Shipman's love for area shines bright in her films

(Today, I want to share with you the conclusion of a “Sandpoint Centennial” interview with Nina Shipman. It took place at Priest Lake on May 26, 2001. She was there to join the community in honoring her famous grandmother, Nell Shipman. Nina followed in the steps of her grandmother and has starred in movies and numerous television shows.)

Shipman: “My grandmother was one of the bravest women I have ever known. She was an innovator. In Priest Lake, they were working in very hostile environment weather-wise, and because there were no facilities, they had to kind of invent things as they went along.

“She and Joseph Walker, her cameraman, came up with a shiny board that is called a reflector. They didn’t have electricity so they couldn’t plug in a light and shine the light on a subject. They had to reflect whatever light was available and so that’s what they did. They invented the reflector, which they used and it is still being used today, especially in exterior work in films.

“Joe Walker’s career started with Nell, Nell Shipman Productions, and he later rose to be a famous cinematographer with Frank Capra. And he and Frank Capra made many films together. I don’t think Frank worked without Joe if he could help it. They were very close.”

Question: “Nina, you were going to say something about your dad. What about your dad?”

Shipman: “Now what was I going to say about my dad? I forgot. Oh yes. My father was here at Priest Lake with my grandmother, his mom. And there was a time when she needed to make some film with local actors because the professional actors had already left because they didn’t want any more of this cold, Pacific Northwest stuff. So, she got a lot of local people involved including my Dad, Barry, who was about 10 years old at that time.

“My dad was supposed to fall off the back of a dog sled into the icy waters of Priest Lake and break through the ice. Nell jumps off to save him and the water, as you can imagine, was rather chilly. Dad tries to get out only he doesn’t get out because Nell says, ‘You’re ruining the shot.’

“My dad replied, ‘It’s cold in here so get me out of here.’ She says, ‘No, no, no.’

“She took a hold of his belt and held him in the water and it looked like he was struggling to get out, which he was, and it looked like Nell was trying to help him out, but she wasn’t. She was going to keep that kid in the water and make the shot count.

“There you have it. Picture first, kid second. Her priorities were very clear.

“When Nell first arrived in Priest Lake she fell in love with it. She thought this was indeed God’s country. It had this wonderful, wonderful, sense of purity and she called it her, Ultima Thule.

“To her it meant that she had come home. This is where she belonged. It broke her heart when her company failed and she had to leave.

“It was a sad time when the San Diego Zoo came in and took all of her animals because she couldn’t care for them any longer.

“It was a very sad time for her when it failed, but she was certainly excited when she got here. When she talked about it you could hear the excitement in her voice, you know, even when she was in her 70s — memories of such love. And I have experienced an awfully lot of the same feelings when I am here. But I didn’t have to brave all that cold; I got here in an airplane and a car.”