‘Homecoming” is more than the name of the first film produced by Tim and Mary Larson. It’s also an apt description of what it will be like for Tim Larson to show the movie at the Columbia Gorge International Film Festival.
Tim Larson, 49, was born in Vancouver and grew up in Brush Prairie. He and his wife now live in Pennsylvania, but he still has family here and looks forward to coming to the festival and sharing the film with them.
“Homecoming” is set to screen at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 12 at Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main St., Vancouver. Written and directed by Sean Hackett, it’s a feature-length film about an Army medic in search of fun while on leave in her hometown of Celebration, Fla. (http://www.homecoming-film.com). “Homecoming” premiered at the Kansas City FilmFest in April and won the Best Narrative Feature award.
The Larsons have backgrounds in publishing, but have always loved movies. They started the production company About the Logo in 2009 to make “Homecoming.”
“Both of us have always been big film buffs and dreamed of doing this, so when the opportunity arose, we jumped at the chance,” Tim Larson said.
With their first filmed wrapped, the Larsons are looking ahead to their next project, “Farewell Tour.” They hope to begin filming in October. Looking further ahead, they have two films they’re planning to produce next summer.
Vancouver woman spreads word about music therapy
Music therapy is a new career path for Vancouver’s Anne Vitort, but it’s one she’s deeply passionate about. Now Vitort has launched a campaign to tell 1,000 people in Clark County about what music therapy has to offer.
“Music therapy is just an amazing health care field that can help people feel and function better,” she said.
Vitort, 52, started her campaign in March and as of Monday afternoon was up to 528 people. She hopes to reach her goal of 1,000 people by the end of 2011.
Vitort has been a musician her whole life, with an emphasis on voice. She sings for Bravo! Vancouver Chorale, and is a section leader with the group. She has a bachelor’s degree in music education and a master’s degree in business administration from Southern Illinois University. She taught Kindermusik before deciding to go back to school to earn a bachelor’s degree in music therapy.
She finished her coursework at Marylhurst University in June, then interned at Earthtones Music Therapy in Portland through January. She is certified by the Certification Board for Music Therapists.
As part of her coursework and certification, Vitort had to learn to play the guitar. That was the most intimidating part of going back to school, but now she’s starting to enjoy it. “I’m getting better,” she said of her guitar skills.
For more information about the campaign and Vitort’s practice, UpBeat Music Therapy Services, go to http://www.upbeatmusictherapist.com.
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