LIGHTS, camera, action! The CNMI film industry is taking the stage, thanks to the partnership of Hollywood producer Brad Krevoy, Northern Marianas College and the Office of the Governor, which will allot $1 million for NMC’s film program.
At the request of Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, Krevoy — the chief executive officer of Motion Picture Corporation of America — visited Saipan with his crew: David Anselmo, Amy Krell and James “Jimmy” Townsend.
“We want to organize a training program for everybody from below the line that wants to learn about how to actually make a movie, to those that are writers, actors, directors, and people that enjoy post-production,” said Krevoy in a meet-and-greet on Tuesday evening with NMC students, faculty, administrators, and community members.
“The goal is that after the first year, as many people as possible in this room and from their community have a chance to learn, and by the second year, a chance to get promoted, so over a couple years’ period, it’ll be all of you with your own crews. We want to at least train two crews for the movies we want to shoot here, as a minimum, and then we want to move into the bigger budget area,” he added.
“As someone once said, ‘Life is not a dress rehearsal.’ It’s not. Everything you should do, you should do because you love it, and then your success will come, if you stick with it. You will always face obstacles, but then again, for every obstacle, you will find good luck, so my advice to all of you, whatever it might be, find it in your heart. Don’t give up, and keep going. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it,” said Krevoy with a light chuckle.
Anselmo, a Canadian producer, shared how the crew helped build and transform the film industry in his hometown.
“I really wanted to move back home to start where I came from, and the reason why is because I had my own little paradise about four hours north of Toronto. I saw a similarity of what I had back then here today, talking and hearing the stories from some of the people that were very passionate about where they live and about the history of the island,” he said.
“Moving back home, there was no industry, but again, like I had mentioned, we had great leaders who decided to really invest and make sure that we were creating new exciting jobs for young people such as myself who wanted to stay at home, and I see that here today from the conversations I had,” he added.
Anselmo returned to Ontario, Canada in 2010 and realized that there were three key components to creating a film industry: infrastructure, equipment, and people.
“The most important component is the people. It’s training the crew and training the people to be able to work in the industry,” he said.
He noted that from this investment in training crews, who included college students, came a film industry with over 300 crew members and countless films, garnering around $250 million annually in Ontario.
“We’ve doubled what we do and created an industry by training the crew. The truth of the matter is really the key components. Stay passionate about what you want to do. I grew up in a place where there was no opportunity for me to be in the movies, and I had to go away, but I was told at a young age by my father, ‘Always follow your dreams. Don’t take no for an answer, even if you have to overcome big obstacles. If you stay focused on that one dream and you take one step at a time…you will achieve that.’ We were able to do that back home and I get to live at home now,” he said.
And it all started in a small town with a population of roughly 30,000 people.
“We can do it here, too. The truth of the matter is the key. It’s not us. The key is you guys and your passion. You’re passionate…and as soon as you know a leader in this industry that we’re hoping to create, keep that passion alive, keep working hard for your goals, and you guys will accomplish it, just like I did, and now I’m living my dream,” Anselmo said.
NMC President and local filmmaker Dr. Galvin Deleon Guerrero said Krevoy and his crew “want to invest in us. They don’t want to just bring in everybody, shoot what they want to shoot, and then leave. They want to train our people. They want to create a film industry here. They want to empower us to tell our own stories, and that means a lot to me and to all of us, so I’m really excited for this opportunity to take off.”
He added, “We are grateful for the governor’s support and his commitment to creating and growing an industry that will expand the CNMI’s exposure as tourist destination and, more importantly, present numerous job and training opportunities for our residents.”
Torres has committed $1 million to NMC for the creation of its film program.
“I asked him [Krevoy] to come here and to work with NMC because I see that there’s so much potential [to] diversify the economy and [create this] opportunity for the students at NMC…. It’s really an endless opportunity for the CNMI, not just for the studio and film production, but for tourism altogether,” the governor said in an interview Tuesday.
He said film production may begin around spring next year.
This week, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, with Northern Marianas College President Dr. Galvin Deleon Guerrero, NMC students, faculty, and staff, and members of the community held a meet and greet event with film producers Brad Krevoy, James Townsend, David Anselmo, and Amy Krell. Students, former CNMI Got Talent Winners, and those aspiring to work in the film industry were able to ask the producers questions relating to film, the potential of a film industry in the CNMI, and more.
Motion Picture Corporation of America Chief Executive Officer Brad Krevoy
James “Jimmy” Townsend
Amy Krell
David Anselmo
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres
Northern Marianas College President and local filmmaker Dr. Galvin Deleon Guerrero
