“I think that just any kind of connections to people you have is important,” said Olson, for better or worse, adding how family members often don’t resolve issues between each other, which can create resentment.
“I love the challenge of taking all the puzzle pieces and making them all fit together,” Olson said.
Olson started as an actress 30 years ago, but only recently found herself writing and directing. Her favorite part of filmmaking is casting, she said. “Most of our team have all met each other through auditions. It’s this weird little grapevine,” she said.
Cast members include Johnson (“Pathfinders”), Jonathan McGinley (“Leverage”), who plays Gabby’s assistant, and Adrienne King (the original “Friday the 13th”), who plays Gabby’s self-righteous sister. King jumped at the chance to break away from the horror genre to play the stress-filled character, Olson said.
Most of the production occurred in July 2010 in Vancouver and West Linn, Ore. The film’s score was by composer James Pick, also from Vancouver.
The movie relied on the strong film community in the area, especially with Oregon’s movie incentives program, something Olson would like to see Vancouver implement.
“I feel like Washington needs to build up their film office,” she said. “I’d love to be a pioneer for Washington film.”
Olson is currently seeking distribution for “Gabby’s Wish,” and it was just recently selected for the Big Island Film Festival in Hawaii. She is already working as a writer and producer for “Bad Sign,” an edgy mockumentary that will start shooting this summer in the Vancouver area.
— Ashley Swanson
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