490 attends FilmNorth Gala!

Local 490 dressed up and sent two of its members to the FilmNorth Illuminate Gala on Thursday, November 21, 2019. Vice President and propmaster Mark Wojahn and decorator and 490 committee chair Sarah Jean Shervin attended the benefit party in Saint Paul for the Local.

Minnesota screenwriter Michael Starrbury accepts his award in a tearful speech. Photo by Mark Wojahn

The event celebrated local and national independent filmmakers and the independent film spirit. The “Illuminate Gala” is FilmNorth’s annual fundraiser that shines light on the amazing filmmaking community in The North and raises much-needed funds to support FilmNorth programming.

Vice President Wojahn at FilmNorth’s Illuminate.

VIce President Wojahn commented, “I have been on the Board of Directors at FilmNorth, and they have supported the IATSE All Crew Party and in turn our union strives to support other organizations in our Industry. There were many producers and filmmakers in the audience, some of these may need union crew or be willing to be signatories in the future. We also see that students of FilmNorth classes may be interested in joining the union. For example, Local 490 Grip and gaffer Dan Miller teaches classes at FilmNorth. I see it as very important that we continue our support of FIlmNorth”.

Filmmaker Greg Araki accepts his award, photo by Mark Wojahn.

This year FilmNorth honored two industry icons: veteran independent writer/director Gregg Araki, who has been making films for over 30 years, and the amazing local screenwriter—Michael Starrbury, whose rise in the industry includes both an Independent Spirit Award and 2019 Emmy Award nominations for his work. The Awards were presented at a special early reception at FilmNorth at 6:30pm.

Vice President Wojahn also commented on the heartfelt speech Starrbury gave recieving his award. “It was clear that FilmNorth was an important organization for Starrbury, it nurtured his creative talent and supported his voice in Minnesota. Now his work has gone national. Very impressive. If you haven’t seen, the Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete, check it out its a wonderful and perfect film. We should all be proud that this young man came out of MN and continues to work and live in MN.”

FilmNorth swag at the event.

The party continued across the plaza at Paikka, the renovated industrial event space in St. Paul’s Vandalia Tower complex, home of FilmNorth. There were yummy complimentary hors d’oeuvres by Birchwood Café, Grey Goose® cocktails, Lake Monster Beer, and wine at two cash bars . When reached out for her comments on the event, 490 decorator Shervin remarked, “I really enjoyed talking with Vice President Wojahn and his date, and thought the movie candy that was placed all around the event tables was a nice touch for film lovers”. The crowd listened to music by DJ Chamun and mingled with filmmakers and film lovers. In all, it was a very well run and positive event.