We were lucky to catch up with Christopher M. Allport recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Christopher M. thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
What is the “most” meaningful project I have ever worked on? Well, the word “most” is rather superlative in my creative judgement. I do believe that many questions presented in these types of interviews lack the perspective of an invested interviewer, leaving the interviewee responsible for framing the context of a meaningful presentation.
Each and every individual project I work on is deeply meaningful. Personal relevance, meaning and connection are the only reasons that I engage with any project. But today, I will discuss Senja Chronicles.
The DNA of Senja Chronicles emerged from my Swedish writing partner’s deeply personal experience, living in and around the stunning archipelago known as Senja Island in Northern Norway. For nearly a half decade, beginning in 2007, Fansu Njie, had steeped in the island’s stories and superstition. In contrast, to the modern infrastructure he was involved with installing, the Norse folklore remained untouched by advanced technology.
Fansu shared stories with me. The juxtaposition — between modern global tech and living as a local on the land — became starker for him. Through his descriptions, Northern Norway had become the creative sandbox and empty canvas of our collective imagination’s desire. The region was ripe with images of sun-stricken trolls, cave-dwellers, and other bizarre creatures of Nordic folklore. Stories and rumors dripping with Viking history and Norse mythology were regularly bantered as if they were modern-day current events.
Factually speaking, a millennium after the end of the Vikings, Northern Norway was also the backdrop for some of the earliest battles which staved off World War II-era Nazis.
The locals were interesting. Different from Norwegians living in more modern places like Oslo, weekend explorations including chance meetings with indigenous Sami. Amongst a mix of local villagers who infused anyone who would listen with tales of folkloric creatures, war stories, Viking vestiges, and mysterious disappearances — a picture as mythic as the Norwegian landscape itself became etched into our brains.
Digging through old magazines and listening to stories in tiny rustic bars in the small town of Finnsnes (just across the bridge from Senja), we learned more about the region’s historical significance.
Here in that bucolic corner of the North, the locals beamed with pride over locally crafted beers and moonshine (which was infused with forest fruit tea bags and heaps of imported sugar). It was with additional satisfaction, that they recounted how Hitler’s first defeat came at the hands of the descendants of Vikings — who made up the Norwegian Army of King Haakon VII — during the invasion of Norway.
Hitler’s troops had left behind a series of tactical tunnels, burrowed into the nearby mountains. And they were calling to be explored. In the fishing village of Fjordgård — near the base of Segla Mountain, Senja Island’s epic peak — the mysterious mist (known as uplsope fog) was otherworldly as it dripped down from the surrounding mountains, shrouding the village below. The glow of Aurora borealis was unreal as the ghostly vapor slipped over Fjordgård like a blanket and the green-blue streaks of northern light danced distantly in earth’s ionosphere.
Fansu shared with me that when he ventured deep within the darkness of Senja’s tunnels, a strange sensation overcame him. Even though he was not — the feeling of being trapped in the throat of some great and terrible beast could not be shaken from his psyche. For few had ever ventured here since the end of the Second World War. Perhaps the Vikings held these foreboding feelings too, for their remnants might have been found even deeper in. Or maybe, in this majestic land, they would have fashioned Segla Mountain itself into a fire-breathing dragon designed to protect them from incoming threats.
Okay, maybe this was imagination was just running away! But the scene was too striking. Fansu and I decided to blend our boyhood love of science fiction with the striking Norwegian images. The classic tales of Norse mythology felt like they were coming alive. We would end up infusing Senja’s unique flavor into the canon of Norse stories by incorporating the strange weather phenomena, the epic nature of the tunnel systems, and the Sami people’s rich history.
World War II relics, governmental posturing, and modern geopolitics are the epicenter of the mysterious malfeasances and clandestine operations fictionalized in Senja Chronicles. When built upon the enigmatic entities of Viking mythology, these modern mysteries become the beating heart of this book.
Standing high atop Segla’s rocky summit, the epic peak would indeed become the heart of Senja Island. Segla would have to become a character in the book. Hidden within the finger-like fjords, where the Norwegian Sea breaks against Europe’s edges, is a story so allegorical, that it plays out like an epically wide-screen, action-adventure movie.
When both of our mothers had passed away much too soon, we both realized that it was time to create the epoch. Perhaps that is where the true meaning comes from: feelings about losing someone so close to you. And more importantly, addressing the questions of — how far would you go? and how hard would you fight? — if you knew there was only a slight chance that your determination could bring that person back.
Senja Chronicles represents our collective and imaginative work — underpinned in historical events. The Senja universe and characters were created at the cost of years, months, weeks, days and hours of research, semantics, didactical debate, expert consulting, writing, and rewriting.
The precious moments creating the collaborative prose you need to experience have been stolen from early mornings, late nights, and long weekends — over the course of a decade and more than a dozen crossings of the North Atlantic.
The execution of our labor of love stems from the true and deep passion of two creative souls, whose mothers taught them to never give up.
As the grandchild of an American World War II P-38 fighter ace, First Lieutenant Francis E. Miron, I had been infused with many stories of how during that turbulent time, fact was indeed stranger than fiction. As a scholar of English, History, and Geography — through some of my beloved professors like Michael Mercado, George Tangalos, Alfred Zucker, Jack Arnot and Richard Raskoff — I also gained extensive knowledge of the cultural aspects of the Second World War, and the stories captured my imagination.
When Fansu and I embarked on our journey together, I realized that our fiction needed to be firmly rooted in history. So, I developed the underpinnings of our tall tale to be steadfastly anchored in the accounts of historical figures, eras and epochs that have shaped the world we live in today.
Countless hours sitting in airports, and even more flying on modern wide-body aircraft at 38,000 feet above the North Atlantic, I completed a good amount of time in solitude. With nothing more than a laptop, and settling into my own thoughts, the stories that were kindled in my imagination began to ignite. It was on those long-haul trips — that most people only make once or twice in a lifetime — where Senja’s characters came to life. Quietly, they expressed themselves to me. Their voices whispered insights, and realities of exactly what they needed to say.
Collaborative writing can be either extremely frustrating, or bountifully fruitful. Knowing this going in the front door, Fansu and I were delicate and careful to respect each other’s creative process. In the rare event that we ever came to a crossroads in which we did not agree, Fansu and I had a clear plan to resolve the creative difference. Each of us would have an opportunity to present our side to the other and argue our case. If neither could successfully convince the other that our one particular way was the way to go, then we would scrap both ideas, back up to the point that we last agreed, and be required to throw fresh ideas on the table.
It was incredible. The respect we have earned for each other as creators, and as friends who are now like brothers, fills my heart with joy.
Senja Chronicles is not for the faint of heart. There are some extremely scary and harrowing situations that will leave you on the edge of your seat!
So, buckle up, enjoy the ride, and we will see you on the other side!
-Christopher M. Allport
co-author, Senja Chronicles
SenjaChronicles.com
Christopher M., love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Chris M. Allport started singing professionally at the age of four at a Japanese Piano / Sushi restaurant in Northridge, where he performed American Patriotic Anthems alongside traditional Japanese songs like Sakura. Discovered by former Radio City Rockette, Madylin Clark, Chris was thrust into the limelight and signed to a top talent agent.
After an extensive audition process, Allport was picked up by Disney and placed in a live touring group called “Class of 2000.” The troupe was formed in 1990 and was kept together until 2000 when roughly everyone in the group had graduated from college. This was Disney’s entrance into to the Millenial market. While Chris was a performing with the group, producers Gary Smith and Dwight Hemion introduced the teenage Allport to the concept of multi-camera directing and prepped him for working behind the scenes as a TV director after graduation.
Upon receiving top honors from Loyola Marymount, the boutique Allport Production Studio was formed. Chris’ company gained renown for producing and directing films that glorified and honored classical, soundtrack and concert music. He also served associate talent director for the 2000 DNC.
All the while, Allport never let go of his passion and talent for delighting audiences with theatrical panache and dynamic vocal styling. He sang back up for Barbara Streisand at Staples Center, joined the Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers, and can be heard on major film soundtracks including Godzilla (Desplat), Pirates of the Caribbean 3 (Zimmer) and Hook (Williams). Allport also made his mark as a soloist throughout Italy, Poland and France with his touring show, “Mystique.” Mystique eventually came back home for a tour finale in LA, where Maria Newman and the Malibu Coast Orchestra accompanied Allport.
Today, a regimented schedule helps Allport balance his time between writing, directing and performing. He has been able to encompass multiple disciplines successfully by focusing only on one task at a time, achieving the stated artistic goal, and then moving to the next phase of production.
Receiving high praise from Joe Wissert, the producer of Earth, Wind and Fire, the recently acclaimed album, “Arise Awake O Christmas Day,” composed, by Allport, arranged by David Fick, conducted by Jason Gamer, and performed by the Hollywood Chamber Orchestra and Los Angeles Recording Choir, can be found on all major music platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon and CD Baby.
Also on iTunes and Audible, Allport has also narrated numerous science fiction novels by acclaimed author Ray J. Perreault; and a new children’s book by Barbara Rew and Cindy Freland.
Recently, Allport premiered his exciting new Romantic Comedy / Movie-Musical at Grauman’s TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Entiled “Emily or Oscar,” the fictional narrative is romp through the mind of a young screenwriter who falls in love with an actress, only to discover that they act as a mirror into each other’s soul’s discovering their inner angels and demons. Along that journey, the protagonist, Sam Feldman, runs into interested characters from the past, who appear as muses, such as Charlie Chaplain, Douglas Fairbanks, DW Griffith and Mary Pickford — only to find that one of the four is forcing him to choose between the woman of his heart’s desire, or the pathway to the Oscar. Such a dilemma gets played out comedically, with an all-star ensemble cast, including Stephen Kalinich (Beach Boys), Susan Boyd-Joyce (Happy Days) and Golden-Globe winner Susan Blakely.
Along the way, Allport has directed more than a dozen music videos for the Beach Boys and the TV broadcasts of many orchestral premiers, including “War Horse Suite” (John Williams at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion), and “Star Trek Into Darkness (Michael Giacchino at the Annenberg). He is also the director of a brand new TV series — featuring sports stars, who are sharing their unique perspective on what it takes to win — entitled “Sports Stories with Denny Lennon.”
Allport is currently finishing a ‘Rock-umentary” entitled “The Sound of Gold.” In collaboration with author Harvey Kubernik, “The Sound of Gold” is a West Coast music retrospective featuring musical greats like Brian Wilson and Herb Alpert. Talking tech, Allport shares the detail of sound engineers Stan Ross, Dave Gold and Larry Levine and their creation the sonic backdrop of the past 60 years of popular music.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Living connected to my imagination, and creating intellectual property from that place is extremely rewarding. If you build it, they will come. Constant creation in a free environment is the secret to my happiness.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
Non-creatives often struggle to see how creative people live. Perhaps unknowingly, they can protect their own feelings of unease onto a creative, which is not healthy. Creative people move in and out of different circles and circumstances with ease. Our structure and safety comes from NOT knowing what is next, but to go with the flow.
Contact Info:
- Website: allportproductions.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmallport/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllportProductions
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-m-allport-2a68817/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCERX9pmfIZ5CdoOLGvR5hBg
- Other: SenjaChronicles.com EmilyorOscar.com] https://vimeo.com/allportmasterworks https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/779540190
Image Credits
Tilden Patterson