By Daniel Lahr, Executive Director of the Central Coast Film Society
The Central Coast Film Society started a new podcast recently which focuses on film and the film industry along the Central Coast. Take 18 is hosted by CCFS Executive Director Daniel Lahr and gives updates on local movie news, interviews with local film industry professionals and filmmakers.
“Take 18 is a great way for people to stay up to date with what is happening locally in the film industry. We explore the entertainment industry and help educate and inspire filmmakers out there,” Lahr said.
The Central Coast runs from Monterey County to Ventura County and everything in between and as Hollywood’s backyard, landscapes from the Central Coast are seen from local films to blockbusters.
Take 18 has already had several big interviews with people who make the movie magic happen such as Allen Maris, the special effects supervisor for VFX, and has worked on major motion pictures such as Robin Hood (with Russell Crowe), Prometheus and the most recent AD Astra with Brad Pitt. Maris now lives in the Santa Ynez Valley and commutes to Los Angeles for various projects, and brings some of his work to the Central Coast. Specifically in AD Astra, there are recognizable scenes of Cachuma Lake and Highway 154. A few stunts were also done in San Luis Obispo.
The most recent podcast interviews San Luis Obispo County resident David Hardberger, who has worked on most of your favorite sci-fi movies such as Star Trek, Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, Bladerunner, Lord of the Rings and Spaceballs. Hardberger was involved by shooting miniatures for the visual effects.
“We want to celebrate cinema and media arts on the central coast. We provide lectures, panels, screenings and other platforms like Take 18. We dive into film society events and talking about movies. Ultimately we love movies, which is why we are here,” Lahr said.
The goal of the CCFS is to provide local filmmakers and films a venue to call home, to foster future media artists, and to create opportunities to get involved in the industry by hosting lectures, screenings and a film festival.
The next event by CCFS is a Filmmakers and Fans meet up from 3 – 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 1, at Central Coast Brew in San Luis Obispo.
CCFS is also working on a film festival to be in the Santa Ynez Valley in October of this year, and for more information, log onto www.centralcoastfilmsociety.org or follow CCFS on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
