LOCALadk Magazine
Issue link: https://localadkmagazine.uberflip.com/i/326616
stand-in for those western hills, thanks in part to the Gardners' skill at finding the right setting. They insist that's just a part of their commitment to going above and beyond the effort expended by companies in other places, but it may also have something to do with their enduring appreciation of the area, which turns scouting trips into opportunities to explore more of what they love. "When people come, they're not only coming to do a job," Kurt explains. "They're trusting us, that we know the best places, we know the light and the best time of day to shoot. Our needs assessment starts with the first email we get, when they just send us their ideas of what they're trying to accomplish: 'Can we achieve these things there and can you show us where we can do them?' So we go out and scout locations, which we love because we get to go out and explore. We find things we haven't seen before or we document what we love. It makes it a fun process, to drive down the roads you've driven by your whole life and find things you never knew existed, or go to communities and start talking to people and finding new locations." Lately, the Gardners have been to Raquette Lake, Stillwater, and various places surrounding Old Forge, Boonville, and Hawkinsville in search of the perfect spots for various projects, some of which would have been slated to shoot in Russia or Canada if this local resource didn't exist. So what's next for Adirondack Mountain Productions? More movies, more magic, and, naturally, more Adirondack adventures. "It's a fun journey, that's for sure," Kurt says. "And everyone who's come to work with us in the last four years since we've been in business has left really happy. We become friends. The company is growing on its own, organically. We're finding our own path, and it's kind of writing itself. It's really been a great experience. Every day is a new journey for us." Take a look at where the journey's going with a visit to adirondackmountainproductions.com and stay tuned for updates on "Blackwell" and other new projects by liking Adirondack Mountain Productions on Facebook. 32 Summer 2014 LOCALadk