Rick Dugdale

Image Credit: Contributed

ENDERBY - As a music and movie obsessed kid growing up in the small North Okanagan community of Enderby B.C., Rick Dugdale not only yearned for a different zip code, he had a pretty specific one in mind: 90210. The write-up in his high school yearbook predicted you’d find him ten years later living in Beverly Hills. He was there in eight. 

Dugdale climbed the ladder quickly, taking on jobs in Vancouver’s film scene, moving to L.A. in 2003 and eventually co-founding the production company Enderby Entertainment in 2006. Now 36 and living in Beverly Hills, he says he’s exactly where he always wanted to be. 

“Of course that zip code 90210 doesn’t even exist, I know because I live there,” Dugdale laughs. 

It’s not the only part of the dream that’s different. Dugdale originally wanted to be an actor, yet instead found himself working on the production and finance side. 

“I remember when I was in high school making short films, it always struck me as the impact you could make on people... being able to send a message to the masses,” Dugdale says of his passion for the industry. “That’s why I gravitated to it. People can be affected by a song, a scene, and I looked at that as a driving force.”

Enderby Entertainment—named after his hometown because his business partner’s (New York City) was already taken—is a production company which emphasizes the art of story-telling. The company’s logo features the Enderby Cliffs. Recent films include Cherry, starring James Franco and Heather Graham, and Dawn Patrol, featuring Clint Eastwood’s son Scott. The company’s thriller division has advertised titles including The Speak, Silver Falls and No Tell Motel, which was filmed in Vernon. 

It’s busy, but rewarding work. During this interview, Dugdale is on the road, driving home to L.A. after scouting a film in Utah. He takes around 50 calls a day and receives some 300 emails. When you’re working with people on the other side of the world, for instance in Tokyo, you have to be willing to take calls at 4 a.m. In other words, Hollywood is open for business 24/7. 

Which is why Dugdale needs to go home—home, home—every once in a while to recharge. 

“When I say I’m going home for the holidays, that’s Enderby,” Dugdale says warmly.

He has fond memories of swimming at the bridge, boating on Mabel Lake, floating the river. His mom still lives there, and even though he’s in L.A. 95 per cent of the time, Enderby will always be home. 

“Enderby is where I was born and raised, it’s got this small town work ethic. People can go off and explore but it’s always important to remember where you came from. I owe a lot to Enderby,” he says. 

And other inspirations, like 80s comedies, musicals, Forest Gump and cassette tapes from Columbia House. 

“I got into music and movies at an unusual age,” Dugdale says. “I was six-years-old and ordering cassettes from Columbia House. You spent a penny and could get 12 cassettes. My parents didn’t know why they were showing up on our doorstep.”

Dugdale’s career takes him across time zones to different movie sets and film festivals. He spent this Thanksgiving in New Zealand. 

“Hopefully I can make it back at Christmas for a family skate at the Enderby arena,” he says. 

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca, call (250)309-5230 or tweet @charhelston. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2013