Seasonal Influences in the Creative Process of Video & Cheese

Feeling the intense, mid-summer energy right now, multiple projects spreading out in all directions, like a squash vine soaking up all that sun and running amok in the garden.

Back in the day, when I was living in a more traditional seasonal climate, I had all the time in the world in the winter when I was "trapped" inside. The seasonal energy at that time of year low and slow, imparting a less "get er done" attitude.

Living in the desert has the distinct advantage of being "trapped" inside during a season of energetic growth. Several projects that have been in process for several months -- and a fun new one, confirmed earlier this week, which will screen at the ACS Opening Night Reception at the Seattle Aquarium (SOOO cool to make it to a large screen venue!) -- are in the final stages of completion and are almost ready to move out into the world.

Completing these pieces will clear the way for a truly deep dive into the two long-format pieces when things "slow down" in the fall. It's clear seasonal energy supports my creative process.

I was reminded recently of how that same seasonal connection exists in the creative process that is cheese production.

Here, in an outtake from one of my all time favorite interviews, Ig Vella, Master Cheesemaker for Vella Cheese & Rogue Creamery, reflects on the seasonality of cheese production. View Video

Revisiting the Great Oregon Cheese Adventure

Leaving Oregon and moving to Arizona was a pivotal moment for me. Living here leaves me quite disconnected from the lifeblood of the know your where your food comes from consciousness that is so palpable San Francisco north.

As I revisit my first "big" video project, the Great Oregon Cheese Adventure of 2007 - 3 days, 515 miles and 9 Oregon creameries - I am filled with gratitude for having had the opportunity for such an up-close and personal experience with cheese. It profoundly deepened my appreciation for artisan and farmstead products and the people who make them.

A bit of history - I could hardly believe my luck when, in August 2007, I was commissioned by the Oregon Cheese Guild and Dairy Farmers of Oregon to produce a short vignette for the upcoming Wedge Festival and several informational videos for the OCG website.

On the adventure: cheese legend Max McCalman in the area researching his latest book "Mastering Cheese" (2009) along with his photographer Nicholas Beckman. Behind the wheel of the workhorse Rogue Creamery truck was tour guide extraordinaire David Gremmels, showing off the varied cheesemaking regions Oregon.

For many reasons and seasons, this project has been put on hold. Until now.

It was an incredible moment for me to be there, gallivanting around the countryside with the likes of Max and David, two rock stars in the cheese world. It felt, on many levels, like I had arrived at the center of the cheese universe.

Revisiting the trip footage has been pretty amazing, taking me back to a time when cheese and the people who make it were in my backyard. I'm rather tickled by some of the gems I've re-discovered from each and every stop along the way.

Over the coming weeks and months, I'll be sharing periodic vignettes that may emerge during the editing process as well as some short profiles of cheesemakers we visited.


To Be Continued...