The past 12 years would not be possible without the incredible support of our Windrider volunteer team. Last year, we were faced with the challenge of pivoting our Film Forum to an online virtual format, due to COVID-19. Our volunteers stepped up to the challenge and helped make the 2020 Windrider Virtual Film Forum our highest attended season yet! The volunteers are busy gearing up for another virtual season this year. To kick things off, we wanted to highlight one of our amazing volunteers, Julie Mell.
Julie graduated from CCA and received a degree in Film and Graphic Design. She’s always had a passion for films and especially, good story telling. She is a recent empty nester currently residing in Montara with her two dogs and husband Dave. Her two college aged girls now inspire her with their own compassion, wit and creativity.
Julie started attending Sundance Film Festival the year she graduated from college and has been attending ever since. A few years ago, Julie started volunteering for Sundance as a way of giving back.
Introduced to Windrider by a girlfriend almost ten years ago, she started volunteering as an usher and took over as the Social Media Director when Christina Bullock went on maternity leave. Now Christina and Julie work as a team, along with the other inspiring marketing team member volunteers.
Julie finds that the inspirational stories and fantastic Q&A’s that Windrider provide their audience allow her the opportunity to engage in intimate, in-depth, moderated discussions about important, compassionate issues that are otherwise often over-looked. Julie exclaimed, “Windrider Bay Area is my ‘Summer Sundance’ with an amazing team of supportive, dedicated passionate leaders and volunteers.”
When asked what her favorite Windrider Film is, Julie said, “Choosing a favorite Windrider Film Forum film is difficult as there have been so many top notch films. My favorite films are the documentaries that often go unseen in the mainstream. I’m always happy to hear the season’s program — films carefully chosen by Terri, Will and John.”
After years of volunteering and working for Windrider and other festivals, Covid lock down made her yearn for the movies. Half Moon Bay and the San Mateo County Coast was void of any theaters and she kept reading about Drive-Ins popping up all around the Bay Area. She became inspired to offer a little respite from the home and couches.
This was the start of Beach Break Entertainment.
One of her main goals starting Beach Break Entertainment was to bring the joy that she’s experienced attending Sundance, Windrider and other Bay Area film festivals over the years to her coastal communities during this especially challenging time of 2020.
The events she plans enables her to also help small businesses and nonprofits in town while offering our visitors and neighbors an opportunity to enjoy a day at the beach and end it with dinner and a movie in a beautiful, peaceful setting.
“It’s the perfect family — or romantic — getaway, as we like to say, ‘Under the Stars, In Your Cars,’” explained Julie.
You can find out more at www.beachbreakentertainment.com.
