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Friends launch local feature film project

Coming to Portola Valley soon will be a collection of filmmakers — writers, directors, producers and actors with ties to the community — to launch their first feature presentation, a film about making a movie.

JoAnn Loulan, who's lived in Portola Valley for 19 years, and her son, Gardner Loulan, now a VJ (video jockey) at MTV's university channel, have sparked the effort.

They have rounded up a group of talented people, several of them former classmates of Gardner in Portola Valley and at Sacred Heart Prep, to take on major responsibilities.

The film's story is about a 22-year-old man who wants to make a personal movie but he loses control of the project when a stage mother demands a part for her son in exchange for money and practically the whole town and their pets show up for the filming.

The idea of making a film gained momentum when Ms. Loulan began writing a screenplay and after taking a screenwriting course at Stanford. She thought her son would be a natural to be involved in the project.

Mr. Loulan started writing and putting on plays with neighborhood kids when he was 6. He developed his filmmaking skills at Sacred Heart Prep, went on to graduate from Fordham University, and landed the VJ spot at the MTV channel that goes to some 900 colleges in the United States, including Stanford, Foothill, San Jose and San Francisco State.

Mr. Loulan is the film director; his mother is the producer. Aunt Colony Productions LLC was recently formed by Kathie Maxwell, a former Woodside resident, and Ms. Loulan.

The corps of local people include: Joseph Brady screenwriter with Mr. Loulan; Gavin Heslet, associate producer; Joe Dillingham, post production editor; Sean Bleier, Webmaster; musician Ronny Crawford, score; and Amber Ramies, graphic design. Barbara Goodrich, formerly of Portola Valley and now living in Los Altos, is handling all the financials.

The filmmakers are now looking for local people who would be interested in internships, signing on for non-paid crew positions, and volunteering as extras.

"I'm hoping the whole community will show up and join us in making a film in our own backyard," said Ms. Loulan.

Auditions start April 28 in Portola Valley, and filming begins June 15 in Portola Valley, Woodside and Los Altos.

To sign on as an intern, crew member, or extra, contact JoAnn Loulan at 851-5778. For applications, check auntcolony.com or send resumes to Aunt Colony, 3130 Alpine Road, #3288-701, Portola Valley, CA 94028.

If anyone is interested in hosting an actor or crew member for part of the production, please contact Ms. Loulan.