Local Filmmakers Show Off Work At PS Film Festival

PALM SPRINGS – Whether you are in the mood for an action flick, a documentary, or a coming-of-age tale, three films in this year’s Palm Springs International Film Festival have one thing in common: local ties to the Coachella Valley.

“You tend to know everybody, and it’s that one degree of separation,” says Kim Waltrip, executive producer of “Expecting Mary.”

Her film isa dramedy about a pregnant teenage runaway who ends up in a New Mexico trailer park. She discovers a new family there which includes, among others, Linda Gray, Lainie Kazan, and Cloris Leachman.

Waltrip is a member of the Palm Springs Woman in Film & Television (PSWIFT).Itturns out a fellow colleague Denise Dubarry Hay also is showing off a film this year.

Her film “Shoot the Hero” was filmed entirely in the Coachella Valley.

“Weshot all up and down Palm Canyon,” she recalled. “We made some noise there literally because we were shooting guns off at 2:00 a.m.”

Dubarry Hay’s daughter Samantha Lockwood stars in the film as “Kate.”

Thefilm’s director Christian Sesma has desert roots. He grew up in Palm Springs and graduated from Palm Springs High School.

The anthropology major didn’t really expect to end up making films.

“When you’re going down this path, it looks insane at first. Then, it becomes a little cooler. Then, you’re actually doing some stuff. It’s not a hobby anymore!” he said, who had no formal film training.

However, Palm Springs resident James Egan may have the most run-ins with the film fest. For the past three years, Egan has had one of his films shown.

“My company (Wild at Heart Films) is dedicated to doing films that make a difference. I’m about human rights. That’s my focus with my work.”

His entry this year “Kimjongilia” documents survivors’ stories of North Korean concentration camps. Egan collaborated with first-time filmmaker N.C. Heikin who is a performance artist by trade.

“It scared me very much! You had no idea what she was going todo, but everytime they would send me the footage and the cuts, I go ‘Oh, my god!'”

All these filmmakers agree: It takes a lot of hard work and persistence to break into the industry.

So, the next time you’re handling a camera…why not make a movie? It could end up at the festival one year.

“Kimjongilia” screens Thursday and Friday.

“Shoot the Hero screensFriday night.

“Expecting Mary” screens Saturday and Sunday.