Author Archives: Alan O’Hashi, Whole Brain Thinker

About Alan O’Hashi, Whole Brain Thinker

I’ve been involved with community journalism since 1968 when I wrote for my junior school paper, the "Tumbleweed," through high school and college and then wrote for the "Wyoming State Journal." I put aside my newspaper pen and began Boulder Community Media in 2005. There wasn’t much community journalism opportunity, so I resurrected my writing career as a screenwriter. My first short screenplay, “Stardust”, won an award in the 2005 Denver Screenwriting Center contest. I've made a number of movies over the years. Filmmaking is time-consuming, labor and equipment intensive. I recently changed my workflow to first write a book and make a movie based on that content. - Electric Vehicle Anxiety and Advice - This is a memoir travelogue of three trips covering 2,600 EV miles around Wyoming (2022) - Beyond Heart Mountain - Winter Goose Publishers released my memoir in February (2022) - The Zen of Writing with Confidence and Imperfection - This is a book recounting how luck planed into my signing a book deal after a 15-minute pitch meeting. (2020) - True Stories of an Aging Baby Boomer - War stories about living in a cohousing and lessons others can learn when starting their communities (2021) - Beyond Sand Creek - About Arapaho tribal efforts to repatriate land in Colorado (PBS - TBA) - Beyond Heart Mountain - Based on my memoir about my childhood in Cheyenne facing overt and subtle racism toward the Japanese following World War II (PBS - 2021) - New Deal Artist Public Art Legacy - About artists who created work in Wyoming during the Great Depression (PBS - 2018) - Mahjong and the West - SAG indie feature which premiered at the semi-important Woodstock Film Festival (2014) Over the years, I’ve produced directed, filmed and/or edited several short movies, “Running Horses” (Runner Up – Wyoming Short Film Contest), “On the Trail: Jack Kerouac in Cheyenne” (Lowell Celebrates Kerouac Festival, Top 10 Wyoming Short Film Contest), “Gold Digger” (Boulder Asian Film Festival), “Adobo” (Boulder International Film Festival), “A Little Bit of Discipline” (Rosebud Film Series), and two feature length documentaries “Your Neighbor’s Child” (Wyoming PBS and Rocky Mountain PBS), and “Serotonin Rising” (American Film Market, Vail Film Festival). He also directed and produced the award winning stage play “Webster Street Blues” by my childhood friend Warren Kubota. Boulder Community Media is a non-profit production company dedicated to democratzing media in all their forms - large and small screens, printed page and stage by providing sustainable and community-based content. I mostly work with community-based media producers, organizations, and socially-responsible businesses to develop their content via – the written word, electronic and new media, the visual and performing arts in a culturally competent manner – I’m what’s commonly called a niche TV and movie producer. Along with all this is plying my forte’ – fund development through grant writing, sponsorship nurturing and event planning.

April 1st Schmoozer – Boulder Arts Week Music and Movies

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okeeffe sketchBoulder Arts Week is a happening time in the creative community and we’re jumping in with our monthly schmoozer and featuring the work of women. The April 1st event is free of charge, but buy some music!

We don’t have a lot of wall space for flat art. Instead, we’ll be entertaining with some music and a short movie in the Silver Sage Village cohousing TV room.

The Whistle Stop F.I.L.M. Festival screens “Cordially, Georgia O’Keeffe” about the artist and her sister’s visit to Ward Colorado in 1917 will screen in the media room between music sets.

Laurie-proof-5b615 to 715pm-ish: Multi-media music and video by Laurie Dameron. Learn about Laurie and her music http://www.lauriedameron.com/

During the music change a couple short movies (TBD)

cindy brandle745 to 845pm-ish: Music by Cindy Brandle. Check out her music and background https://www.reverbnation.com/cindybrandle

We’ll have some snacks and drinks. Invite 100 of your closest friends!

Book a screening for ‘Aging Gratefully: The Power of Community” released

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heil ranch picnic

Silver Sage Village residents attend a variety of events including a picnic at Heil Ranch. Join the facebook page for the movie.

A new documentary about aging together finds 25 senior citizens the subjects of “Aging Gratefully: The Power of Community”.  Keep up with the latest on the facebook page.

The film provides insights from six residents of the Silver Sage Village senior cohousing community about their experiences of growing old together.

Cohousing is a collaborative living arrangement. Residents own their own homes, live private lives but share in the ownership and upkeep of common spaces such the garden and common house.

It’s a challenging way to live, but living together more intentionally is a hedge against being alone and isolated through the twilight years of life.

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Filmmaker Alan O’Hashi and videographer Michael Conti pose at the Little Yoga Studio where the opening sequences were filmed.

Filmmaker and Silver Sage Village resident Alan O’Hashi was on his death bed in December 2013. While regaining his health he joined a yoga community to regain his strength. The opening scene was recorded at the Little Yoga Studio.

Through his reflections, he recounts his continuing recovery and weaves those experiences with the perspectives of neighbors with Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease and those who find themselves in supportive neighborly care giving roles.

henry jean bday

Henry and Jean Kroll celebrate’s Henry’s birthday at Silver Sage Village. Jean was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease and is now living in a long term nursing facility.

Cohousing pioneer Chuck Durrett and gerontologist Anne Glass phD offer their perspectives about senior cohousing living.

Silver Sage Village residents:
– Lindy Cook (nurse)
– John Huyler (facilitator)
– Dan Knifong (retired professor)
– Jim Leach (Silver Sage Village developer)
– Alan O’Hashi (filmmaker)
Margaret Porter (retired federal government)

Also Appearing:
– Anne Glass phD (University of North Carolina Wilmington)
– Chuck Durrett AIA (The Cohousing Company)
– Larissa Ortiz (teacher The Little Yoga Studio)

CIFF, FFMF end 9-year run and evolves into the WSFF

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The Whistle Stop FILM Festival (Filmmakers Interactive Local Meetups) chugging into a town near you!

The Whistle Stop FILM Festival (Filmmakers Interactive Local Meetups) chugging into a town near you!

It was a good run. Boulder Community sister Wyoming Community Media ended a nine year run of the FAST Filmmaking Festival (formerly the Shootout) and the Cheyenne International Film Festival.

There was a method to the madness. The Cheyenne International Film Festival converged with the FAST Filmmaking Festival as the Cheyenne International FAST Film Festival in 2015, the final year.

There will no longer be stand alone festivals or filmmaking contests, so watch for the Whistle Stop FILM Festival, chugging into a town near you, not only in Wyoming, Colorado and Nebraska, but across the country.

‘Aging in Community’ documentary explores Baby Boomer housing choices

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Silver Sage Village is one six senior cohousing communities in the country.

Silver Sage Village is one six senior cohousing communities in the country.

Documentary filmmaker Alan O’Hashi and Boulder Community Media are producing a documentary about aging in community.

The data are, 10,000 people turn 65 every day and are wondering where and how they will age and checking out other senior housing choices other than “Sun City” type retirement communities.

In addition to cohousing, we’re also interested in other intentional communities such as housing cooperatives, niche communities (veterans); licensed housing communities (Green House); in place housing (Beacon Hill) and others.

Silver Sage Village is one of six senior cohousing communities in the country and over the years has experienced a variety of transitions from original members moving to new neighbors arriving to other transitioning to managed communities to others passing away.

We’re asking for your help in providing on camera interviews about your experiences in a cohousing community – not about specific conflcts and successes, but more about whether individual differences are set aside when neighborly assistance is required of others.

If you’re interested in getting your ideas, experiences and perspectives out there for others to better plan for their futures, be a part of the project by replying to this note or send a direct email to Alan O’Hashi (director of photography) or Mary Ann Williamson (who will be scheduling and conducting interviews).

First round of interviews – We’ve heard back from some of you and want to get the ball rolling by setting up some interviews on June 24 and 26. If others decide to participate, let us know.

Since the Silver Sage TV room will be under renovation, we’ll have to find another place, which could be meeting you in you home for each interview.

As mentioned, the movie is exploring how people can grow old in their own homes and whether living in a community helps or hinders that. Your experiences may help others be better informed as they explore alternative housing options for themselves and their families.

Here are some topics to think about:

  • Immediately before moving to Silver Sage, what type of house did you have (single family on a lot, condo or apartment; in the city, rural or suburb …)
  • Thinking back, since cohousing and senior cohousing were somewhat theoretical when Silver Sage village formed, what were your reasons for wanting to live in cohousing?
  • After living in a cohousing community for several years now, how does reality match up with your initial reasons for wanting to live in community?
  • Can you recount any times when you were laid up at home, being in the hospital, experienced changes in on going health issues and how did living in a community help or hinder with your helping you?
  • As you’ve aged, have you had any attitude changes about how you want to spend your time? (want to live life more fully, take more time to travel, give more time to give the community)
  • If a person is thinking about moving into an existing cohousing community or starting one, what are a couple hints for them that you learned from your experience living in community?

BCM NewsTeam 2016 – turn in your paperwork

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Our BCM reporter was on the red carpet with Oliver Stone.

Our BCM reporter was on the red carpet with Oliver Stone.

The Boulder International Film Festival starts on Thursday March 3, but preproduction gets underway now.

Please  download and turn in your volunteer signup form email it back to  Dina.

There will be schedule changes all week, before you go to your assigned venue, check in at the Boulder Theatre first. (If you go to the St. Julien Hotel, they may not know who you are and if they do, they will send you to the Boulder Theatre.)

We Need Help on Thursday Morning for Load In – We could use some help on Thursday loading and unloading gear and getting the production office set up at the Boulder Theater.

We Need a Thursday Morning Production Crew – Do you want to have the first video out there? We need a small crew to shoot some of the set up and advance the festival before things get underway. One crew member is also helping with the event set up, but could use some production assistance.

We Need Editing Stations – We’ll provide two MacBook Pros with Final Cut Pro 7. Bring your laptop editing systems if you use others.

Updated NewsTeam Schedule – The crew calls will be posted here and updated as changes occur.

– BIFF BCM Sked Thurs Mar 3 – update 1

– BIFF BCM Sked Fri Mar 4 – update 1

– BIFF BCM Sked Sat Mar 5 – update 1

– BIFF BCM Sked Sun Mar 6 – update 1

Boulder Int’l Film Festival seeks producer and crew March 2 – 5

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BIFF producer Ron Bostwick interviewed Oscar nominee James Franco at the 2011 BIFF. Click on the image to join the Facebook page.

Boulder Community Media (BCM) is providing production services again. BCM is putting together volunteer production crews to cover a variety of events in the various Downtown Boulder screening venues and at local businesses hosting special events during the Boulder International Film Festival (BIFF) March 2 – 5.  Download the BCM volunteer agreement and email it back to BCM.

We’re also seeking a producer to coordinate cast and NewsTeam crews throughout the weekend. This requires a three and a half day commitment with some wiggle room.

Photographers must download and become familiar with the  2017 PHOTO GUIDELINES and WORKFLOW.

If you’d like to be a part of the BIFF that is largely unseen and very interesting, behind the scenes experience inquire within! For the most part, you do need to have particular expertise and experience with news, but we can always use more Production Assistants willing to learn by observation and diving into a project.

Our BCM reporter was on the red carpet with Oliver Stone.

Our BCM reporter was on the red carpet with Oliver Stone.

The schedule won’t be released until later in February, but we’re getting the word out so you can make plans around classes, work, and other commitments. Check out the BIFF News Team Production Call facebook page to keep up with the latest information.

BCM uses a “transmedia” approach where we produce news in a variety of forms:

  • Editors – copy editors and video editors
  • Writers – news gathers to go along to events
  • Still Photographers – for all activities
  • Video Photographers – for all activities
  • Producers – if you want to produce, you should also have at least one other skill, have at a minimum a still camera and a strong back to schlepp gear.
  • Social media – update facebook pages, tweet pix and experiences
  • Website updates and maintenance

BCM generally runs at least two crews at any given moment, which means each crew has a producer, a video camera operator, a still camera operator a reporter on camera and a reporter off camera. In most cases, our news crews will be the only ones covering these events, many are newsworthy and your stories, images and video will be pushed out to the wire.

Equipment:
BCM will provide video cameras and tape for field work. BCM will have a MacBook Pro with Final Cut 7 available. We are inventorying assets and also let me know what kind of equipment you may be able to provide:

* video cameras etc. (they can be solid state and consumer grade, tripods, lights)
* still cameras (pocket cameras to DSLR cameras – do they have video capabilities)
* lap top computers (pc or mac and editing systems – Premiere, iMovie, FCP, movie maker)

Send an email to BCM if you’d like to be a part of the action. You can also join the BIFF News Team Production Call facebook page to keep up with the latest.

‘The Last Waltz’ to play the BolderLife Festival in October

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Click on the BolderLife logo to download a copy of the play script.

Click on the BolderLife logo to download a copy of the play script.

The BolderLife Festival announced that the stage play “The Last Waltz” will be produced for it’s October event in Denver.

The play by Alan O’Hashi was previously staged in Boulder at the Hitching Post Theater in 2011.

Download a copy of the play by clicking on the BolderLife logo.

BCM assists Coloradoans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty

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Boulder Community Media (BCM) recently provided video production services to a non-profit Coloradoans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty at a presentation at Lowry in Denver. The event hosted by David Horsey featured local and national grassroots activists provide first hand testimonials to local community organizations and the public at large about why death penalty laws should be reformed.
 

BCM to produce Wyoming Governor’s Arts Award tribute videos

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Boulder Community Media (BCM) continues it’s non-profit production services. Crews are currently dispatched in Wyoming for filming in preparation of the Wyoming Governor’s Arts Awards which happens February 28th. The winners this year are sculptor Lupe Barajas of Cheyenne, art educator Bruce Richardson and rug weaver Norma Sturges both of Casper; dancer Babs Case and the band BarJ Wranglers of Jackson. BCM produces tribute videos for the winners. The event is hosted by Wyoming Governor Matt Mead. Here’s the tribute for Jalan Crossland, one of the winners in 2012.

BCM seeks BIFF producer

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Producer sought – Boulder Community Media provides time – sensitive video production for the Boulder International Film Festival February 13 – 16, 2014. Pre-production begins soon. Looking for:
– indie / creative / linear thinker
– people person (patience with high school and college students with little experience)
– Boulder based and / or reliable transport
– Detailed crew scheduling
– Lots of pressure
– Excellent Microsoft Office skills
– News / fast filmmaking / editing / social media skills

Plusses:
– Access to the stars (past Baldwin, Franco, Macy, Sheen, Fonda)
– Lots of movies, food
– Likely around $500.00 intern stipend

Minuses:
– largely volunteer, as most film festival work is.

Inquiries to yours truly – email resume and references who know about your abilities relative to this project. Women and minorities encouraged to respond. bvet22@yahoo.com