As an offshoot of this year's Artist in Residence program, 911 Media Arts Center is proud to announce our support of Seattle/Austin filmmaker Andrew McAllister's latest film Urban Scarecrow - a digital feature length film to be shot in and around Seattle this coming year. Venturing into new territory, 911 will partner with Andrew's production company, Open Road Realities, to provide pre-production support in anticipation of the film's eventual completion in 2004.

Urban Scarecrow is best described as a bittersweet drama that contrasts the laugh-out-loud styling of stand-up comedy against the rich, stark atmosphere of Seattle's own Highway 99. Set in the decaying yet visually charming backdrop of run-down motels and quirky businesses, the film seeks to simply capture two people - a father and son - and the empowering and confining components of what drives them to dream. Urban Scarecrow will be shot on MiniDV digital video format and, like Andy's first feature film Shag Carpet Sunset, will showcase new techniques in digital color manipulation and animation.

Andrew McAllister has been producing film/video for over 10 years in both the commercial and artistic domains, and has made a living shooting everything from real-estate shows to pet massage videos. Currently he's bi-residential, wreaking cinematic havoc in the Austin and Seattle film communities. Andrew's first feature film, Shag Carpet Sunset, premiered at the 2002 Seattle International Film Festival and has garnered critical acclaim at the Austin Film Festival, Edmonton International Film Festival, and Northwest Film and Video Festival, among others.

"McAllister shows more potential for greatness than either Richard Linklater or Kevin Smith did with their respective debuts." - Willamette Week, Portland, OR

911 Media Arts Center's 2003/2004 Artist in Residence Program is made possible through a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

The second component of this year's residency program will be a competitive process through which artists and/or filmmakers will be offered support and access to equipment to realize their projects. Check 911's website for updated information!