Spokane Shines Bright at Seattle's Scope Screenings
By Besa Gordon
The Fifth Installment of Season Three of Scope Screenings was another fantastic showcase of PNW talent and creative works with quite a few that caught my eye from the city of Spokane. The SIFF Egyptian Theater on Capitol Hill was packed, and I was thrilled to see so many familiar faces, starting with Converge Media’s own Deaunte Damper, whose segment for Back2Besa covering the Lavender Rights Project's Black Trans Comedy Fest, was of course a personal highlight for me. Looking around the theater, I realized that Spokane was strong in the Egyptian Theater and that of the ten screened films, three had roots in the Inland Northwest, and many people I know drove over from Spokane to be present tonight.
Deaunte Damper, host of We Live In Color on Converge Media, discusses his news segment “Black Trans Comedy Fest” that he produced for the show Back2Besa on FOX13 Seattle. (Photo: Jordan Somers)
Is Spokane in the House?
First up from the Lilac City was the out-of-this-world claymation stop-motion short film “No Oats” by Spokane Director Hali Rose Morlin. When I say out-of-this-world, I mean it. There was cake and aliens—a lot going on! “No Oats” was produced by my good buddy Conor Patrick O’Keefe, who is also a producer and editor on Back2Besa. Seeing Conor and crew trek over the mountains from Spokane to Scope Screenings was good.
Producer Conor Patrick O’Keefe and Director and Animator Hali Rose Morlin drove over from Spokane to screen their claymation stop-motion short film “No Oats”. (Photo: Jordan Somers)
The premiere of IAMTOPP's music video "Ego!", directed by the talented Kay Gonzales (who also happens to be my go-to photographer in Spokane), was visually stunning and captivating. Kay and IAMTOPP also made the journey from Spokane, and their hard work paid off with a fantastic reception. I'm already looking forward to future Back2Besa collaborations with Kay!
Recording artist IAMTOPP and Director Kay Gonzales tapped in from the 509 for the premier of their latest music video collaboration titled “Ego!” (Photo: Jordan Somers)
Real estate developer Jaebadiah Gardner's short film "Sarah," directed by Atuanya Priester and Wynter Rhys of Seattle’s A Real Grip Films, was a moving tribute to Gardner’s grandmother, Sarah Queen Gardner, the slain Spokane Civil Rights Icon. The film's raw emotion and powerful storytelling, paired with Francisco "BronxDeadEyez" Lopez's top-notch cinematography, resonated with the entire audience, leading to a well-deserved standing ovation. Many in the audience traveled from Spokane for the “Sarah” screening, including Lisa Gardner, the President of the Spokane NAACP, and Jaebadiah Gardner’s cousin.
A Real Grip Films' Atuanya Priester (L) and Wynter Rhys (R) join Real Estate Developer Jaebadiah Gardner and Deaunte Damper backstage at Scope Screenings. Priester, Gardner, and Rhys are the force behind the short documentary “Sarah.” (Photo: Jordan Somers)
Scope Screenings provides a unique platform for filmmakers to showcase their work, and this installment truly highlighted the incredible talent coming out of not only Seattle but cleary from across the Pacific Northwest, including Spokane. The supportive and inclusive atmosphere is truly inspiring. If you haven't attended a screening yet, mark your calendar for November 26th! You can find more information here.
And for those who were at this month's screening, I'd love to hear about your favorite film! Let's keep the conversation going.