HEATHER PILDER OLSON
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Writer. Producer. Director.

I am a writer of screenplays, short fiction, and poetry. And the occasional blog post. I co-lead writers' retreats twice a year, in January and July, and enjoy working collaboratively with other writers. I also produce and direct films. I recently wrote and produced the TV comedy A Broad Abroad, currently making its festival circuit. Watch our trailer below! My documentary The River is streaming on Amazon Prime, and I am thrilled to be a producer on the new documentary Counting Stars.

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watch our trailer for A BROAD ABROAD

Writing

Pratt Magazine - October - December, 2017
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Infertility Goddess - Poem for Creative Colloquy, 2015

Interview with Chandler Woodfin for @Pratt Magazine, 2014

Join the Rebellion - Blog Post for the Washington Health Foundation, 2011

Exercise with a Side of Guacamole - Blog Post for the Washington Health Foundation, 2011

An Evening with Nora Ephron - Blog Post for Seattle Arts and Lectures, 2010

Film and Television

The River - Producer. Documentary about homelessness at the river camp in Aberdeen, Washington. Filmed in May 2019, now available online on Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, XBox and Hoopla. Winner of Best Documentary Feature at the Columbus Film Festival in 2021. Winner of the Social Justice Award in the Studio City Film Festival in 2020. Screened at Destiny City Film Festival, Seattle Film Summit and LA Festival of Cinema. 
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Haunted Wharf: Ethel and the Merman - Writer/Producer. Short film about three friends who trek to a beach house for their annual ladies' weekend, and discover the ghost of Ethel Merman her companion Fernando, a merman. Selected for the 2019 Seattle Transmedia and Independent Film Festival. 
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Gold Balls  - Associate Producer. Documentary about five competitors who barnstorm the country in pursuit of a National Championship title in tennis. And all  of them are over the age of 80. Screened on Alaska and Virgin Airlines flights, spring 2018. Winner: Best Documentary, Southampton Film Festival, London. Premiere: Seattle International Film Festival, 2016. Gold Balls has screened at 16 festivals in the US and abroad. Screened on PBS television in 2020.

Date Stories  - Writer/Director. Short film about romance, reincarnation, and redemption, where two people keep meeting for their first date, over and over, over time. First dates can go terribly wrong. Sometimes it takes lifetimes to finally get things right. Selected for NWFF Local Sightings Film Festival, 2014; Seattle TransMedia and Independent Film Festival, 2015, Harrisburg-Hershey Film Festival, 2016, Columbia Gorge Film Festival, 2016 

Pearl - Producer. Short film about Pearl, who has spent her entire life in her small oyster farming town. She longs for city life. But at what cost? Familial obligations, friendship, and an unexpected event are all reasons to stay and keep her dream at bay. Winner, Best Short Film, Mexico International Film Festival and Madrid International Film Festival, 2015. Selected for Columbia Gorge International Film Festival, Anacortes CineShift Film Festival, and Milan International Film Festival, 2015. Winner, Best Drama, Seattle Transmedia and Independent Film Festival, 2016. 

Wyatt Steps Out - Producer. Short film about one of those wacky inflatable tube guys you see at car dealerships. Wyatt has lived on the roof of the car dealership long enough. He escapes to experience life's adventures and hilarity ensues. Selected for NWFF Local Sightings Film Festival, 2013.
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