Lakeport >> As a working musician, William Griffith spent much of his life behind guitars strings and amplifiers, but never behind a lens. That all changed when he moved to his Lakeport home, situated just feet from the lapping shores of Clear Lake.
He never fancied himself a geology nerd, but as he learned more about his new home, he found himself fascinated by the lake’s history. Griffith did some research and discovered not only is Clear Lake one of the larger freshwater lakes in North America, it’s one of the oldest.
As he read U.S. Geological Surveys, one finding in particular caught his attention: when surveyors plunged down into the bottom of the lake, their core samples came back at almost half a million years old. “450,000 kind of stuck in my head and it still does,” Griffith explained.
When Griffith first moved to the county last summer, he was on the hunt for a new project. As his interest in the lake grew, he felt a short 10 to 15 minute film was the perfect way to satisfy both his curiosity and his creative inclinations.
The relocation to Lake County was about finances more than anything. Griffith lived in Santa Rosa and Cloverdale prior to his move, where housing prices were less than ideal. So he looked further north. He’d already learned about Lake County during a number of visits to the now-closed Konocti Harbor Resort and Spa, where he’d performed with various bands over the years.
During a drive around the area one hot summer afternoon, he ended his cruise at Kelseyville’s Kelsey Creek Brewing. When he mentioned he was in the market for a house, he was introduced to Ron Chips, the brewery’s owner. It just so happened Chips had a house for rent.
“Sometimes things like that happen in a place like Lake County,” Griffith said.
After years spent living and working in the Bay Area as a musician and songwriter, once he made the move he decided it was time for that portion of his life to come to a close. “Music is something I’ve done all my life but in a way it’s something I’m moving on from,” he said. “That was part of the idea to try to do a short film of Clear Lake.”
With his own recording studio and equipment, and plenty of musical experience, Griffith is planning to write the film’s soundtrack himself. The script, on the other hand, might present more of a challenge. “The screenwriting part of it, that’s another one of those things that’s pretty daunting,” he confessed.
Though Griffith was originally inspired by geology, the short documentary will hardly be a scientific film. Rather, he’s creating it from the “common person’s perspective.” Heeding the words of a friend, Griffith, neither an ecologist nor a geologist, won’t spent much time focusing on the science, but will aim for a more accessible tone. He’ll also address the history of the land, from post Civil War settlement to the economic boom after World War II.
Lake County doesn’t have the most sterling of reputations, but Griffith hopes to bring attention to the numerous positive aspects of the region. “As a person there’s a lot of things that moved me around this area,” he explained. “I’m just trying to get a slant on a place that has truly redeeming qualities and a bad reputation.”
Like many residents, he can’t help but take the recent fires into consideration. While he isn’t aiming to draw attention from the tragedy, he hopes people might like to learn about something new, for fifteen minutes at least.
Far from an experienced filmmaker, Griffith was shocked to discover just how much making a documentary, even a short one, will cost him. He’s had to place the project’s scripting and filming on hold as he works to write and apply for a grant in order to obtain much needed funding.
Having never applied for a grant before, Griffith is somewhat unsure of himself. He’s looking for guidance as he attempts to navigate the world of independent filmmaking. “This is completely brand new for me. I’ve never done anything like it before,” he said. “I’m still trying to see if I can pull this off.”
The finished product won’t be an amateur film shot on an iPhone, though. Griffith is partnering with a young filmmaker out of Petaluma who was so excited when he heard about the documentary, he suggested bringing an entire team on board. As time goes on, Griffith said they may very well work with a larger crew. “It’s a viable project,” he said. “I hope we’re going to get funded and do it.”
Like many things in life, Griffith is of the mind that his success may just come down to a positive attitude. He believes his idea is strong, and that all he needs is to pursue it with enthusiasm. “Sometimes it’s all about your personal energy in these things,” he said. “That applies to a lot of business including the music business. You’ve got to believe in it.”
Jennifer Gruenke can be reached at 900-2019.
