Making a movie from memories: BHS grads seek funds for Camp Siberia film

Published 10:31 am Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Bainbridge High School grads Hannah Kyle Crichton and Kyle Scoble are trying to get back to Russia, and they need some help.

The duo first visited the former Soviet Union as part of the Bainbridge-based charity program Camp Siberia, now known as Bainbridge Island/Kitezh, in the summer of 2007. They found the experience so inspirational that they’re looking to go back to check up on their Russian friends — and to make a documentary.

Founded in 1999 by Janie Ekberg, Bainbridge Island/Kitezh takes Bainbridge High School sophomores and juniors to Novosibirsk every summer to put on an American-style summer camp for post-Soviet orphans, which the BBC estimates there are nearly 800,000 of in Russia.

“We are returning to Novosibirsk, Russia, to profile the lives of the orphans we worked with at Camp Siberia, now that they are young adults,” Crichton said.

The film, “A Russian Summer,” has already garnered more than $5,000 via an indiegogo.com campaign, though the filmmakers estimate the project will cost about $18,000. The fundraising will continue for about 15 more days (www.indiegogo.com/projects/a-russian-summer-a-documentary#/) with perks and prizes available to contributors.

The duo hope to get back to Russia in September of this year to find campers from their summer there and capture a look into their lives now. This short documentary will explore the paths these former campers have taken and be an update on the day-to-day lives they currently live.

Crichton moved to Los Angeles in September 2012, where she has made a name for herself in the comedy scene as a producer and talent scout. She served as the director of Chris Hardwick’s comedy theater The Nerdist Showroom for over a year, and she currently works as a consultant for the world’s largest international comedy festival, Just For Laughs, in Montreal, Canada.

Scoble attended Occidental College, graduating with distinction from the Art History & Visual Arts department and majoring in media arts and culture. He has worked as a production assistant on numerous commercials, short films and the independent feature “No Way to Live.” He also has worked as a producer, cameraman and editor for KCET’s multi-media team on projects such as “Artbound” and “Departures.” Currently, Scoble is an event technician for The Bosco, a digital interaction company based in Brooklyn.