Video Will Help City Mark 90th Birthday

The city will celebrate its 90th birthday next year, and a local filmmaker plans to document its history in a video--with a little help from area businesses.

City Council members unanimously agreed this week to help filmmaker David Yrisarri raise the $150,000 needed to produce the video documentary.

Local companies can expect a letter soon from Mayor Shirley Dettloff describing the project and asking if they will help underwrite it.

Yrisarri, who said he has worked in film production for the past nine years, said the video will be made in the style of Ken Burns’ “Civil War” documentary.

To make the film, historians, educators and other professionals will trace the city’s roots back to its 1909 incorporation. The documentary will cover the rise and fall of oil production, and even explore the surfing craze that led to Huntington Beach’s nickname, Surf City.

“I thought it would be a great opportunity for the city to celebrate with a video,” Yrisarri said.

The film, when completed, will be shown on the city’s cable channel and used by local schools, tourist agencies and economic development officials.

Councilman Ralph H. Bauer, who proposed the item to the council, said the city would help raise funds but would not spend any public money for the making of the documentary.

Information: (714) 536-5553.