Film festival helps bring Hollywood to Driggs

BOISE – Hollywood is a long way from Driggs, Idaho.

But actress Dawn Wells, best known for her role as Mary Ann on “Gilligan’s Island,” is trying to bring the two worlds a little closer with the Spud Film and Music Festival.

“My goal is not to get millions of people here, but to have it grow. The quality of what we’re doing is special and it’s very important for me to have it done right,” Wells said.

The event, nicknamed Spud Fest and sponsored by the Idaho Potato Commission, features 34 new films, live bands and appearances by celebrities such as Danny Glover, Wells said. All the films are family-friendly and every evening one of them will be shown at the Spud Drive-In in Driggs. The festival is scheduled to run Tuesday through Saturday.

The actress, who has lived in the region for years, hopes the festival will draw the film industry to Idaho.

“Everybody’s always looking for locations. Grand Teton is famous for being in every commercial known to man. Film scouts come and look, but we just don’t get the films for a variety of reasons. The festival provides exposure,” she said.

“The whole country is trying to keep the film industry in the United States now, but Idaho only made a million from the industry last year, with only one or two films made. Bringing films can help with saving the environment, giving youth an occupation and help nourish this part of the country,” Wells said.

Meanwhile, ticket sales will help Wells turn her 5-year-old Film Actor’s Boot Camp into a full-fledged institute where students earn college credit, she said.

“There are no film studios in Montana, Wyoming, or Idaho, so this will provide an opportunity for youths to learn the trade so that when films come here, they can work,” Wells said.