"Unrest" inspires local beetle kill documentary, benefit

Night of fun to finance local film
by Cyndi McCoy

"There's unrest in the forest, there is trouble with the trees (lyrics from "The Trees," by band Rush)." For Amaurante Montez, the song's first line was a pretty "powerful statement."

Hillsides of stumps, scattered among hillsides with log piles waiting to be burned, surrounded by more red trees than some may know what to do with. The heartfelt loss Grand Countians most likely feel driving along the county's beloved beetle-kill landscape, as well as the hope to find solutions, has been captured in a surfacing local documentary.

After two years working on the project, due out February of 2010, the Winter Park resident and producer known in the local entertainment scene as DJ A-Mon has gathered his talented posse together to celebrate the film's neared completion.

Joining Montez for the Evening of Music and Film, "Unrest in the Forest" benefit will be artisans and musicians to include Cyn Whitworth, Miguel Medina, Jeremy Farmer, Nectaflow, Joe McDonald, and Ernie Roybal. Businesspersons and craftsmen using beetle-kill product are expected and encouraged to attend as well.

The documentary and evening's entertainment has been brought together to get people thinking about their connection to nature and solutions toward healing Colorado's devastated pine forests. Guests will be treated to a dance performance with Medina and the Street Sweepers, as well as a special screening of 16-mm film "Arrow to the Sun." The work is a 10-minute-long Native American animation about a child in search of his father, who, A-Mon says, "discovers himself and his power."

Medina started producing small films and documentaries for Free Speech TV in 1995. With his influences from his Native American (Ute, Southern Ute, Apache, Yaqui, and Aztec) and Spanish ancestry, and his use of modern technology for his storytelling, he called his company Ancient Future Films.

After voicing his idea for a beetle-kill documentary, as well as his longtime dream to teach children filmmaking, a friend suggested he apply for a scholarship opportunity to attend a free press convention on independent film. He won the scholarship trip and last June he headed to Minneapolis, Minn. where he had a chance to meet with other independent filmmakers. The convention platform focused on avenues to expose local issues to larger audiences.

Montez had been thinking about his beetle-kill documentary for some time and said he feels an urgency to share his message. Witnessing the infestation which expands through the county, Montez "could just see that there was ... a big picture going on ... that (the problem) was growing. ... The trees and the people, the wild life, it affects everyone."

Friends of Montez have come together in support of his dedication to finish the project, a digital film. Its creator estimates it will be a half-hour piece, "but I'd like to expand it as well." He estimates he's invested about $3,000 into the production of the work, whose title was inspired by song "The Trees" by Rush, and that "anything" he collects from the event will be appreciated.

Montez said he's already gained some interest to view the work. The Xican Indie Film Festival will be the first ones to air the film next spring. There's also interest from Dish Network to show the film on Free Speech TV, which would give Montez, and Grand County, national exposure.

How to get there: The 490 Steak House is located in the Silverado II Resort and Event Center, sponsor. To get there head west at Cooper Creek Square off U.S. Highway 40 on Vasquez Road in Winter Park. Cross the railroad tracks and take a right onto Forest Trail. Signs are posted and underground parking is available.