Posts Under: Director Insights/Interviews

Film Fest Petaluma – Directors Tour 2012

May 19, 2012 blog, Director Insights/Interviews, Film Festivals, Local Film Events no comments

Here are some highlights from our 2012 directors tour we held before the festival…

A big thank you to all the businesses who took the time to give us an inside perspective on how they
provide a unique service to our town.

Lagunitas Brewing Company
Della Fattoria
Terra Firma Farms
Petaluma Historical Museum
Sonoma Valley Portworks
The Tea Room provided our delicious lunch!

Life on the Ranch

February 11, 2012 Behind the Scenes, blog, Director Insights/Interviews, Short Films no comments

One afternoon when I was 10 years old, I went to the movies with my brother-in-law to see King Kong. Before entering we noticed a movie poster behind glass showing soldiers in white uniforms and an ominous black figure with a billowing cape emerging from a smoky white hallway peppered with laser fire. After a moments reluctance, I was led into the dark theater where orchestral horns blared out from all directions and scrolling text receded into a star filled background revealing my future. Star Wars was the most important influence in my professional life.

35 years later I find myself playing with characters from a galaxy far far away in the comfort of my own computer at LucasFilm Animation. The studio is conveniently tucked away in the rolling hills of the Marin landscape. Currently the two ranches, Big Rock and Skywalker, are home to a few hundred employees that enjoy its serene lifestyle.

I work closely with some fine talent who help create the Star Wars TV show, Clone Wars. This video of Skywalker Ranch was completely shot with an SLR camera and comes compliments of Phillip Bloom

Skywalker Ranch from Philip Bloom on Vimeo.

 

Besides George Lucas’ television endeavors, he has recently produced his live action feature film Red Tails…

StoryLine: A crew of African American pilots in the Tuskegee training program, having faced segregation while kept mostly on the ground during World War II, are called into duty under the guidance of Col. A.J. Bullard.

Introduction to me, Mike Dacko

January 4, 2012 blog, Director Insights/Interviews, Film Studies, Short Films no comments

Hello and welcome to the Petaluma Film Alliance blog page.

My name is Mike Dacko and I am a local film maker currently working for LucasFilm Animation in the San Francisco Bay Area.

I’m so grateful to be living in Petaluma. A Sonoma County town that is rich in film culture.

To prove that point, we will be posting content that puts you in front of the screen and behind the scenes of all the PFA movies, events and venues. We will also provide guest segments from directors and participants.

Here is my short film Lightheaded which was accepted by Petaluma Film Fest in 2010…

Lightheaded from Mike Dacko on Vimeo.