Washington-based feature film highlights Cashmere, Leavenworth

CASHMERE – Cashmere, Leavenworth, and US-2 will be featured in “Evergreens,” a Washington-based feature-length film. The cast and crew spent multiple days filming at the Outpost Saloon, an orchard in Cashmere, and iconic locations in downtown Leavenworth.

“It's definitely a place where as soon as you come here, you fall in love with it. It totally makes sense to do this movie here,” said actor Edouard Philipponnat, who plays James in the film.

The movie, written and directed by Spokane-based filmmaker Jared Briley, is a coming-of-age love story that follows characters Eve and James on a road trip across Washington state. The story begins in Spokane and then travels through Coulee City, Cashmere, Leavenworth, Index, Seattle, Forks, and the Hoh Rain Forest in the Olympic National Park.

“We always joke that Washington State [is] sort of the third lead behind the two main actors,” said Briley.

While Briley has worked as the first assistant director on several TV and film productions, “Evergreens” is his first foray as director. Wanting to keep the production local, Briley was inspired to write a story about all of his favorite places to go as a kid growing up in Washington. 

Prior to filming, Briley worked with Washington Filmworks and Jessica Stoller from the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce to find and scout locations in the surrounding area. 

“The best part about making movies is the collaboration with so many different people involved, creatively. Whether they mean to be or not, finding the right location is such a huge creative part, especially in the movie that's really trying to show off what Washington State really is,” said Briley.

In addition to scenes shot at the Outpost Saloon and the orchard, the movie will feature a montage of scenes depicting a few hours in Leavenworth. The project filmed the characters walking the main street, Black Bird Island, and even visiting Das Thrift Shoppe and the Nutcracker Museum. Along the way, the crew invited property owners and other locals to be extras in the scenes.

“I think that's a beautiful thing to include and work with local people wherever we are traveling, because at the end of the day, that's a very important part of the film itself. You know, we meet people on our travels that make an impact on our lives and vice versa. So, I think the journey we're taking as a film crew and cast very much mirrors the story,” said actor Darby Lee-Stack, who plays Eve in the film.

The film is largely supported by the Small Budget Production Initiative of Washington Filmworks, a private nonprofit organization whose mission “is to create economic development opportunities by building and enhancing the competitiveness, profile and sustainability of Washington State’s film industry.” 

“What we're trying to do is encourage projects to film in Washington State, hire Washington State crew, [and] put money into the Washington state economy,” said Sherrye Wyatt, Washington Filmworks Rural Economic Development Manager.

To support rural Washington county economies, the organization also provides additional funding incentives for projects filming 50 percent of their production days in rural areas, and up to an additional 10 percent back on in-state expenditures. According to Briley, the organization will provide about 35 percent of the film’s budget, which is just under $1 million. 

“The benefit is that it generates economic activity that doesn't require a community to change who they are. It celebrates your true authentic self. In some other industries, you have to build this, or pay that, or create something inauthentic…Why they're filming in these locations is for who they are as is, and they're spending money,” said Wyatt.

The project will take 18 total days to film. It will be submitted to film festivals in 2025, where Briley hopes it will be bought by a distributor.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media