MEMO BLOG Memo Calendar Memo Pad Business Memos Loaves & Fishes Letters Home
FEATURE ARTICLES
Summer Celebration in the city
Council gives Tonkin 122nd code changes
The Heights at Columbia Knoll stages 'cruise ship' grand opening
Sandy Boulevard sees traffic improvement in its future
Teaching legend leaves Four Square legacy
Barn Bash features student-made film
Korean Trailblazer has international appeal
Monthly quote

About the MEMO
MEMO Archives
MEMO Advertising
MEMO Country (Map)
MEMO Web Neighbors
MEMO Staff
MEMO BLOG

© 2006 Mid-county MEMO
Terms & Conditions
Barn Bash features student-made film

LEE PERLMAN
THE MID-COUNTY MEMO

Tyree Harris, from left, playing title character Nick Rose, acts in a scene while Film Assistant Daniel Wolf, Soundman Tyler Ward, Director Evan Carr and Video Production Teacher Casey Goodlett look on. Steven Ennis, right, does lines off camera with Harris. "The Tale of Nick Rose" has its premier at the 2006 Rossi Farms Barn Bash Saturday, July 8.
MEMO PHOTO: TIM CURRAN
According to Joe Rossi, the ninth annual Rossi Farms Barn Bash is "what I've been pointing toward from the beginning. The stars aligned and everything came together."

Most aspects of the event are as they were in past years. The event will be 6 p.m. to midnight July 8 at Rossi Farms, Northeast 122nd Avenue and Shaver Street. The $12 admission will buy you all you can eat, prepared and served by Parkrose Lions - barbecued chicken, baked beans, green and potato salads, and shortcake adorned with fresh strawberries. For a few dollars more, you'll be able to purchase beer, once again donated by Widmer Brothers Brewery, or wine. As in past years, there'll be dancing to music performed by the Last Rodeo Band and the Columbia Cutups band.

Once again Professional Amateur Cowboy Tom Mannen will put on a Wild West Show with western-garbed men and women having at each other with fists and guns loaded with blanks. None will be dressed as pirates, and Mannen won't have a for-real Cowboy Wedding (At the Barn Bash two years ago, Mannen got hitched for real to bride Jannette. An event, he assures us, that is strictly a good-for-a-lifetime.), but he said there will be "a big bang, cowboy comedy, and an 1892 bank robbery."

Organizers hope for 2,000 partygoers at this year's event. The 9th Annual Rossi Farms Barn Bash is Saturday, July 8. Admission is $12; the party starts at 6 p.m. This is a 21 and over event. Join your neighbors and have fun while raising money for a good cause.

Every year Barn Bash proceeds benefit the Parkrose Youth Activities Foundation.
This year, according to Rossi, funds raised from the event are planned to go to:

• Parkrose High School Wrestling Team - pads and other equipment
• Parkrose Varsity Football Team - t-shirts
• Parkrose Youth Football Team - league fees and uniforms
• The Parkrose Middle School Pep Club - uniforms, pompoms and other equipment
• Parkrose Youth Baseball, a non-school league - operations
• Parkrose Dance Team - league fees
• Parkrose Varsity Rally Squad - league fees

The fees are a significant item; they can run $1,500 a year and, without support of this kind, can preclude many kids from participating in such activities.

A full report on the Barn Bash's contribution to the cause wasn't available at press time, but Rossi said that $90,000 collected during the first eight years is "a very conservative estimate."
Again this year, those attending will be treated to the world premier of a locally made movie - the untrue tale of Parkrose in pioneer days. This year the Barn Bash is featuring a new version of "The Tale of Nick Rose," the story of bad guys from Big Portland trying to impose their will on little Parkrose. Once again, local people will be the principal actors.

The new element is that this year neither Rossi nor Mannen were in charge; the film truly did come from the community. Rossi contacted the video and drama departments at Parkrose High School, through teachers Casey Goodlett and Zena ("It's just Zena") about letting students do the film.

"I offered to let them do this as a class project," Rossi said. "It would be something they could put on their resumes." The class revised the script of "The Tale of Nick Rose," which had been produced previously starring Rossi's brother Nick.

"I expected the kids to come, stumble around, and I'd have to help them through the day," Rossi said. "Instead, they just took over!"

"They were wonderful," Mannen agreed. "One of the best groups I've worked with in a long time. I gave them wardrobe, showed them how to use the equipment and the (blank-loaded) guns, gave them a few suggestions and help when it was needed, and then just let Student Director Evan Carr do what he wanted to do."

"None of the students had worked with this type of media before," Zena said. "They'd produced videos, but nothing with an actual script. As a group they were extraordinary. They didn't get impatient or complain about the 'hurry up and wait' that is a part of film production."

Carr, who was still editing the film at press time, said, "I had a lot of fun." Having just completed his junior year, he has produced videos and hopes to be a director someday, but said, "I had never really worked with a full crew of actors before. It was hectic - it was tough getting everyone to do what they were supposed to do - but once we actually started rolling, everything was fine. (Mannen) was a great help; he showed us how to use the guns."

The students will be there to watch their own premier. Unfortunately, except for a few event helpers, they will be the only teenagers present in what is officially an adults-only event. This is due entirely to the beer sales. It would be possible to sell beer, admit children and still meet Oregon Liquor Control Commission regulations, but years ago Rossi reluctantly concluded it was more trouble than it was worth.

How does the next Parkrose generation compare to its elders as filmmakers? See for yourself Saturday night, July 8.

Memo Calendar | Memo Pad | Business Memos | Loaves & Fishes | Letters | About the MEMO
MEMO Advertising | MEMO Archives | MEMO Web Neighbors | MEMO Staff | Home