By Kaden Gass ’22
When Ryan Welch ’01 graduated from Linfield, he jumped right into careers in print design, web design and photography. Eventually, Welch started his own company, moving from sports media into film production. Now, he is the owner and creative director of AO Films in Eugene.
In 2017, Welch and director/producer Jeff Harasimowicz flew to Alaska to create a documentary about a small-town basketball team. They spent an entire season in Ketchikan, where Welch used his storytelling experience to create the film, “Alaskan Nets.” The movie highlights the power of sports to lift up a community – in this case, Metlakatla, the only Native reserve in all of Alaska. “Guardians of the Galaxy” star Chris Pratt and his production company Indivisible Productions eventually signed on to executive produce the project.
The documentary has received international recognition since its release in 2021. “Alaskan Nets” was selected for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, where it won the audience choice award in a field that contained more than 100 films. The film has gone on to win awards at the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival (Best Documentary Feature) and the Bend Film Festival (Special Jury Award for Indomitable Spirit). It has also been selected for the Gig Harbor Film Festival, which was postponed in 2021 due to the pandemic.
In hindsight, Welch reflects back on how his Linfield experience helped him find the heart of the story.
“The small, personal school experience and being able to experience more than one area of expertise gives a broad perspective on life,” he said.
