John White, Founder of American Piledriving Equipment (APE) and an area resident, has stepped up to pile on the majority of funding for an historic local UFO conspiracy movie that will begin filming this year.<\/p>\n
The film \u2013 \u201cThe Maury Island Incident\u201d \u2013 is based on the true story of Harold Dahl\u2019s UFO sighting that occurred off Maury Island on June 21, 1947, considered by many to be one of the first modern-day encounters. This incident \u2013 which has never before been turned into a film \u2013 happened just two days before Ken Arnold\u2019s historic UFO sighting, and 16 days before the infamous Roswell crash.<\/p>\n
The summer of 1947 is noted by many as the \u201csummer of saucers,\u201d as numerous flying disc sightings were reported throughout the US, along with increased interest and investigation by authorities from the FBI and other government agencies.
\nThe 22-minute film will be Directed by Scott Schaefer (Founder\/Publisher, South King Media; 3-time National Emmy winning Writer for \u201cBill Nye the Science Guy\u201c; Director, \u201cPenn & Teller: Bullsh*t!\u201d, \u201cSightings,\u201d and others). Steve Edmiston (\u201cThe Day My Parents Became Cool,\u201d \u201cCrimes of the Past,\u201d \u201cA Relative Thing,\u201d \u201cFarewell to Harry,\u201d and others) will write the screenplay. Schaefer and Edmiston will also serve as Producers.<\/p>\n
White was recruited to the project by one of its other Co-Executive Producers, Danny House, owner of Burien\u2019s popular Tin Room Bar and Theater. After hearing the idea from House, White went, well\u2026ape.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce Danny told me the story and introduced me to Steve and Scott, I was sold,\u201d White said. \u201cI love unusual stories, am a huge movie buff, and the fact that this one is local \u2013 and has never been turned into a film \u2013 played a big part in my decision.\u201d
\nThe movie also includes a character based on the first \u201cMan in Black,\u201d who drove a black 1947 Buick when he met with Dahl the morning after his sighting, where he intimidated him to not talk any further about the case.
\nWhite got so enthused about the project that, shortly after expressing interest in it, he found and purchased a restored, original, black 1947 Buick that will be used in the film. White also plans to use it to generate more attention to the Burien-born movie \u2013 click image to see larger version:<\/p>\n
John White and his restored \u201947 Buick, which will be used in the film & driven by the \u2018Man in Black.\u2019
\nIn January, 1990, White invented his own pile driving machine in his garage in White Center, then founded APE, featuring his revolutionary \u201cheavy metal enhanced\u201d high frequency vibrating pile driving machine that operates on using vegetable oil. APE has grown into the largest pile driving equipment company in the world, and is the largest user of hydraulic vegetable oil, as John\u2019s machines operate exclusively on vegetable oil to prevent damage to water and soil.
\nWhite\u2019s other ventures include Crazy Horse Motorcycles LLC, which manufactures the 45 degree V-Twin engine featured on the TV show \u201cAmerican Choppers.\u201d His unique engine is the powerplant featured in Microsoft\u2019s \u201cGears of War Trike\u201d built by Paul Jr. and featured in the video game. In fact, every engine featured in Paul Jr. Design\u2019s custom bikes was donated to the TV show by White.
\nWhite and his wife Teresa (who runs Statements Home Decor in Olde Burien) also recently purchased the historic \u201cForest Ledge\u201d mansion in Seahurst, which includes the largest pipe organ west of the Mississippi. The couple is currently restoring the unique estate, which was built in 1911, and they\u2019re hoping to move into it soon.
\nShooting on the film is scheduled to begin June 21, 2013 \u2013 the 66th anniversary of Harold Dahl\u2019s sighting. A kick-off event took place on Dec. 5th at the Tin Theater \u2013 read about and see photos here.
\nTHE REST OF THE TEAM (SO FAR):
\nSTEVE EDMISTON, WRITER\/PRODUCER
\nSteve Edmiston works as an independent feature film screenwriter and producer. He is also an attorney with 25 years of experience practicing business, litigation intellectual property, and entertainment law. Edmiston is a frequent teacher, advisor, and speaker on film and film industry issues. He has shown his films at a variety of festivals including: Palm Springs, Fort Lauderdale, Seattle International Film Festival, Big Island Film Festival, Ashland and Port Townsend.
\nEdmiston Wrote and Directed the award-winning short The Day My Parents Became Cool, which was shot entirely in the south Puget Sound area.
\nFind more information on Edmiston\u2019s screen credits and films, including cast information, trailer videos and release dates on IMDb.
\nSCOTT SCHAEFER, DIRECTOR\/PRODUCER
\nScott Schaefer is a three-time National Emmy Award winning Writer (Bill Nye the Science Guy, PBS\/Disney) with over 27 years\u2019 experience in media, including over 20 as a Director and Producer, six of which were spent in the trenches of Hollywood.
\nHis directing credits includes for the TV shows Penn & Teller:Bullsh*t! (Showtime) where he was nominated for a Directors Guild Award for Outstanding Directing in a Reality Show (2005), Sightings (a UFO show for Paramount Pictures), The Arsenio Hall Show (Paramount), Totally Hidden Video (Fox), The Late Show (Fox), Fox On-Air Promotions, Almost Live! (KING-TV, where he won 6 Local Emmy Awards) and many others in-between.
\nSchaefer currently runs a network of six local blogs for an area south of Seattle called South King Media, which includes the award-winning B-Town Blog.
\nLAURA BETH & SCOTT PETERSON, CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
\nScott Peterson is the Founder\/CEO of SAFE Boats, an American-owned aluminum boat manufacturer and leading supplier to military, federal, state and local law enforcement, fire and rescue agencies throughout North America and around the world.
\nFounded in 1997, SAFE Boats International (SAFE) designs and builds highly reliable and extremely durable vessels that help keep military, law enforcement and fire professionals safe as they carry out their duties, protect citizens and work to save lives.
\nLaura Beth Peterson volunteers for the Salvation Army in White Center, and has also served as volunteer Co-Chair of the Three Tree Point Fireworks Fund with Scott Schaefer for the past two years.
\nDANNY HOUSE, CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
\nOwner of the popular Tin Room Bar and Tin Theater in Olde Burien, Danny loves movies, and is very excited to be working on this, his very first film.
\nDanny is very involved with the Burien community, with the annual Burien Brat Trot fundraiser for the Highline Schools Foundation and Safe Kids South King County and many other projects.
\nDanny will be showing the film in The Tin Theater when it\u2019s released, and will also be working on the production.
\nNANCY PAPPAS BARNHART, ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
\nAn accomplished Advertising Manager, Nancy spent 15 years as Director of Corporate Communications & Media Relations for the McDonald\u2019s Corporation, eleven years with Horizon Air and four years with The Bon Marche.
\nNancy was invited to join the management team at Highline Public Schools as interim Public Information Officer. Then in October 2001, she accepted the permanent role of the district\u2019s Director of Human Resources.
\nIn September 2008, Nancy joined the Aviation High School staff as Program Director to dedicate time to design, develop and manage Career Readiness\/Mentoring and Internships programs. In 2009, she received her Career & Technical Education teaching certificate and now, along with her role in the Career Readiness effort, she teaches Aviation Careers.
\nMICHAEL BOYDSTUN, DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
\nLongtime local DP\/Editor who first worked with Schaefer on KING-TV\u2019s \u201cAlmost Live!\u201d and again on \u201cBill Nye the Science Guy\u201d as well as numerous other projects, Boydstun is one of the best in the biz.
\n\u201cAmongst all the DPs I\u2019ve ever worked with, both in Seattle and Hollywood, Boydstun was by far the best,\u201d Schaefer said. \u201cHe has an uncanny ability to instantly storyboard on the fly in his head, a skill I\u2019ve rarely encountered.\u201d
\nThe film will be released on the short film festival circuit, with hopes of it either being sold to a studio, or gathering enough attention and funding for the team to do a feature-length version or television series.
\nFor more information, visit:<\/p>\n