David

Sacred places

I return from a trip away to learn about the mass shooting in Roseburg. A classroom full of beautiful people. A writing class, no less. Everyone has their sacred places. Writing classes rank highly among mine.

Creating a life in wine

It’s rare when you find someone who has figured out exactly what he wants to be when he grows up and then take that extra step to actually make it happen. But Scott Wright is one of those people.

Three books to read in celebration of Véraison

You’ve heard about summer reading lists, but what about books to celebrate véraison? Here’s my take on them.

Stewed Rabbits, Guinea Pigs and the Eye of Mordor

What hobbits can teach us about the miracle of cooking, and why carrying two pans in your backpack is the ultimate symbol of hope.

Saadeddin: Saudi Pastries

When you think of Saudi Arabia, pastries might not be the first thing that come to mind. But maybe they should be.

Arabian Food Adventures

On the road producing a film about Red Sea corals in Saudi Arabia, we stumbled into some amazing meals.

A Cook’s Tour of Phoenix

Wendell Crow of Crow’s Dairy supplies fresh goats milk and cheese to some of the best restaurants in Phoenix.

An Afternoon on Jenny Creek

Filmmaker Darryl Lai and I recently spent the afternoon in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument along the river bottoms of Jenny Creek with Jack Williams of Trout Unlimited.

Lila & Dobby make clam fritters

On the shores of Willopa Bay, I found my newest grandparents.

A legacy

Ten years ago today, Oregon lost a visionary winemaker.

Sunset Beers

I spent a few days on Lizard Island working on a series of stories and videos for Oregon State, as well as shooting a trailer for our next documentary: the very sad and sobering story of the decline of our coral reefs around the world. There are only a few moments when you can stepContinue reading “Sunset Beers”

Bounty under the sun

“The temperature is hovering around 100 degrees right now in Phoenix,” the pilot announced. Then, dryly, “We expect it to climb steadily to two or three hundred by the time we land.” I have to admit to a little bit of dread over my trip to the Valley of the Sun. The temperate nature ofContinue reading “Bounty under the sun”

The home stretch

After four years, seven states, seventy interviews, three name changes and what seems like an endless process, we’re finally nearing the home stretch. Now we’ve got a rough edit of the film and we’re raising some finishing funds to help us launch the film in 2014. Check out our campaign on Kickstarter, and look forContinue reading “The home stretch”

A tale of American vino

This past Friday we screened our documentary, American Wine Story, for some of the film’s subjects. It was bit of a nail biter as you always wonder how folks are going to react, especially to a film that’s largely about them. The reception was very enthusiastic. This is an inspirational flick about the American DreamContinue reading “A tale of American vino”

Telling stories for fun and profit

I’ve made up stories since I was a kid. I started my own version of The Hobbit at least eleven different times. Then later on I tried making up stories that were more original. A few were. Many weren’t. Some were good. Others lousy. Ultimately, stories are aggregations of a thousand overheard conversations, films, books, poems,Continue reading “Telling stories for fun and profit”

The Wind Kept: a music video

How does a writer who is used to hacking away on a coffee-stained keyboard in some dark corner while mumbling incomprehensibly to no one in particular suddenly find himself part of a team premiering a music video in a historic theatre with a group of collaborators from around the country? Well, like most things itContinue reading “The Wind Kept: a music video”

Nostalgic

“Nostalgic” is a short story I wrote as background when brainstorming ideas for a music video collaboration for the song The Wind Kept by Brave Julius, which we produced in 2012-2013 and premiered at the Whiteside Theatre on March 16, 2013. Santiago Uceda directed the video and more artfully and imaginatively executed the concept in a wayContinue reading “Nostalgic”

Kickstarting the Whiteside

Here’s a project we’re wrapping up. It’s a music video for acoustic guitarist Brave Julius and director/illustrator/animator Santiago Uceda. We’re raising funds to put on a concert and premiere the video in a classic theater in our hometown of Corvallis, Oregon. It’s a fun project: part filmmaking, part concert and part community art project. Strange howContinue reading “Kickstarting the Whiteside”

The Power of Great Storytelling

I just took my daughter to the premier of Justin Smith’s documentary, Relentless, about a team of student engineers who build and race formula cars. I’ve never been a car guy. To emphasize that point, I drive a moss-covered Pontiac Vibe mini wagon, which is noted for two things: it has a standard electric outletContinue reading “The Power of Great Storytelling”

Remix: part 4

Part 4 or the fantastic series Everything is a Remix by Kirby Ferguson is out. An impressive, polished series that makes you think. It’s a meditation on creativity, the nature of ideas, the inanity of intellectual property laws and litigious society. Looking forward to his next project, which sounds quite ambitious.