CLEARLAKE >> Cameras will soon roll and boards snap at the sound of “action” as a new movie set in Clearlake is about to begin production.
“The film is the story of life during one day in the city of Clearlake,” said Devin Negrete, the 20-year-old behind a new creative movie about Lake County, set to start filming in approximately 13 days. “In 24 hours we get to see every type of demographic. We follow a bunch of people. We follow a guy living out of his car. We follow a police officer I wanted to make just a realistic depiction of what life is like in a small town like Clearlake,” he said. “A good way to describe the film would be, a lot of stuff happens but it doesn”t go anywhere, which is just how Clearlake is.”
The inspiration behind the film, titled “Clearlake”, was simple enough. “It just really comes from me wanting to make a film,” Negrete said. “People say write what you know, so that”s what I”m doing. I really want to make a story about Clearlake and the people there. It”s just something that”s close enough to me to have the material mean something to me.”
Lake County is Negrete”s home, so he has plenty of connections to help him get this movie off the ground, which is essential when working with a limited budget. “I know a lot of people and people are willing to help me,” he said, explaining that he wants the whole project to have a “made in the backyard” type of feel. “I grew up here and it”s the easiest first film to do essentially.”
Negrete is no stranger behind the camera. He”s made short films before and worked in the wedding video industry, but “Clearlake” is his first full length film and he has high hopes. “I do think that we”re going to get into festivals and I think that it will play well at festivals,” he said. “We are planning to submit it to almost every festival in the United States. The goal is to submit to as many festivals as we can.” Though Negrete explained that he”s only trying to create awareness, so that when he does release “Clearlake” online for free, people will be interested in seeing it.
“We”re not expecting a distribution deal,” he said. “We”re trying to build buzz for it so that people can see it online. I”m really just making this because I really want to make a movie.”
From the sound of it, “Clearlake” is going to be attention-grabbing enough to create widespread interest, for both residents of Lake County and those living elsewhere. “It”s definitely going to be unique because it”s going to be a story about something that”s so different from what people see,” Negrete said, though he”s trying to keep the plot under wraps. People are going to have to watch the movie to see what”s so different about it.
Part of the film”s appeal is due to the town”s character. “Clearlake is an odd, unique place,” Negrete said. “The film is about the people you walk by when you”re shopping at Wal-Mart. The Wal-Mart people, the beautiful losers.”
Negrete”s desire to step behind the lens began at a young age. At 11 years old he got his first camera and he”s been been practicing ever since. Throughout his schooling he experimented with film for his own enjoyment, but once he graduated he got serious about the industry. “I saved up money all through high school and bought a camera,” he said. Despite his age, Negrete has never felt like he”s too young to create content. “There”s no correct age to start telling [stories],” he insisted.
Film school was a large financial investment that wasn”t an option for Negrete, so he”s been learning the tricks of the trade on his own. “I”m 100 percent self taught,” he said. For the past two years, he”s been learning and absorbing everything he can. “Reading four books a week on film and watching three films a day,” he said. “Just watching any movies I can.”
His own educational ventures gave him enough confidence to give film making a shot. He began writing a script for “Clearlake” a little over a year ago. “I wrote the first version around December of 2013,” he said. “Around January I realized that the script would be too hard to make on my budget.”
Because of limited finances, finding the talent has been the most time consuming throughout the process thus far. “Taking the time to find actors that are right for the part,” Negrete said. “That really was important to me, taking a lot of time to find that.”
Though Negrete is confident about his chances at festivals, that”s not his primary objective with this film. “I really want everyone in Lake County to see this movie,” he said. “If I have one person come up to me and say, ”That”s what Lake County is,” then I”ll be happy The goal is to make a good film, that is it.”
But “Clearlake” looks like it”s shaping up to be more than just a glimpse into Clearlake life. Negrete has something important to say, and he”s determined to say it. “The film is about maintaining hope,” he said.
Jennifer Gruenke can be reached at 900-2019.
