PORT TOWNSEND — The filming of a movie by director John Sayles in Fort Worden State Park, which was originally expected this summer, has been postponed for one year to give producers more time to raise $9 million, it was announced Thursday.
“This is disappointing because everyone is very excited about the possibility of having a feature film at Fort Worden because it provided great marketing for Port Townsend,” said Dave Robison, executive director of the Fort Worden Lifelong Learning Center Public Development Authority.
“On the other hand, it’s good for visitors, as we are no longer 100 percent sold out for the summer.”
Film plans
Sayles, an independent film director, had made plans to film his next feature, “To Save the Man,” which tells the story of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania, which served as a re-education facility for Native Americans in the late 1800s.
A joint news release from the filmmakers and the public development authority said the production team is in the process of securing full funding for the film and decided to release its reservations for the fort’s busy summer season.
“Even without millions of dollars being spent in an election year, raising funds for independent film is always challenging — even with Robert Redford taking on the job as executive producer,” said producer Maggie Renzi in the release.
More time
Renzi added that they need another year to secure $9 million, the amount estimated to take the movie through production.
The film schedule and facilities rentals would be essentially the same for next year’s shoot, the release said.
When Sayles and Renzi visited Port Townsend in 2014 as special guests of the Port Townsend Film Festival, they decided Fort Worden was close to the story’s factual setting and would be the ideal place to make the movie.
In May, Sayles and Renzi announced plans to film the movie at Fort Worden. Redford signed on as executive producer in October.
Actor Chris Cooper, who was one of the 2015 film festival’s special guests, committed to playing a lead role in the film, Sayles and Renzi said.
Cooper is to portray the part of Carlisle founder Capt. Richard Henry Pratt.
Casting calls had also been posted to Native American tribes for online auditions for children and teens. Cast members would have stayed at the fort’s dormitories with chaperones during the filming.
A $37,000 deposit from the filmmakers will be rolled over and used in 2017, Robison said.
“We are expecting that John and Maggie will continue to shake the trees and get this movie made next summer,” Robison said.
________
Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
