Vancouver filmmaker Ryan Philbrook can relate to the character he plays in his 30-minute comedy, “Max and Drake: Rule the World.” It’s a movie about someone making a movie about making a movie.
Philbrook plays Max, and former Vancouver resident Joseph Ficken, now a student in Portland, plays Drake, Max’s best friend. Philbrook wrote, directed and edited the project, with Brandon Daniel of Vancouver serving as assistant director. They filmed in Vancouver over one week in May.
Philbrook, 22, intended “Max and Drake” to be a Web series, with new five- or 10-minute episodes coming out every few weeks. Instead, he wound up with a 30-minute short film that he’s working on expanding into a feature-length movie.
Philbrook has submitted the short to the Sundance and Phoenix film festivals, and is waiting to hear whether it has been selected.
Philbrook is in fundraising mode and hopes to start filming a 90- or 100-minute version of “Max and Drake” in May or June. It’s a tough process, and he can understand his character Max’s frustrations.
“There’s a lot of independent film going on, but most of it doesn’t pay, and you have to cover the costs,” Philbrook said.
Currently, “Max and Drake” can be viewed on YouTube. For more information, visit http://www.maxanddrake.com.
280 pounds later, nurse helps others tackle weighty issue
Vancouver nurse Cheryl Conklin was obese most of her life up until three years ago, when her three grandchildren motivated her to get healthy and drop 280 pounds.
“I wanted to live to be able to see them grow up,” said Conklin, 48, director of clinical services for the Milwaukie, Ore.-based in-home care agency Marquis At Home. “I wanted to be able to play with them and roll around on the floor and be able to get back up.”
Conklin had gastric bypass surgery, but it wasn’t the easy fix some people assume, she said. She exercises, keeps a food journal, watches her diet and attends support groups.
It was through a support group that she met Laura Van Tuyl of Sandy, Ore. The two started the business Living Healthy for a Lifetime last spring. Their goal is to encourage others to be healthy, and they promote education through workshops and other events.
From Oct. 22-24, Conklin and Van Tuyl will offer their biggest event yet, the NW Weightloss Conference (http://www.nwweightlossconference.com). The conference in Portland will feature guest speakers on topics including exercise, nutrition, bariatric surgery and excess skin after weight loss. Ken Coleman of Gresham, Ore., a contestant on the third season of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” also will speak. Three-hundred people are expected to attend.
The event will take a holistic approach to weight loss, Conklin said.
“The goal is living healthy and making right choices,” she said.
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