The official Illustrated Sandwich Web Site

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By Chris Honor,  Tidings Correspondent
Posted: 2:00 AM September 18, 2004

Illustrated Sandwich is a small visual-media company based  in Ashland that has as its logo the image of a generous New York deli  sandwich chuck full of goodies and condiments. It is meant to convey that  between two slices of bread one can find a plethora of creative skills.  In other words, Illustrated Sandwich is, in effect, a contemporary renaissance  company, one for all seasons, that has expertise in photography, painting,  commercial illustration, film, set design and construction, prop building,  graphic design, clothing design, murals, store windows, woodwork design  and execution and more.

Illustrated Sandwich is owned and operated by Laney d’Aquino  and Austin VanCampen, two local artists who have been working together for the — past four years. They recently won the Ashland Independent Film Festival poster contest for 2004. Their murals and paintings have been featured — at Wiley’s Pasta, Morning Glory Restaurant, Vinyl Club, Ray’s Food Place, NuWandart, Starbucks and Bloomsbury’s coffee shop. As commercial illustrators,  their credits include book covers and newspaper and magazine illustrations.  They did the illustrations for Bathroom Readers Press’ recent children’s  book. They have exhibited in multiple local galleries.

Currently d’Aquino and VanCampen have been working in — film, a medium that they find challenging and completely engaging. D’Aquino — commented that “film takes all the components of theater, storytelling, — art and photography and ties them up into moving images.”

They first experimented with film by making numerous shorts, — one only 10 seconds in length and called “Spring Fried Curiosity.” They — brainstormed, worked on story boards, wrote and rewrote scripts, learning — the process as they went along. Those experiences led to a two-minute — production titled “Taking the Edge,” which was shot in close ups. VanCampen — describes it as “gritty and sexy and the caliber of the job was amazing — because of the great team that worked on it.”

In the process of making the shorts they realized that — Ashland has a wealth of talented film people – many of whom are professional — expatriates from Los Angeles – and that perhaps something more ambitious — was possible. They selected a script written by d’Aquino, “She Comes in — Colors,” mainly because it was a good fit for their team and because it — was heavy in art direction. VanCampen pointed out that “it could be simply — done and still be very effective.” “She Comes in Colors” is a love story, — but not your usual love story. According to d’Aquino, “It’s the story — of a boy who meets the girl of his dreams and illustrates how life can — pass you by if you don’t engage in it, if you don’t make it your own.” — It’s a theme that both artists feel parallels not only the making of the — film but of their company as well.

D’Aquino and VanCampen pulled together a crew with Shelly Austin as producer, Kent Rommey as director of photography and Bill Pecchi as the sound engineer. After multiple production meetings, locations in — the Rogue Valley were scouted, call sheets were created, a cast chosen, — and two weeks of rehearsals launched. The film was shot in three twelve-hour days. Brent Streeper, the film’s editor, spent the next several months piecing the footage together at the editing suite of Jackhammer Moving Pictures. Dennis Kambury mixed the score, provided by Applegation, with the visuals and the audio. In the words of D’Aquino, “Viola! We had a  movie. A calling card we can share with the community to show what is possible here.”

Both d’Aquino and VanCampen agree that Ashland is ripe — for the establishment of a film community. “The climate is even and predictable,” — VanCampen stated. “The access is excellent, the locations are varied and — high quality and the talent is top notch. It is simply a matter of convincing — the right people that it can be done here and done well. This is what — we are trying to do by making some high-quality short films with little — backing. There are many people making films in the area and the ball is — rolling. Everyone who is creating film here not only makes movies to watch, — but they are also creating the future film community that is strong and — thriving. Our little community is not well known yet but that is changing.”

D’Aquino has a master’s in fine arts in theater from the — University of Delaware, with an emphasis in costume construction. She studied at the Bilmas School for Commercial Illustration and has worked — all over the country in theater. She has a deep resume in art and commercial — illustration, while crossing over into film at different points, writing — and producing her own films. VanCampen served a 10-year apprenticeship — with a landscape photographer and his experience gives Illustrated Sandwich — added dimension. Combining their backgrounds and skills, these two artists — have approached Illustrated Sandwich with discipline and an eye toward — sustaining not only a creative and vibrant company, but one that reflects — a strong businesslike bottom line.

On tap for the future, d’Aquino and VanCampen have just — finished writing a script for the feature length film, “Happy Hour,” slated — to begin shooting this coming spring. As well they are working on illustrations — for a children’s book called “Snot the Jester,” using a character developed — by d’Aquino. Also in development is a new line of Christmas cards, due — out before the holidays.