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Meet the Filmmaker: Benjamin Hunter, “True North”

EFP: Why did you become a filmmaker?

BH: To tell great stories and to connect with people on life events that we can all relate to.  Movies are so engrained in our view of the world and its a great way to bring light to a life skill or experience that someone had.  The second answer is Star Wars got me interested in how to make my own special effects and led me to make my first film.  The rest as they say is history.


EFP: What are we going to see at the EFP? Has it screened elsewhere and what are your plans for it?

BH: True North is a Boy Scout Short film about a young man who is very sure of himself, until he gives away his compass, his map, his water pump and gets lost on a backpacking trip.  Its also a father and son relationship story and how to navigate being adopted and losing a parent.
The film has played at a local premiere back in March of this year and for a special screening at my boy scout troop.  I have submitted it to several festivals here in Colorado and a few abroad.  My plan is to have this available for rental and purchase on my website and to continue showing it to local boy scout troops to talk about the buddy system and getting lost in the mountains.  The moral of the story is tell someone where you are going and when you should be back, so they know when to call for help if you don’t come back in time.

EFP: What else are you working on?

BH: We just received the greenlight to make a documentary about the Yachats Music Festival in Oregon next year.  I will be the Producer on the project and my good friend Jake, who produced True North will be Directing.  That project should be finished by this time next year.
I am also finishing shooting and editing a documentary on Cerebral Palsy, featuring my youngest brother Joshua Hunter.  He lived with Cerebral Palsy his whole life and enjoyed life in spite of the disability, but sadly passed away in 2018.  The film is meant to be an uplifiting message to anyone with a disability, to show them there is hope and you can still live a great life.  Life Matters should be finished by next summer and hopefully will be playing on PBS shortly after that.


EFP: Tell us one weird thing about you and/or your movies?

BH: Up to this point, all of my main characters have been in High School or College.  It might be time to have them “Graduate” and start telling stories about adult characters and their lives after school.


EFP: Where can people go to find out more about you and your work?

BH: They can visit my website here: https://www.33yearsproductions.com/ True North andLife Matters both have a page on the site with more information on the films.


EFP: Is there anything you’d like to say about The Emerging Filmmakers Project?

BH: Its great to be able to show a piece of my work to a group of filmmakers trying to get off the ground just like me.  Denver is full of great indie filmmakers, you just have to look in the right places for them.  Emerging Filmmakers Project is a great way to get feedback on a film and the share it with others in the Denver Area.  Keep up the good work!

True North will screen during The Emerging Filmmakers Project on Thursday, September 15th, 2022 at The Bug Theatre.