Citizen Screen: The Absence of Violet
Citizen Screen is a monthly column dedicated to film and film-related topics, sourced and curated by Port Townsend Film Festival.
This month’s column is by Sean Patrick Burke, who is a Producer on THE ABSENCE OF VIOLET. He produced Sundance winner AS YOU ARE and was Executive Producer on box office hit SUPER TROOPERS 2. He has a hand in many other projects with his company, 2:22 Pictures.
The calm before the storm.
The Absence of Violet has been quietly prepping since March 2025, with the goal of beginning production by spring 2026. As we lock in schedules for our cast and crew, secure filming locations, and finalize insurance, legal, and payroll details (the boring but essential side of filmmaking), we’re eager to get cameras rolling soon.
The film is a mystery-drama, and Port Townsend will serve as our backdrop. We’ve been inspired by the town’s energy and the natural beauty of the area—it’s the perfect fit for this story. The film follows three misfits who mysteriously receive letters from their long-vanished friend—and have just five days to find her or lose her forever.
Washington is a tremendously beautiful state, offering an incredible range of landscapes and climates for productions. Working with Washington Filmworks, our state film office, has paved the way for more filmmakers to bring their stories here. The Absence of Violet will be among the projects helping to lead that charge—and we can’t imagine a better setting than Port Townsend and its surrounding areas.
So, what does a movie production actually look like? What can Port Townsend expect when our cast and crew arrive?
Film sets are highly organized operations—because they have to be. Our goal is to coordinate closely with the community ahead of filming, keeping everyone informed of our plans and schedule. We love quiet, controlled sets, and this film in particular will be a low-impact production. There will be a few days where we’ll have small generators running for lighting, but we’ll do everything we can to minimize disruption. Our goal is to make this a positive, collaborative experience for everyone involved.
Want to assist—or have production experience? We’re still looking for a few key locations and would love help from anyone who knows the Port Townsend area well. If you have production experience and are looking for work, we’d love to hire local. Please email us with your experience and availability.
We’re looking forward to bringing The Absence of Violet to life right here in Port Townsend! Please email team@absenceofviolet.com.
