My latest film project is a very short piece featuring Crater Lake, Oregon.
One of my favorite places in the world. Not just because of its natural beauty and amazingly blue (indigo) water, but because of its history too.
You see, when Mount Mazama blew its top, about 8000 years ago the Northwest was covered with ash. Lava flowed for miles, wiping out forests and prairies. The devastation was immense.
From that devastation comes this Amazingly beautiful Lake. Much like the story of some people, myself included, that have had devastating events happen only to grow into some of the most beautiful parts of our lives.
I feel a kindred spirit at that Lake and in my new short film, we visit that for just 4 minuets.

The Gift of Crater Lake
A film by Greeley Wells    –    Edited by Don Macken

In September 2016, my latest film, titled NUDE, was selected to be part of a Film Festival that was held In Big Bear Lake, California.
Then it won the Audience Choice award for Best Documentary Short. It was very exciting and rather personally rewarding to be selected by the audience, which was made up primarily of Filmmakers themselves.

In case you missed the Premier showings, you can watch the 18 minute film here.
** imagine that you are sitting in a dimly lit theater, with other film goers, before pushing the PLAY button.  Watch it till the end and then please comment below.
(I do indeed read all the comments on this blog.)

Here is a LINK to the article I wrote about next years Total Solar Eclipse: http://www.applegater.org/pdf/2016/v09n03/v09n03p07.pdf

When you read it, you will see that it sort of fleshes out my excitement a bit more.      Below are some ideas for those who might like to join this project.

.                            Map of the Path of Totality – Solar Eclipse Aug 21, 2017
The shadow travels across the Pacific ocean and hits land on the Oregon coast and then moves across the whole USA heading out to sea over the Atlantic ocean past South Carolina. There will most likely NOT be another eclipse in our life time so close and so perfect.  I went to Guadalajara, Mexico in 1991 to see one and it was well worth the trip.   I am going up to see this one too, especially because it is so in reach.  It is being said that this will be the most observed celestial event in all known history.   This experience is next to none other you can imagine.  It will effect and amaze you.  There’s something inexplicable about being in a 90 mile diameter black shadow of our moon at 10ish in the morning that is racing by at over 1000 miles per hour. It will give you an almost perfect night with planets and stars for about 2 minutes [depending on your exact location] and then leaving as fast as it came.  Your sense of our solar system, those huge orbs in space, will never be quite the same.  Go google: 2017 total solar eclipse and get many details, millions of connections and more than you need are there to get started.  I can’t speak highly enough of this stupendous experience.  Share it with your partners and kids and friends: none of you will ever forget it.  It’s a once in a lifetime experience!

A very good reference is: http://www.eclipse2017.org

We are inviting creative people to join us in a film project.
Some people have already said “Yes” and are moving forward in planning.
Below are some ideas to get you started thinking. We hope you may find some inspiration here or come up with a new idea or take up any one that you’d like to do:

•My project:   a landscape concentration  – coming and going of the shadow from a high mountain perspective from within the eclipse.  I’m thinking of having a candle in a jar [to protect from wind] as a well known light level to give a perspective to the quality of the dark during full darkness.

• River idea, from canoe, boat, kayak, etc.  reflections, straight up, from underwater, from a river in a valley or flat plain, or deep canyon, etc.

• Holes in a surface casting images of the sun: natural: between leaves, human made: sculpture that plays with different holes with the light coming from the  sun, etc.

• sculpture, still photo’s, paintings, drawings, Film, timelapse,  etc. inspired by the eclipse.

• expose for the night sky so planets and stars show up, photo/film/art….

• Interview people of all sorts:

hearing stories
watching, listening
asking questions – stimulating or interesting questions
reactions before and after
crowd films faces, sounds, etc.
time-lapse crowds?
crowd sounds and views, the ahh….  etc.   Everyone focused

• record any and all personal reactions including you’re own, reactions or even hopes and thoughts about it before.

• We hoping one person may like to take a movie of the eclipse looking north from the North Sister Mountain, which is outside the eclipse path, and watch the eclipse go by in the distance to give that perspective.   It will have Mount Hood staying in the light in the distance of that view also.  Sounds very cool.

• A friend, Grant, is thinking about a set of glass jars with different colored  water in them and film them before, during and after the eclipse to see what changes go on.

We welcome your feedback, ideas and additions.   And freely use any of these that appeal to you.

Feel welcome to join in the fun and creativity,

greeley

If you have attended any of the previous birthday celebrations…  50th, 60 and 70th. Then you know kinda what you’re in for but this will be even more!

This is the 3/4 Century mark for Greeley and the 75th Birthday bash will have  many new and exciting things, sounds, sights, food and fun, and YOU are invited!  It is also an invitation to come with stories, pictures, movies and good cheer about Greeley for a Bio Documentary Film, being made about him and his life.
The party will go on, and the idea is that each person will have an opportunity to sit down with Greeley and visit.  Additionally, each will be asked to sit with an interviewer and talk about Greeley without him being present!  There  will be cameras and sound as this is for a movie.   You’ll be a part of the movie on him.   So don’t be shy come charged and have fun.

We will post more information here, as we get closer to the event day.
email if you need the address, map/directions or have any other questions.

My good friend Del Contival died, Sunday, at 12:50/31/7/2016.  Long before that at my 70th birthday party in 2013 he had a near death experience that revealed his attitude about his death.   This is my story of that experience as I learned about it and spoke about it with him at that time.  Don Macken edited his own footage for this occasion and it has served well for many people who knew and loved Del.  May it serve you too.

A few days before he passed, I went to Hawaii to visit with him. The following is my dairy of that time:

When I arrived in Kauai, at his home Del was sitting up in bed and very happy to see us.  He was talkative and attentive.   It was a marvelous evening.  

The next day he never woke up.   The nurse and Dr. both came in, described that he was well down the path to the end.  He has days or hours or whatever.   Last night was it!  we feel blessed to have had such a rich connection.

I didn’t realize just how beautiful till we realized it was really the last real connection with Del.   A short and quick end is what he wanted and he’s getting it.

Saturday, the third day, he’s still mostly out of pain and unconsciousness now pretty continually.  The nurse came and talked to him.  He actually tired to responded to her with his eyes opening.  She talks to him and he responds a bit.   We didn’t known that was possible.   Very sweet.   Even tender.   She washed him and the bed and changed the diaper, a lot of pain while moving him.  It’s over now and he’s back to a still, unconscious state again.  He’s probably exhausted.   Steady very slow breathing not very often.  We’re hearing from Hospice that this may be the last time to connect.   I’m going to say I love him and goodby, go to the light, go to the Master.  And that many people I know are wishing him all the best.   Perhaps I will know if he heard me, perhaps not.    

Del died today, Sunday, at 12:50/31/7/2016   His breathing slowed and broke into apnea.  The apnea gapes grew gradually slower as well for 15 or 20 minutes till they stopped finally and completely.  Joan, his wife who lives here in their house on Kaua’i, Charmain his daughter came from Montana, Neil Brosnahan, lives a mile away and has been a steady friend for ages, Stephen Lang, a good friend came in from the big island, Greeley Wells, who flew in from Oregon all misted up with tears of missing and gratitude that his pain was now over.  He is now content and we hope blissful, it is those left who now need to come to acceptance of the place he leaves empty in our world.   I find myself finding it difficult to imagine a world without Del in it somewhere.  

The Hospice folks were wonderful beyond describing and a sweet and efficient nurse was present at the death.  

Thank you for all the understanding and sensitive notes, remembrances and missives that have come in.

==

Here is a slideshow about Dell, this one was created by Conder Seasholtz,
I am putting it here for your convenience.

I have a few announcements to my Friends and Family. I sent an email to everybody, but here is a quick video version of the same few items. Please mark your calendars and contact me if you want to talk about any of it. Send me an email, if you’d like to be included in future mailings and such.

A giant rock broke loose and rolled into Carberry creek.
We put this video up fast, in hopes that this aerial “survey” may be of assistance to the crews that will be working on the project of re-opening the road.

This cool piece was photographed by Stephen Jamieson, one of my best friends in the world. It was all his doing and most wonderful. I was shooting the wind,leaves,and light as he recorded me. That’s his sweet white dog at my feet, at his beautiful place along the applegate river.