'It's all about story-telling'

Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Oliver Stone and Phil Holbrook certainly have one thing in common - they all love making movies. All may not live in Hollywood, nor have the budget to do so, but when asked if that should keep a person from trying to make great films, Holbrook said "Not at all. If it's something you want to do, then by all means do it. If you have the drive for it, go out and do it."

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A native of the Brainerd area, Holbrook is part of a growing circle of local filmmakers who get together and make movies because they simply love it. They pool their creative juices and connect with others who share the love filming.

The group has completed a variety of films; most of them short and mostly to entertain. Some are action packed, while others tell everyday stories. They have done comedy and some action/suspense.

According to Phil Holbrook, not living in Hollywood or not having a big budget shouldn't keep a person from trying to make great films. Jim Whiting

Technically, short films are those under an hour in length; those over an hour would be considered feature films. Most of those done by the aforementioned group tend to finish in the five- to seven- minute range. "We call them 'snack-size" films," Holbrook said. "But they can be very powerful."

The artful challenge in creating a meaningful short film is in developing the characters right away. Every element in a short film counts. Dialogue, costume, scenery, props, music and subtle nuances speak much in a short time. From the hours of filming footage, skilled editing brings the message to the point. Holbrook's array of equipment has grown extensively through the years.

Pondering his meager beginnings, Holbrook recalls editing one of his first films nine years ago. VHS was it at the time. Editing a piece involved playing it over and over between two VCRs. The digital age is a welcomed change.

A great advantage of digital cameras is lower cost and quality pictures. With the editing software available, anyone with a bit of talent and the desire to create films can work with it fairly easily. So much is learned through experimenting and playing around with ideas. Working with others in the field can ignite some contagious ingenuity.

"It's all about story-telling," Holbrook said. "We learn so much through telling stories and it's entertaining."

Holbrook credits his mom for fostering his love for the classics that they watched when he was young. "It's a Wonderful Life" tops Holbrook's list of greats. The 1946 film by Frank Capra starred Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed at the brink of the Great Depression. The touching message is as timeless for families today as it was the day it was written.

In terms of great directors, Holbrook didn't hesitate in naming Quentin Tarantino as one of his most admired. Known for "Pulp Fiction," "Kill Bill," "Reservoir Dogs" and many crime-scene dramas, Holbrook marvels at Tarantino's genius in weaving action, dialogue and character with his unique style in creating the script.

Holbrook is fascinated with good documentaries, too, and lists Ken Burns, who has created a number of award-winning works for PBS, as his favorite director. Holbrook loves Burns' technique of using old still photos. By panning, zooming in and fading out, images seemingly come to life.

Among state film fests, Holbrook mentions the Minneapolis International Film Fest and the Free Range Film Festival in Wrenshall, near Duluth, a two-day event in which the films are shown in a big, old barn. Such fests provided the inspiration for the Brainerd festival, which has been a success. Another is planned for Feb. 20, 2010. Information will be coming on how to get in on the fest.

Currently, four of Holbrook's films may be seen on his Web site at creativejinx.com. To connect with Holbrook and share ideas, questions or interests, Holbrook may be reached at phil@creativejinx.com or at (218) 851-0827.