Previous Story
A Hollywood talent on Saipan
|
Posted on Sep 15 2000
It might amaze people to know that a seasoned Hollywood talent calls Saipan home. It might also interest more people to find out that his latest works are now featured at CNMI’s lone cinema complex through not one but two top-grossing films: “Space Cowboys” and “Replacements.”
Butch Wolf, a Hollywood-trained sound effects editor for 20 years, has kept his presence on Saipan rather low. While he produces work for all the world to see, he admits he doesn’t mind not being in the limelight.
“I’d like to work behind the camera, not in front of it,” Mr. Wolf said.
The sound effects expert is responsible for all the grunting, hitting, and audio action on the movie starring Keanu Reeves in “Replacements.”
“We also created sounds that made the “Space Cowboys” movie appear like they were really in space, since of course, they were not,” he explained.
He flies to California every now and then to work on his movie projects. Pretty soon, Mr. Wolf disclosed plans to put up a production and post-production studio on island where can conduct parts of his work.
A few months ago, Mr. Wolf along with the Northern Marianas College started a film school project, the Pacific Rim Academy, which is designed to educate future local students the fundamentals of filmmaking.
“We had a little of problem trying to get the word out and attracting more local interest,” said Mr. Wolf.
The proposed movie-production institution is projected to eventually establish a film industry on Saipan.
The production expert said courses at the academy will include script writing to final editing.
Mr. Wolf assured that enrolling in the program will be inexpensive since the college is working on for more financial assistance.
Filmmaking as a subject is an attractive field local students may want to pursue, according to Mr. Wolf.
“We have plenty of interests and talents. Some of these students have also been in a couple of school-related video productions and similar projects,” he added.
