North Port Episodic Series

We’re a Duluth-based group of artists producing a cinematic anthology series based on Bodhi Werner’s novel NØRTH PØRT 1999 (which itself is the first in a series). NØRTH PØRT 1999 is set in a fictional version of 90s Duluth. The story is like the small-town murder mystery of Twin Peaks, but with monsters, cyborgs, and mad scientists.

Each episode of the anthology series is a short film following different characters from the novel— Think X-Files meets Black Mirror.

Mandy June Turpin (a Duluth Film Industry Luminary) suggested the idea of this anthology series- and we’ve run with it.

We have 6 episodes planned. We've produced ep 1 (which screened at Zeitgeist’s Minnesota Film Fest 2025 and won the Innovative Horror Award at Trapped Film Fest 2024). Episode 2, GIRL SCOUT & TOMBOY, is in post-production (and won the 1st Place Prize at the MFF Short Film Pitch Competition.) Ep 3 shoots in late winter 2026, and the famous indigenous actor Kelly William (Netflix's North of North) is interested in playing the lead. Ep 4 will shoot in mid-2026.

Our Missions

1) Tell stories with a positive impact, in a compelling, unique, and authentic way. 

2) Grow the local film industry and bring recognition to this beautiful region and its people. 

Our Team

We’re grateful to have a diverse team of talented regional individuals, including individuals from underrepresented communities (BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, Neurdiverse, Women, 55+). The group is led by a mother-son duo, award-winning filmmaker and writer Bodhi Werner and multi-disciplinary artist and author Clare Cooley. 

Commitment to Indigenous Representation

One of our lead actresses for Episode 2 (GIRL SCOUT & TOMBOY) is Jagger Ripley-Jaakola (Arikara Tribe, living on Fond Du Lac Rez). Her mother, Lyz Jaakola, founded the film program at the FDL Tribal Community College. Jagger’s brother Hunter Jaakola also played a supporting role in the film. In Episode 3, the lead character (and actor interested in playing him) is an indigenous person. A number of our crew and post-production team are indigenous. During production of Episode 2, we mentored students from the Fond Du Lac Tribal and Community College paid internship program with the help of school administrators Lyz Jaakola, Jeremy Gardner, and Gus Ganley.

Our Vision for 2026 and beyond

We’ll produce at least 2 episodes of the North Port Episodic series in 2026 (Episodes 3 & 4) — all shot in Saint Louis County, featuring regional cast/crew. We will host table reads/screenings/premieres/Q&As at Zeitgeist (our fiscal sponsor), for each episode we produce. Additionally, we’ll provide mentorship opportunities to aspiring filmmakers. For Ep 2, we mentored students from the Zeitgeist On-set Mentorship program and the Fond Du Lac Tribal and Community College paid internship program. We intend to increase the number of mentees/trainees/interns with every episode we produce. Other programming throughout the year will include volunteering to go into the schools, and other community and doing presentations & screenings. In 2027, we will produce at least two more episodes and provide mentorship opportunities and community events. 

Your Tax-deductable Donation supports

• Local filmmaking in the Twin Ports
• Paid opportunities for mentees, trainees, and emerging artists
• Production of an episodic series 
• Community screenings, Q&As, and school presentations
• A growing creative economy in Duluth

Together, we’re building a thriving independent film ecosystem here in the Northland.