Valley. The Silver Fox bar allowed the crew to film on-site, even shutting down for them. Other film locations included Mat-Su College, Krazy Moose Subs, and various storage units. Burns and Mitchell live in Wasilla and grew up in Alaska. Like much of the state, the Valley is home to many alcoholics — diagnosed and otherwise — so the story of addiction hit home for nearly everyone involved with the film. Some elements in the film were comprised from the cast and crew’s experiences, be they personal or through association.

“It shines a light on such a prevalent problem,” Mitchell said.

Proper Binge was blanketed under “From the Heart Productions,” a non-profit organization that helps fund independent films. Apparently, the message hit home with the president, and the company green-lighted the film. Alaska may have one of the highest rates of alcohol abuse in the nation, but the problem is old as drink itself, and it reaches far across the world. Seeing how many people were connected to the troubles of alcoholism touched Mitchell. He said it was both “sad and beautiful,” that people could find common ground.

“It resonated everywhere. It seemed like all the cast could relate,” Mitchell said.

In the film, Buzz happens upon an Inupiaq boy named Alex. Young actor D'Artagnon Moonin plays Alex. This character was added later on in the script and took on a prominent role in the film. Alex was designed to be a more “wise” character. Burns said that he is “pretty much the only character with a moral compass.” One of the supporting characters is an older, homeless drunk. This character serves as a warning of sorts for Buzz, giving Buzz an idea of where he could end up. The young boy Alex, full of hopes and dreams, reminds Buzz of his past. The damage of his present rattles his worldview. The decomposition of the elderly man haunts his future. These elements of time are showcased throughout the film, using past, present, and future in an almost Dickensian fashion. The film itself is a passage of time spanning a decade.

“It was fueled primarily by passion; it really was,” Burns said.

Jackson said that Alaska’s film industry has evolved greatly over the years. He compared it to “Hollywood in the 1920s,” with people coming up with new and creative ways to make films. The forces behind the scenes are excited to have “Proper Binge” in the festival, springing into the spotlight for the general public to see.

“Alaska is booming with talent and passion for making movies. They have a story to tell and they are going to tell it,” Jackson said.

Jackson flew up from California to see the premiere. Like his colleagues, he is excited to see the fruits of their toils. According to a press release, “In the fall of 2012 we exclaimed, ‘…and that’s a wrap on Proper Binge!’ but, what happened after that? Inexperience, failing equipment, empty pockets and a bit of bitterness and pain. It all lead to Proper Binge’s rise from the broken bottles and ever-smoldering ash in 2017… our drunken phoenix is finally flailing through the night sky and we’d like you to gaze upon her with many members of the cast and crew.”

According to Burns, executive producer, Cheryl Manning expressed interest in the film early on. The material resonated with her. A drinking and driving accident took the life of her fiance and left her in a coma. It was a story she felt needed to be told. She helped gather funds “like a tornado” and played an essential role in the day to day operations.

Through many mishaps, misadventures, and learning curves, the team behind “Proper Binge” have expressed that they’ve went through the School of Hard Knocks to get this motion picture off the ground and ready for your viewing pleasure.

“It’s not everyday you decide to decide to make a feature film, it’s a... hurdle,” Burns said.

Tickets are $10 for general admission. All reserved seats are taken. To purchase tickets online, visit beartooththeatre.net. For more information about the Anchorage Film Festival and the schedule, visit anchoragefilmfestival.org. To find out more about “Proper Binge,” look it up on Facebook or call 907-355-3266.