LOCALadk Magazine

Lights, Camera, Adirondacks! A local production company shines a spotlight on our region Story by Teresa Farrell Photos by Kurt Gardner A nyone who has visited the Adirondacks can tell you that this area is home to some of the most stunning scenery to be found in the eastern United States. Recently, that scenery has enjoyed an even bigger place in the spotlight thanks to a local company, Adirondack Mountain Productions. Started up four years ago by husband and wife team Kurt and Ximena Gardner, Adirondack Mountain Productions has grown from a dream discussed around the campfire at the couple's Adirondack home to a full-scale production company with a mission of making movie magic come to life in the mountains. So far, that mission is being accomplished. After working in the advertising industry in Miami and New York since the mid-1990s, the Gardners moved to their summer home in Old Forge full time in 2008. They brought with them decades of combined experience in the advertising industry, plenty of connections, and a passion for the Adirondacks, all of which would become essential ingredients in their success. After capturing some Adirondack images for a client, who loved them, the couple started to think about how they could combine their skills, experience, and passion to create a resource for others who would want to tap into the region's potential. "The more we were here, the more we loved being here, and one day we decided to make a go of this and make this our future," Ximena says. "We knew there was a need, but we had never heard of anybody marketing the Adirondacks for photo shoots, movies, and TV commercials. So we came up with Adirondack Mountain Productions to create that resource." Creating that resource turned out to be an excellent idea for all involved. The company was launched in 2010, and the growth has been steady ever since, with new projects popping up all the time. The Gardners' job description includes plenty of different duties, from helping others find the perfect spot for a scene or photo shoot to rolling the cameras themselves. Kurt has plenty of both talent and experience behind the lens, and his footage often becomes an integral part of the projects they work on, in addition to being an excellent resource for groups seeking a creative eye. "Our mission is to showcase the Adirondacks and to make a living showcasing Making it happen often involves a little help from local friends who are happy to pitch in. "Whenever we can dip into the community for resources, we do." 30 Summer 2014 LOCALadk

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