1. GREG'S Restaurant Recommendations

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Cafe Aladdin

"Closing in on three decades, Aladdin is as magical as the lamp of its namesake. I hope Ahmad and Younis never stop. Lucky for me, Aladdin happens to be my daughter’s favorite restaurant. The stuffed vine leaves are hard to beat."

GREAT WALL

"Only the 'regular' version of chicken broccoli appears on the menu. Ask to have it prepared with their signature garlic sauce and you will be back for more. And speaking of garlic sauce, the eggplant at Lucy’s is spectacular."

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BERNBAUM’S

"I am always ready for Nordic lamb meatloaf with lingonberries and pickled onions followed by a slice of chocolate cake! In November, my wife and I attended the Native Heritage Dinner prepared by Candace Stock and Edward Rodriguez. We haven’t been the same since. I still dream about that night."

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THAI ORCHID

"I will miss the Moorhead location, but won’t stop regular visits when it moves to West Fargo. The red curry is the most comforting dish on a frozen January day and I urge you to make friends with the shiitake mushroom spring rolls if you have not already had the pleasure."

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MOORHEAD FREEZ

"When I was young, my grandfather introduced me to the joy of the hot fudge malt. I graduated from nearby Moorhead High School. An open campus meant lots of lunchtimes spent at what was then known as the TF."

WITH GREG CARLSON

If Greg Carlson were to create the perfect array of movie snacks, what would he include?

I have been working on the design and build of a home theater that includes a concession stand. I tend to stick with a classic line-up: hot buttered popcorn, ice-cold soda, and a box of Junior Mints.

What local film creators and professionals should people be aware of in the area and why? Are there any particular pieces

that people should make sure they watch?

There is so much talent here. Toby Jones and Tucker Lucas are currently working on an ambitious comedy (full disclosure: I play the main character’s dad). I love everything that my colleague Kyja Kristjansson-Nelson makes. Whenever she goes to Iceland, she always returns with a gorgeous movie.

Mike Scholtz, who lives in Wrenshall, Minnesota, is one of my oldest and closest friends. His documentary shorts and features explode with humor, life, and color. Mike makes learning fun. He is also a workhorse who just keeps getting better and better with each new project.

What should the beginning filmmaker's starter kit include?

While it is a thrill to play with expensive gear, I tell students of all ages that you don’t need to spend a fortune on equipment to make movies. In 2006, David Lynch shot “Inland Empire” in standard definition on the Sony PD-150—the same prosumer-grade camcorder model we were using in production classes at the time. I remember when Monte Hellman’s final feature “Road to Nowhere” played at the Fargo Theatre in 2011. That movie was captured on the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, a very affordable camera. A light bulb blinked on for independent, do-it-yourself storytellers.

Before the digital revolution, cost was a much bigger barrier to entry for aspiring moviemakers. Today, the smartphones in so many of our pockets capture high-quality images and sounds that can be edited in apps/programs like iMovie, Adobe Premiere Pro, PowerDirector 365, and Sony Vegas. Vimeo even offers an easy video editor.

Technology changes so rapidly and there is such a huge price range that it is impossible to suggest an ideal camera. I like the plucky charm and revolutionary spirit of the GoPro line as well as the versatility of the Panasonic HC-X1 My friends Tucker, Lucas, and Toby Jones are using the Blackmagic Pocket 6K on a project right now. Duncan Williamson, senior film producer at Tellwell, favors the Sony FX6. He notes the camera’s “perfect balance between image quality and nimble size” for documentary production.

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