Valley filmmakers shooting all-local production

Lifelong Wasilla residents Dean Q. Mitchell and Michael Burns are making a reality of their filmmaking dreams.

After extensive experience in the media, Mitchell and Burns decided to pursue their goal of making quality feature films within their home state, instead of risking getting caught up in the maze of Hollywood.

Working as The Quake Brothers within production company 1964 Motion Pictures, Mitchell and Burns are already fixtures on the Alaska independent film circuit. 1964 Motion Pictures is the merging of two production companies that have produced a nationally distributed documentary, a television pilot, television commercials, music videos, multiple award-winning scripts and radio commercials, an award-winning short film and a slew of other short films.

Their most recent project, the film Proper Binge, explores the life of an alcoholic, Burgess “Buzz” Zwink, striving for sobriety after a drunken mishap threatens his best friend’s life — and his own family’s love for him. The dark comedy follows Buzz as he attempts to make amends and put his life back together in the midst of fighting alcoholism.

The entire production is homegrown.

“We are a local production consisting of local talent. The cast and crew are from all over Southcentral Alaska,” Mitchell said. “We even have a couple guys that drive out from Fairbanks for every shoot to help where they can.”

The Quake Brothers say they are dedicated to putting a great deal of thought and detail into maintaining authenticity in the portrayal of local life and color. This is not Hollywood’s Alaska.

Part of that recognizable local color is Fred and Judy Keller, whose are best known for their talk-of-the-town Radio Flyer wagon vehicle. The Kellers lent another gem from their automotive collection – a restored 1929 roadster — to the production of a scene in the film.

They also make their own film debut in a particularly awkward scene as extras.

“The scene was hilarious, and the Kellers were such sports about it,” Burns said.

Mitchell and Burns are excited about the endeavor and their focus on keeping it fully local. With several big-name productions from Outside having already taken advantage of the state’s film and TV production incentive program, Proper Binge hopes to boost the Alaska film industry further by investing those incentives in Alaskans exclusively.

Financially, Proper Binge is getting a boost from From the Heart Productions, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to funding films that are unique and make a contribution to society. This sponsorship also allows the film to operate under nonprofit status, making it possible for contributors to have a tax write-off for their donations.

“While Proper Binge has a big dose of comedy, it also has an extremely important message about the dangers of binge drinking,” Mitchell said.

Many community businesses have stepped up to help with the production in various ways. Burns credits The Rib Shack with catering all upcoming shoots, and Wasilla Business Plaza for providing rehearsal space. Shooting venues include Silver Fox Bar and Grill, Krazy Moose, Mat-Su College, Alpine Inn, and Steve’s Food Boy.

Mitchell and Burns said the production would not be possible without help from local businesses and individuals. Most of the people involved in the project believe so strongly in its potential that they are working voluntarily. The producers hope to get additional in-kind contributions — material for sets, restaurants willing to cater a few shoots, gas cards to help relieve travel costs — in exchange for tax write-offs.

But there is still a need for financial assistance, the producers said, to offset such expenses as insurance and fees for the Screen Actors Guild performers in the cast, and to give the film as a great a chance to succeed as possible. To help raise money, the producers have been using an Indiegogo website for fundraising purposes, although the available time with the program expires June 2 at 10:59 p.m.

For more information on investing and the project itself, visit indiegogo.com/Proper-Binge-feature-film.

For donations outside the Indiegogo site, contact the producers directly at 1964mp@gmail.com.