PORT ANGELES — The world premiere of “Out of the Mist,” an ode to the Olympic Mountains, will take moviegoers far into the backcountry this Thursday evening.
The 48-minute film stars, most of all, the peaks and glaciers above us.
And to reflect on the experience of exploring those places, “Mist” has four storytellers: poet and author Tim McNulty of Sequim, seasoned backpackers Dave Skinner and Dane Burke, and Quinault artist Harvest Moon.
Out in the wild
Together, they will set out for the wilderness at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Little Theater at Peninsula College, 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd.
Admission to this first screening of “Out of the Mist” is free.
Co-producers Robert and Kathy Chrestensen of Edmonds wanted the premiere in Port Angeles because, Kathy said, those who live here have strong feelings about their mountains.
“While people from all over the world go there and enjoy them, it’s the locals who really know them, live them and love them,” she said.
Also Thursday, new Olympic National Park Superintendent Sarah Creachbaum will be on hand to introduce herself.
New superintendent
Creachbaum, 54, began work last month after serving as superintendent of the 34,366-acre Haleakala National Park on Maui, Hawaii. She’s now chief steward of the 922,000-acre Olympic park, 95 percent of which is designated wilderness.
This movie screening, Kathy Chrestensen added, is a chance for people to share their stories.
“We all have them,” she said, “when it comes to the Olympics.”
This is the fifth film on which the Chrestensens have collaborated. Robert takes his video camera on their backpacking trips — he has done so for 10 years now — and when he and Kathy envision a movie, they write only a general outline.
“No storyboards or big crews, and very few planned shoots except for the interviews,” Kathy said. “During the process, stuff just happens . . . and when it does, we go with the flow.”
Thursday’s screening of “Out of the Mist” is presented by Friends of Olympic National Park and Huxley College of the Environment on the Peninsulas.
DVDs of the film will be available for $24.95 plus tax at the Little Theater and at www.CrestPictures.com. The website also has details on screenings Dec. 10 in Bremerton, Jan. 18 in Tacoma, Jan. 25 in Seattle and Feb. 6 in Olympia.
Crest Pictures is the company behind “Below the Clouds,” which explores Mount Rainier, and “The Irate Birdwatcher,” about wilderness advocate Harvey Manning.
Likely only time in PA
“This will probably be the only time [‘Out of the Mist’] will be screened in Port Angeles,” said Kathy. “However, if another organization would like to screen it again, we would certainly be open to it.”
To reach the Chrestensens, visit www.CrestPictures.com or email crestpictures@frontier.com.
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Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5062, or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
