Local filmmaker Margaret Griffin took on the job in October, hired by director Rob Connolly and is donating her time while working as assistant program director at the Foothills Arts Council. She is also assisting the Yadkin Valley Craft Guild. Griffin is a has a degree in media production and communication from Guilford as well as a certificate in film production from the Vancouver Film School.
The film, titled "Our Neck of the Woods" was adapted from Chicago writer Joe Meno's short story, originally set in a Pennsylvania mountain town. Connolly grew up in Mount Airy and immediately identified with the story's setting. "Someone gave me a book of Meno's short stories (Blue Birds used to Croon in the Choir) and instantly I thought of this area," said Connolly. "I grew up in this setting with my family all working in factories. My first job was in a factory." He decided to make the film in Mount Airy. Connolly is impressed with having found Griffin so close to his film's production. "She has a lot of enthusiasm and has been willing to jump into this full force," he said of her, "People who work in LA sometimes become jaded and used to certain things. Everything is still fresh for Margaret."
"Generally what an associate producer does is delegate all the things that need to be done in preproduction to get the film made, but depending on the size of the movie, the delegation might not go far," Griffin said. "The big thing I'm working on now is gathering food donations from Surry County restaurants," Griffin's regular employers are excited that she is taking part in the production. Bill Colvard, program director at the FAC, said he's appreciated all of Griffin's filmmaking skills, "For the jobs that she and I are doing, you need to be very organizational but also creative." Griffin has been working with the FAC to bring an independent film program to Elkin. "She got a great documentary in November, and we have another one coming up." Colvard explained, "It's very hard to get the rights even in a non-profit situation like ours. With Margaret negotiating, it's coming from one of their own. Filmmaker to filmmaker."
Griffin admits that, "My skills as a film producer translate well into other areas because they center around multitasking, coordinating details, and managing deadlines so that everything gets done." Both Connolly and Griffin are encouraging everyone who can to take part in the short film.
Student short films go on to win Oscars, travel festival circuits and enter competitions across the world. "This is a great way to get involved in a local film which we don't see a lot of. It benefits the community through exposure," said Griffin. "Just like our wine and tourism, the film industry is still growing and expanding. This area could be huge with community support. It's got so much to offer." "Mount Airy has been phenomenally supportive. I hoped shooting our project here would spark interest, but people's reactions and support confirmed it as the right choice," said Connolly. They will be shooting from Feb. 27 to March 6. "We still need a lot of help. We need people older than 18 years for extras. We need art department help.
Meal donations, production assistants, financial support--we need as many hands as we can get." Preproduction planning and development began in the fall of 2007. Anyone interested in helping the film production is encouraged to get in touch with the crew via their website www.mold-o-form.com. All contributions are on a volunteer basis but will be recognized in the film's credits.
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