Project overview
Love’s pursuit leads to a place where even angels hesitate to tread.
A man walks along the edge of a dense forest, clutching an old wooden case. A white owl perched in the trees notices him and swoops down. In a swirl of smoke, the owl transforms into a beautiful female apparition. The “Girl” warns him not to venture further into the woods. The man pauses and places his wooden case on a fallen tree trunk. He opens it to reveal an old-fashioned turntable, a wind-up phonograph. He carefully cranks the handle and places the needle on a worn, black vinyl record.
As the music crackles to life, a story begins to unfold. The man is transported into a vision, finding himself at the entrance of an exotic country estate, its gate resembling a grand, metal birdcage. Inside, he sees the Girl waiting for him. He chases her, but she is always just out of reach, vanishing by magic or silently trailing behind him, elusive and unattainable. At last, he manages to engage her in a single, tender dance as the song continues to play. But suddenly, the beautiful apparition pulls away, fading into thin air as the music fades.
Back at the forest’s edge, the vision dissolves. The man, now abandoned by love, embarks on a long, lonely journey into his uncertain future, walking towards the sunset with many miles ahead. As he disappears into the dark storm clouds on the horizon, the owl screeches from her perch above. Left behind by the man, the owl transforms once more into the Girl Who Faded Away. She stands where the man once stood, watching him vanish into the distance. A single tear falls down her cheek as she mourns his departure, destined to grieve his loss forever.
director’s biography – Brent Heise
Brent Heise’s journey into filmmaking began in childhood with a Minolta Super 8mm camera. Driven by a passion for storytelling, he pursued education at American University, creating a supernatural short film that became a highlight at the Media Festival.
After returning to Portland, he won the “Best of the Northwest Judges Choice” award for his indie feature, Twilight Man. Praised for its editing, he focused deeper into editorial work with campaigns like Allstate’s “Keep the Drive.”
At Digital Wave, he created a documentary for the Community Transitional School, documenting crucial educational efforts for vulnerable children. He collaborated with musician Tom Guernsey, highlighting his story amidst ALS challenges, featuring notable cameos.
Later, at Bent Image Lab, he worked with director Chel White on animated segments, editing behind-the-scenes footage for Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The 4-D Experience and The Water Man. His current focus is on creating videos for the Preservation Artisans Guild, celebrating Portland’s historic preservation craftsmanship.
Credits & Specifications
| Brent Heise | Director |
| Brent Heise | Writer |
| George Daly | Producer |
| Theresa Hanson | Key Cast |
| Eric Schopmeyer | Key Cast |
| Project Type: | Music Video, Short |
| Language: | English |
| Genres: | Romance |
| Runtime: | 5 minutes 34 seconds |
| Completion Date: | January 27, 2024 |
| Production Budget: | 4,000 USD |
| Country of Origin: | United States |
| Country of Filming: | United States |
| Shooting Format: | Digital |
| Aspect Ratio: | 256:135 |
| Film Color: | Color |
| First-time Filmmaker: | No |
| Student Project: | No |
Director’s statement
This project unites remarkable elements to pay homage to the musical genius of Tom Guernsey. Tom left this world too soon with Lou Gerhrig’s disease before telling his story, but time has not diminished his brilliant musical achievements. At the pinnacle of his band’s success, the single “What a Girl Can’t Do” topped the charts, knocking the Beatles out of the top slot in the Washington, D.C. market in 1966. This project concerns the lesser known, yet unmistakably poetic and captivating, flip side to that famous 45 RPM record. The Girl Who Faded Away.
Sharing my appreciation for the sensibility of this more obscure B side, former bandmate George Daly who, hearing of the project, signed on as the Executive Producer for this video. George is a music business icon who helped to galvanize the San Francisco music scene, and beyond, under the auspices of another industry titan, Clive Davis. George’s stewardship at several major labels garnered record sales of more than three hundred million, collaborating with artists and groups of significance and cultural impact. A shortlist of his collaboration includes names like Janis Joplin, The Cars, Tool, Huey Lewis and Carlos Santana. A simple Google search on George Daly will show immediately that his interest in Tom’s song has significance, and is why the film you are going to see has such a powerful back story.
The poet Allen Ginsburg considered Tom one of his favorite musicians. Here is a link to an article enshrining the kinship shared between these artistic luminaries:
Characteristic of such towering figures in San Francisco counterculture, George engages in gregarious outreach for the greater good. Through selfless acts of kindness, George fostered the reclaiming of publishing rights of the song for Tom’s widow, leading the way with a sense of duty for Tom’s family and legacy, as well as nostalgia for the collaboration once shared with his former bandmate.
Consequently, George helped Tom’s widow to grant permission to share this video with the world. Guernsey Music was born, setting the stage for a revival of Tom’s music. While the creative torch handed from Tom to myself has burned over twelve years since his passing, George has sought to ensure that the torch is not extinguished. Tom once directed the music videos that I produced for him. I am now honored to direct in his stead with the full support of George Daly.
The actors consist of the beautiful dancing phenomenon Theresa Hanson, a talent who has graced Portland’s thriving burlesque shows with flair and pizzazz, coupled with music composer Eric Schopmeyer. Eric, who dons the wry moniker DJ Powerless, operates hand-cranked phonographs at social gatherings when he is not teaching music theory. (See the film for one dream-like example!)
The video opens in an atmospheric prelude. The dreamy and ethereal elements along the protagonist’s walk inspire a sort of reverie. Once the needle hits the vinyl, the setting transforms into the grounds of a historic mansion, one incidentally once used as the Lebanese consulate in Portland, Oregon. The reclusive locale is a remnant of the gilded age; it is the last glimmer of the Roaring Twenties before the cataclysmic Great Depression. This is an exclusive glimpse into a monument from a bygone era and, as an aside, it is now in the hands of one of Portland’s premiere restoration experts after years of neglect:
In summary, this project renews attention to the growing US and world reputation of Tom Guernsey’s musical legacy. Music wrapped in a sublime, chivalric, and passionate romance. Concurrently, by way of an exotic location, it is a celebration of a Portland landmark imbued with imagination and intrigue. It’s a love story at its core, in service to several beautiful things. Watch and see.
Without further ado, I encourage the viewer to view this film and behold the music of Tom Guernsey in a spirited, visual translation. The Girl Who Faded Away.
