Photo courtesy of Reko Moreno
Reko Moreno, lead cameraman on the late Scott Foster’s Idyllwild Herd Gathering documentary, needs local collaborators to help finish the ambitious project. Moreno, a friend and professional associate of Foster, is based in Los Angeles and needs help locally to coordinate postproduction of the valentine to Idyllwild and its artists that Foster fought to complete up until his untimely death.
The documentary uses the recent public art Deer Sightings project as a metaphor for what makes Idyllwild unique — how residents come together to make the town a better and more lovely place to live; how they help when help is needed; how they give when there is a worthy cause; and how they celebrate the town they love in ways large and small.
Foster filmed interviews with many residents, always asking the same questions: Why was the Deer Sightings public art installation important? What does it do for the community? What makes Idyllwild special? And why do you choose to live here?
“Scott raised enough money for the production of the film, but not post-production,” said Moreno. “He was going to edit, compose, sound design and do voice over. We had talked about raising money for color correction, graphics, title sequence and deliverables, but he passed away before we ever really got to it.” Foster died of kidney cancer at age 43 in May of this year.
Now Moreno, along with Foster’s partner Annie Brook and his mother Maria, need local volunteers to administer postproduction. Scott left notes about how to finish the film through postproduction. What Moreno and the family hope to find is a local group to shepherd the film through postproduction to completion and distribution, and coordinate a campaign to fund the balance. Major funding for the documentary itself, nearly $30,000, was gathered through a public-platform Kickstarter campaign.
“Scott knew everyone in the community,” said Moreno. “That kind of personal connection with the community is what we still need to finish this project.” Moreno noted that Foster was struggling with his own worsening health as he was conducting the interviews for the project. “We have a lot of footage of Scott dealing with his own stuff,” said Moreno, noting that that material could be part of an epilogue. “He managed to bring so many people together on this project. It’s why he lived in Idyllwild. He talked a lot about why he moved here and how important it was for him to give back. He kept asking, ‘What have I really done for other people?’ In the last two weeks he was pushing himself beyond limits.”
Moreno estimates it might take another $30,000 to $50,000 to finish and secure distribution for “The Herd Gathering.” But more than the money, Moreno feels it’s critically important to have a local committee that feels as Scott did — why it is so important to tell the story of those who have been drawn to this community and enrich it through their creative spirit, love and gifts.
“He always said, ‘It’s not about me, it’s about Idyllwild,’” remembered Moreno.
Contact Moreno at [email protected] or (310) 872-8712.
