Valley Breeze

20 CUMBERLAND MARCH 24-30, 2016 | VALLEY BREEZE | CUMBERLAND LINCOLN EDITION Greer, Michelle Pfeiffer and Kiefer Sutherland. But she dove into produc- ing after Vincent D'Onofrio, lead actor of "Law & Order Criminal Intent," asked her to be his production assistant and personal assistant. "With zero experience, he took a lot of faith in me," she said, and they produced their first film titled "Five Minutes, Mr. Welles" in 2005. "In the beginning, it was incredibly scary. I felt like I was pretending," she said of producing movies. The second film she produced, "The New Tenants," won an Oscar in 2010. She said she hopes to go back to the Oscar ceremony one day, adding that being able to walk down the red car- pet "and be surrounded by so much talent was a night to remember." This year, the 38-year-old executive producer/line producer was honored in the producer's circle awards for "Infinitely Polar Bear," "Measure of a Man" and "The Discovery" at the Rhode Island International Film Festival in Providence last month. Hampson explained that one of the movies she's proudest of is "Infinitely Polar Bear," because from start to fin- ish, it was an "amazing experience" and the critics loved the film, she told The Breeze. The movie, released in 2015, is about a man who suffers from bipolar disorder and works to take care of himself, his two children and wife. "Infinitely Polar Bear," she explained, was filmed mainly in Providence, and "Measure of a Man," a coming-of-age story not yet released, was filmed at Camp Hoffman in South Kingstown. Hampson said "it means everything" to be able to film in Rhode Island. "There's something really comfort- ing about coming back to the same place where you know all the local crew at this point," she said. Anytime she can film a movie in the state, she said, she does it. Erika still keeps in touch with Julie Dahno O'Connell, who she met in kindergarten at Community School, and CHS friends Chris van Oursouw, Jenn Flanagan, Missy Plourde and Heather Black Giebel. Barbara Hampson, Erika's mother, still lives in Cumberland, and she said she's proud of what her daughter has accomplished, but even prouder of who she is as a person and the lessons Erika has taught her. When people watch films, Barbara Hampson said, they aren't aware of just how many hours go into producing the final product. When working on a movie, Erika Hampson said, prep work takes about six weeks and shooting film takes about the same length of time. The producer will work anywhere from 13 to 17 hours a day, steadily, she explained. She will get the script early on, she said, and create the budget for the film. The producer is responsible for staying on target with the budget until the movie is completed. Hampson picks shooting locations, attends production meetings with the art department, costume department and cast of each film. For her, the excitement begins when she starts get- ting the materials for a film, and the best part is seeing her work come to life on the big screen and hearing the audience react. She said working as a film producer for a living is similar to any other job, in the sense that it requires a lot of work. The Cumberland native said she considers herself lucky to work with the same people she adored growing up, when she watched televi- sion and first became curious about how everything came together for a film or television series. To watch that talent perform in per- son, she said, is a privilege. "There are moments where I can't believe I'm standing on the set next to these people that I've just admired for so long," she said. Barbara Hampson raved about "Discovery," with Robert Redford. When Barbara first heard the news about Redford being a part of the cast, she said, she immediately recalled seeing Redford on the big screen years ago. "If anyone had told me your daugh- ter, in 40-something years from now, would be producing a movie that he was in, I would've laughed at them," she said. Every film is a learning experience, Erika Hampson said, and added that with each movie she works on, "I'm more and more aware of how lucky I am." On her Rhode Island Film Festival award, Hampson said she's happy that Steven Feinberg, the honorary chairman of RIFF, recognized her for her work in the state. The night of the ceremony, she said, she was proud to have her parents, brother Brad Hampson, and three best friends from her childhood days in Cumberland beside her at the table. "I've made movies that I'm extremely proud of and I've worked with some amazing actors and pro- ducers and directors," she told The Breeze. "If I'm lucky enough to be doing that a few years from now, I'll be very happy." HAMPSON From Page One Cumberland native ERIKA HAMPSON, left, with sister-in-law KIM VENDITTI; brother BRAD HAMPSON, a Cumberland police patrolman; mother BARBARA HAMPSON; and father GEORGE HAMPSON, of Cumberland, at the Rhode Island International Film Festival in February. ERIKA HAMPSON, left, stands with director JOACHIM BACK and producer SAM BISBEE after winning an Oscar for the film "The New Tenants" in 2010. 'If anyone had told me your daughter, in 40-something years from now, would be producing a movie that (Robert Redford) was in, I would've laughed at them.' BARBARA HAMPSON Cumberland resident, Erika Hampson's mother Learn to organize your office at the library CUMBERLAND – The Cumberland Public Library is hosting a three-part series, Organize Your Office, starting on Thursday night, March 31, at 7 p.m. The series was made to help energize your business. 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