Gary Lundgren is the writer and director of such films as Calvin Marshall, Redwood Highway and Black Road. I selected his most recent film "Phoenix, Oregon" because of the local connection to my hometown of Eugene, Oregon. I expected very little from it but gave it my promised 15 minutes assessment. I wasn't expecting to make past five minutes, truth be told, but Gary's film immerses you into his story with its engaging characters and subdued plot. Who cannot cheer for Bobby and Carlos' attempt to revitalize a foreclosed bowling alley? The subject matter reminded me of Gary Putnam's book, "Bowling Alone: the collapse and revival of American community." The book's theorizes that Americans have increasingly spent less time together due to a variety of factors in our society and culture. With 2020 being the summer of Covid-19, "Phoenix, Oregon" restokes the flame of our folk kinship that hopefully many Americans long to rekindle. The film has the feel of the independent cinema movement of the 90's when young auteurs Spike Lee, Kevin Smith, Jim Jarmusch and Quentin Tarantino brought their visions to the screen. The New York Times calls it "an ode to small-town joys" and that it "feels poignant during our current pandemic."
In this episode, Gary discusses the creative process that went into creating "Phoenix, Oregon", what inspires him as a filmmaker and his advice to blossoming artists.
