Local filmmaker presents cultural story

While Louis and Clark may have made Oregon history famous, the Oregon 150 celebration presents a film event that explores a more modern Japanese-American experience in the Northwest.

On April 28, Salem Public Library hosts a screening of the “Oregon Nikkei Story,” a Thomas Coulter documentary.

The library hosts a multitude of events, but films, especially locally made ones, are not usually part of the schedule.

“Aside from major motion picture releases that we show for children's programs, we rarely make film the focus of library programming,” Sonja Sommerville, Salem Public Library’s Community Relations Director said. “The film is part of the Oregon Reads 2009 series based on the themes of "Stubborn Twig." The documentary was chosen because its focus is the same as the book, in a broader sense, and it was made by a filmmaker who lived in Salem.”

The film, which features interviews with second- and third-generation Oregon Nikkei (Japanese Americans), took Coulter three years to complete. Its focus is on those who lived in the Salem, Portland and Hood Rivers areas up to the World War II era with the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

The film’s showing is at 7 p.m., followed by a discussion with Coulter.

Corvallis’ film premiere

One family’s business the past few years, while not exactly show business, has included writing, directing and producing a local documentary of their hometown.

Morris and Lynn Walker, who have lived in Corvallis for over 15 years, have finished a feature length film entitled “150 Years in the Heart of the Valley: Legends & Stories of Corvallis.”

The film’s premiere screening is on April 11 at Corvallis High School’s theater.

Attendees may just catch a glimpse of themselves in the movie, which was filmed at numerous businesses and locations around the town.

The event begins at 7:30 p.m. and is hosted by the couple's daughter, Amoris Walker. Admission to the events is $15.

For more information about this film project, visit: www.heartofthevalley.info

Dallas Motor-Vu Drive In opens for spring

Waiting for warmer weather to appear, the Motor-Vu Drive In schedules its opening for April 3. As long as April showers hold off, the establishment is set to begin their season.

According to owner Jeff Mexico, a movie as of SM deadline has not yet been chosen. Throughout the month of April the old-fashioned theater is open only on Fridays and Saturdays. When the theater opens on May 1 with a showing of “Wolverine,” the schedule expands business to seven days a week.

Each car can load up to eight people for a viewing (usually a double feature) at the cost of $18.

For guests with squirmy children who do not wish to stay seated in the car, the theater has a new playground installed as of its April 3 opening.

More information about show selections is on their website, www.dallasmotorvu.com.