Lady Washington to appear in Disney's 'Pirates of the Caribbean'
By Paula Horton
Grays Harbor, WA (The Daily World) -- The Lady Washington is Hollywood bound - almost.
A $600,000 contract has been approved by the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority Board for Washington's tall ship ambassador to be used in a Disney movie.
The City Council gave its tentative stamp of approval, pending a review by City Attorney Eric Nelson, during Wednesday's meeting. All parties, including Disney, expect the contract to be signed, sealed and delivered by Friday afternoon.
"This is an incredible opportunity," said Les Bolton, executive director of the Historical Seaport.
The city holds the mortgage on the tall ship and has always insisted on approving the vessel's voyage schedule. The Seaport still owes the city $116,000. The City Council expressed some concern over the debt, but Bolton reconfirmed the Seaport's desire to pay off the city as fast as possible.
The contract, which is now in review by Disney's legal department, states that the Seaport would earn a day - by - day rate and "if we don't perform up to the contract, we won't get paid," said Bolton.
"We're going to earn the money as we go," Bolton continued. "At the end of the contract, we will know how much we'll have left over. I can't say how much that would be right now."
The Lady will be gone from Oct. 1 through March 31 as it travels to Los Angeles and the island of St. Vincent in the southeastern Caribbean for filming of the Disney movie, "The Pirates of the Caribbean."
The Seaport is on the verge of signing with First Mate Productions Inc. in Burbank, Calif., to have the tall ship appear in the film produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. Bruckheimer is well - known for producing and directing films such as "Top Gun," "Pearl Harbor," and "Blackhawk Down," as well as one of the top TV dramas, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigators."
Directed by Gore Verbinski and based on the famous Disney park ride, the movie follows a daring rescue mission from dangerous pirates who are trying to reverse an ancient curse.
According to the contract, the Lady Washington will be in Port Townsend for its scheduled haul out on Sept. 10. The haul out, which includes the vessel being lifted out of the water to have the bottom cleaned and repainted and the annual Coast Guard inspection, costs about $12,000 to $14,000.
"They'll pay for the entire haul out," Bolton said.
Once the haul out is finished, the Lady will be in the "dress up," or modification period - essentially preparing the vessel for the movie - from about Sept. 15 to 30, he added.
"We're going to try to convince Disney that the dress up would be best done here in Grays Harbor," Bolton said. "It will be easier for us and it gives people from Grays Harbor an opportunity to watch their ship turned into something else."
The contract also specifies that the company will cover the costs for the Lady during a 30 - day restoration period to get her back to the original condition after filming is completed.
Bolton said the Seaport worked out a "time charter" with First Mate Productions, which means the Lady's crew will stay with the tall ship.
"We maintain control of the vessel," he said. "And our master has the ability at any time to say, 'No, this is not safe.' "
The executive director said the Seaport has developed a "pretty lucrative" winter trade by doing educational programs in San Diego and Los Angeles, and that won't be interrupted by the Lady Washington's Hollywood experience.
The Seaport will charter a vessel from the Los Angeles Maritime Institution in order to continue its regular winter programs.
"Earnings will be down a little," he said. "I've projected a $12,000 loss, but we will have continued to service that clientele and won't lose their business."
Besides having the Lady Washington in a feature film, the Seaport will also lease some of the rigging that was torn apart when the Lady was dismasted in 1991.
"One of the things they want to do with the sets is create a ship that lost a battle," he said. "We have all this rigging that will be torn apart."
Bolton said the Seaport is hoping to become the "18th century maritime organization choice for Hollywood," and this deal will hopefully open doors to more opportunities in the future.
"The nice thing about Hollywood is it appears to be tremendously lucrative," he said.
By Paula Horton
Grays Harbor, WA (The Daily World) -- The Lady Washington is Hollywood bound - almost.
A $600,000 contract has been approved by the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority Board for Washington's tall ship ambassador to be used in a Disney movie.
The City Council gave its tentative stamp of approval, pending a review by City Attorney Eric Nelson, during Wednesday's meeting. All parties, including Disney, expect the contract to be signed, sealed and delivered by Friday afternoon.
"This is an incredible opportunity," said Les Bolton, executive director of the Historical Seaport.
The city holds the mortgage on the tall ship and has always insisted on approving the vessel's voyage schedule. The Seaport still owes the city $116,000. The City Council expressed some concern over the debt, but Bolton reconfirmed the Seaport's desire to pay off the city as fast as possible.
The contract, which is now in review by Disney's legal department, states that the Seaport would earn a day - by - day rate and "if we don't perform up to the contract, we won't get paid," said Bolton.
"We're going to earn the money as we go," Bolton continued. "At the end of the contract, we will know how much we'll have left over. I can't say how much that would be right now."
The Lady will be gone from Oct. 1 through March 31 as it travels to Los Angeles and the island of St. Vincent in the southeastern Caribbean for filming of the Disney movie, "The Pirates of the Caribbean."
The Seaport is on the verge of signing with First Mate Productions Inc. in Burbank, Calif., to have the tall ship appear in the film produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. Bruckheimer is well - known for producing and directing films such as "Top Gun," "Pearl Harbor," and "Blackhawk Down," as well as one of the top TV dramas, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigators."
Directed by Gore Verbinski and based on the famous Disney park ride, the movie follows a daring rescue mission from dangerous pirates who are trying to reverse an ancient curse.
According to the contract, the Lady Washington will be in Port Townsend for its scheduled haul out on Sept. 10. The haul out, which includes the vessel being lifted out of the water to have the bottom cleaned and repainted and the annual Coast Guard inspection, costs about $12,000 to $14,000.
"They'll pay for the entire haul out," Bolton said.
Once the haul out is finished, the Lady will be in the "dress up," or modification period - essentially preparing the vessel for the movie - from about Sept. 15 to 30, he added.
"We're going to try to convince Disney that the dress up would be best done here in Grays Harbor," Bolton said. "It will be easier for us and it gives people from Grays Harbor an opportunity to watch their ship turned into something else."
The contract also specifies that the company will cover the costs for the Lady during a 30 - day restoration period to get her back to the original condition after filming is completed.
Bolton said the Seaport worked out a "time charter" with First Mate Productions, which means the Lady's crew will stay with the tall ship.
"We maintain control of the vessel," he said. "And our master has the ability at any time to say, 'No, this is not safe.' "
The executive director said the Seaport has developed a "pretty lucrative" winter trade by doing educational programs in San Diego and Los Angeles, and that won't be interrupted by the Lady Washington's Hollywood experience.
The Seaport will charter a vessel from the Los Angeles Maritime Institution in order to continue its regular winter programs.
"Earnings will be down a little," he said. "I've projected a $12,000 loss, but we will have continued to service that clientele and won't lose their business."
Besides having the Lady Washington in a feature film, the Seaport will also lease some of the rigging that was torn apart when the Lady was dismasted in 1991.
"One of the things they want to do with the sets is create a ship that lost a battle," he said. "We have all this rigging that will be torn apart."
Bolton said the Seaport is hoping to become the "18th century maritime organization choice for Hollywood," and this deal will hopefully open doors to more opportunities in the future.
"The nice thing about Hollywood is it appears to be tremendously lucrative," he said.