dec 6 - 8, 2004

Local Emmy-winning cinematographer shoots several scenes in PdC area
Rave reviews for Upper Mississippi River film
Kenny Salwey and his two dogs glide nearly silently through the morning mist during the filming of 'Mississippi Tales of the Last River Rat.' (Photos courtesy of Neil Rettig Productions)Neil Rettig photographed several sequences in the Prairie du Chien area.
Nearly two years in the making, a film about a Wisconsin man who has spent a lifetime living in harmony with the Mighty Mississippi River, has finally come to fruition. And what a film it is. Exquisitely photographed by Prairie du Chien cinematographer Neil Rettig, "MississippiTales of the Last River Rat" ebbs and flows through the seasons of the majestic waterway chronicling the activities and insights of Alma native Kenny Salwey. During a "sneak" preview Dec. 1 at the Prairie du Chien home of Don Valley, an audience of about 12 sat in silent serenity while viewing the splendor of "their" river, shown in a way most had heretofore not seen. Based upon his book of the same name, the film is narrated by Salwey, who has lived the vast majority of his life in a small wooden shack built by his own hands in Whitman Swamp. Salwey's low, slow voice resonates with a reverence as the film's images reveal the richness of the river's wildlife and scenery. The internationally acclaimed Rettig, who shot many of the scenes at Prairie du Chien area locales, says that this is perhaps his finest film. "This is my favorite film in 30 years," said Rettig in noting that the river is perfect for this type of slow-paced filmmaking. "I was living and breathing it. I was able to almost use the camera as a paintbrush. It was like working on a piece of art rather than a documentary. It's a showcase for the beauty of cinematography. That, for me, was the most gratifying part." Rettig acknowledged the invaluable contributions to the film of Prairie du Chien native Don Valley, a longtime commercial fisherman and an avid wildlife and bald eagle photographer. "Don was incredibly helpful," said Rettig. "He has an intimate knowledge of the river." Valley showed Rettig the best locations and helped get permission from local landowners for the setting up of blinds for the filming of bald eagles on Gremore Lake. Rettig slipped into his blind at 4 a.m. one crisp March morning and his stealthiness was rewarded by a stunning sequence of close-ups shot from a mere 30 feet of eagles gorging on gizzard shad. Valley, whose name appears in the credits of the film, also was instrumental in the filming of beavers in Ambro Slough and wood ducks and muskrats on Gremore, along with a snapping turtle sequence.
"He was right on the money," said Rettig of Valley's expertise. "He put us right where we had to be." Rettig, who has made hundreds of wildlife films, said that this finished product was a total team effort. Andrew Graham-Brown of Bristol, England, who produced and directed the film, visited the Prairie du Chien area on numerous occasions over the past two years to help create a vision for the project. Rettig's raw footage was sent to Andrew, whose Bristol-based production company applied the finishing touches. "What Andrew did with the raw material was magical," Rettig said. "I was so happy to see the finished product." Rettig noted that Andrew is a music aficionado, and indeed, the old-style blues music flows in perfect harmony with the film and lends an inspiring, spiritual air, especially during scenes in which Salwey's silhouetted canoe glides along in the golden silence of sunrise from the Mississippi mist. Noted film editor Nigel Buck did an outstanding job of capturing the mood and ambling feel of Salwey and the river. Many Prairie du Chien residents would also like to know that filmmaker Colin Stafford-Johnson of Ireland, who visited this locale on several occasions, also photographed some sequences used in the film. Rettig's brothers Jon and Joel contributed inventive ideas as they labored behind the scenes during the filming to help Neil glean the best out of his many years of experience. The two-year effort has paid off handsomely with a 50-minute film that is garnering rave reviews after having been aired by the British Broadcasting Company during late November in the United Kingdom. "Slow down long enough to move at Salwey's pace and an absorbing portrait of the great river begins to unfold," said an excerpt from a review in The Guardian. "The sheer beauty of the photography and wildlife, the gentle good ol' boy narrative and the background music of Mississippi blues inspire a sense of wonder and calm," said The Times. Rettig noted that the film will be aired in the United States by the Discovery Channel, probably in April.
In the meantime, theaters, museums and schools from Alma to Dubuque will be showing the film during a promotional period in February or March. Rettig said that an audiovisual team from Minneapolis will be conducting the showing at the high school auditorium in Alma, Kenny Salwey's hometown, where 800 seats have already been booked. Representatives of Star Cinema of Prairie du Chien have stated that the film will be shown in February or March as the details are worked out.
A listing of show dates and times will be provided once they become finalized so that all who wish can enjoy a film that was in large part photographed in our area of the Upper Mississippi.

River Bluffs files suit against Concerned Citizens
The battle over the River Bluff resort development entered a new chapter Friday when attorneys hired by the River Bluffs LLC corporation filed suit against the individuals that are fighting the development that operates as part of the non-profit Concerned Citizens of Clayton County. Named in the suit are Harlan Dettman, Gregory Koether, Ronald Kleinow and Timothy Mason. The petition claims that River Bluff LLC "has suffered and will continue to suffer significant damages," due to the defendants "intentional interference" with the contract between River Bluffs development company and Clayton County. The plaintiff's claim that the "underlying litigation" undertaken by members of the Concerned Citizens "lack sufficient evidential and legal support and are frivolous' " The plaintiffs are referring to the case brought by the group against Clayton County by Dettman, Koether, Kleinow and Mason alleging that the County Board of Supervisors' comprehensive plan did not meet state statutes. They lost their case at trial last September, but they are appealing to the Iowa Supreme Court. While this case has been tied up the courts, River Bluffs has been unable to begin construction. Attorney Timothy White, of Cedar Rapids, representing the plaintiffs, says that the defendants have undertaken these actions maliciously, and he is seeking both actual and punitive damages. The amount in dollars the plaintiffs are seeking was not included in the petition, but in a letter from attorney White to the defendants' attorney, Wally Taylor, dated Oct. 4, White claims River Bluffs will have lost $511,690 by the end of this year as a result of the defendants lawsuit. Defendant Tim Mason rejects any malicious intent on the part of his group. "We have no fear that we have done anything wrong," Mason commented. "We just want to save our community the money and embarrassment that [this developer] has caused in La Crosse and Necedah, [Wis.]" he said. "We don't want public money spent on this project," he added. Speaking on behalf of his client, Tim White said that a group of McGregor business people who are frustrated are contributing to help pay his legal fees. "This is just part of the disappointment of the business community in Marquette-McGregor," said White. "These people are stifling any new business development in the area," he added. The case will not go to trial until sometime next year.

December 8, 2004

December 6, 2004