Private Project

Facing Fire

After a decade-long drought, a fire starts in Ashland, Oregon and rips through the neighboring towns of Talent and Phoenix where local firefighters contend with 60 miles per hour winds. Without emergency evacuation notices, and a sudden loss of water, firefighters faced a complicated battle in which over 2,600 homes were lost, and more than 42,000 people became climate refugees. In the aftermath, generous-hearted community members joined together to build, repair, support, and cook for those affected, while officials looked at ways to be better prepared for the inevitable next fire event.
Unlike other recent documentaries about devastating wildfires, FACING FIRE is told by local filmmakers who live and work in the community profoundly disrupted by fire, providing unique insight and access. The film unflinchingly portrays the disaster but also provides some hope in the story of the mutual aid efforts that sprung up organically following this event.

  • Laney A D'Aquino
    Director
  • Laney D'Aquino
    Producer
  • John C Cole
    Producer
  • Kent Romney
    Producer
  • John C Cole
    Director of Photography
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    21 minutes 21 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 11, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    digital super 35
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Laney A D'Aquino

Oregon-based visual artist, Laney D’Aquino, grew up and went to college in Pennsylvania. After receiving her MFA in theatre from the University of Delaware, she worked as a troubleshooter across the country in various theaters until moved to New York City where she worked as a milliner at Grace costumes and MTV. Finally finding a parallel career in film, Laney is a long time resident of Ashland, Oregon where she’s made over 200 films for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and taken on a range of clients and subject matter including civic projects (documentaries with the fire department, homelessness and food scarcity organizations) as well as commercial projects (hemp industry projects, silicon valley start ups, Nike, Darex, Providence Hospital) and is passionate about independent film having had 16 films accepted to the Ashland Independent Film Festival. She has been working with the acclaimed Rogue Valley Symphony for 4 years creating films that take their music beyond the concert hall. A recent recipient of the Lee Fuchsman award for her body of independent film work.

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