Rob Grabow understood enough when he took a seat to compose a script to follow the old expression: Write what you understand.
That script led to a brand-new movie, “Year of the Dog,” which opens Friday at the Village Centre Cinemas Wandermere and around the nation.
While the story concentrates on a loner alcoholic who should keep sobriety for one month in order to visit his passing away mom, that’s not the “write what you know” part of Grabow’s tale.
Grabow, 41, isn’t much of a drinker at all. However, the 2005 Gonzaga University graduate, who composed, produced co-directed and stars in the poignant movie, was motivated by what his mom experienced as an alcohol and drug therapist. Grabow likewise was moved by his time maturing in rural Holy Cross, Alaska, which is where he saw how prevalent alcohol addiction remains in the huge Last Frontier.
“So much of what I’ve written is pulled from my mother, who worked in a women’s prison,” Grabow said from his Bozeman home. “Some of my mother’s closest friends were in recovery. I’ve seen so many people struggling to get their lives together.”
Grabow couldn’t help however discover how life in Alaska can result in a reliance. “You add up the relative isolation, the darkness, the cold and the genetic disposition,” Grabow said. “You can see how so many people are alcoholics.”
The movie, nevertheless, is less about alcohol than redemption. Ultimately, “Year of the Dog,” which includes a scene-stealing Alaskan husky who is trained for competitors, is a heartfelt story about recovery, forgiveness and ending up being a much better individual.
Grabow shows to be skilled at controling feelings through movie theater. Not a bad task for a financing significant.
“Knowing about finance certainly comes in handy in the world of the arts,” Grabow said.
Business was Grabow’s preliminary pursuit. He began his own business, Intrepid Sportswear, out of his Gonzaga dormitory in 2003. Intrepid Sportswear, which provides sports uniforms, is thriving.
“I give Gonzaga credit for supporting my entrepreneurial concept,” Grabow said. “It was local at first and then grew to the Pacific Northwest and it’s been national for years.”
However, there was a space Grabow was obliged to fill even while concentrating on his business. Grabow registered for some acting classes when his business was based in Seattle in 2013.
“There was something missing,” Grabow said. “I really enjoyed learning about acting. But I needed more.”
Grabow relocated to New York to participate in Pace University and its Actor’s Studio Drama School.
The creator and president of Intrepid Sportswear chose to make his very first function movie in 2018. “I took my life savings to make my dream a reality,” Grabow said. “But that’s what you do when you’re passionate about something.”
Grabow’s vision will reach the screen for its Spokane launching Friday at the Village Centre Cinemas Wandermere.
“It’s significant to me since Spokane was the first place I called home for years,” Grabow said. “I began my business there and it’s the very first city I felt comfy in. I look forward not to simply the movie being evaluated in Spokane however I look forward most to seeing my pals and those in Gonzaga’s Alumni Chapter.
It’s no coincidence that the movie’s group consists of 5 fellow Gonzaga alumni. “How could I not tap into my friends, who are fellow alums,” Grabow said.
Grabow, who likewise has a brief movie, “Method,” launched in 2019, intends to make more movies. “I would like to,” Grabow said. “I had such an amazing experience with ‘Year of the Dog.’ ”
“Year of the Dog” will ideally make an effect given that it is a suggestion that not whatever must be nixed in this age of cancel culture. America has actually constantly had to do with redemption and is a main style that goes through “Year of the Dog.”
The scene in between the lead character, Matt, and his passing away daddy sets the tone. “We don’t leave things broken,” the male living on obtained time informs his child, who is having a hard time in lots of methods.
“Redemption is super important in the film and in our lives,” Grabow said. “Matt is trying to cancel the world and the world is trying to cancel him. But his sponsors continue to engage him. Not everyone should be canceled.”
Not everybody must remain in their lane, which has actually ended up being convention in this progressively specific world. “Human beings are born intrinsically special,” Grabow said. “We’re all gifted with more than one thing. We can be an artist or not an artist. I hope people see what I’ve done and realize that we actually have different skill sets. Maybe someone who works in the business world can be an artist. So much is possible. That goes for people struggling with addiction and those who would like to do something more than what they do every day at work.”
Grabow will participate in the 6:45 screening and will follow with a Q&A.
