November 08, 2024
FILM REVIEW

Bangor High School graduate co-produces film ‘Perfect Run’

Film fanatics and baby boomers remember 1966 as the year of “The Endless Summer.” The documentary about surfers’ global quest for the perfect wave became a hit on college campuses and in art movie houses around the world.

Bangor High School graduate Carey Zolper, 24, recently co-produced a short film reminiscent of that cult classic. But, instead of featuring twentysomething surfers, “Perfect Run” is the story of one man’s midlife pursuit of New England’s best ski slope.

The 53-minute film was shot last year on location at Sunday River in Bethel; Bolton Valley, Vt.; Cannon Mountain in Franconia, N.H.; and Tuckerman Ravine on Mount Washington, N.H. “Perfect Run” stars resort employees, local residents and other weekend enthusiasts instead of professional actors and skiers.

Zolper graduated from Bangor High in 1997, earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Boston College in 2001, and chose to stay in Boston. She met Gregg Seibert, the director, writer and co-producer of “Perfect Run,” during an internship with the Boston Underground Film Festival.

“I started out wanting to be a screenwriter but I really enjoyed the experience of producing,” she said in a recent telephone interview from Boston. “I hope this leads to producing my own screenplays and writing for other producers. Now, working with Gregg, I’m getting to see every aspect of filmmaking, and that’s really interesting.”

For “Perfect Run,” Zolper spent most of her time on location. She coordinated communication between the camera crew and the skiers on a walkie-talkie. She also cast several key supporting roles. During post-production, she logged raw footage, assisted with editing, distribution and publicity.

Zolper, who also works as a waitress, said that eventually she should be able to make a living working in film production in New England if she’s flexible. Seibert combines commercial work shooting ads with making his own films.

The next step in getting “Perfect Run” noticed, according to Zolper, is the film festival circuit. So far, it’s been accepted into the New York International Independent Film Festival, which will be held in Los Angeles next month and in New York in April. It also is being marketed through online companies such as Amazon.com, video stores in northern New England and at the resorts where the film was shot.

The film follows Seibert from his suburban home, complete with wife, kids and pets, to the most challenging ski slopes in New England. In his travels, he interviews ski resort employees as well as weekend enthusiasts like himself. All wax poetic about the thrill of making the perfect run.

While much of the photography is stunning, Seibert’s narration is unnecessary and interrupts the pace of the film. His Massachusetts accent and speaking style quickly get grating. The film simply doesn’t need a narrator.

The film’s strongest and most impressive element is the music. Songs by a dozen bands, most based out of Boston, give “Perfect Run” an edgy, eclectic feel and sound.

“Working with the musicians was really exciting,” said Zolper. “It felt like two grass-roots efforts came together to make the film.”

Her career with Seibert may just be getting started. “Perfect Run” ends with a teaser that bodes well for a sequel – one that involves dirt, mud and revving engines instead of snow and the swishing of skiers plowing through powder.

To learn more about “Perfect Run,” visit the Web site: www.perfectrun.tv.


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