“Destined To Fly” is a documentary film about Cole Palen, the founder of the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. Our childhood influences us like no other time in our lives, flooding our consciousness with seemingly invincible heroes we idolize. But after one of our heroes dies, our memories of that person become enchanting stories of legend. At the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, a community of antique aviators continues to remember their own legendary hero, Cole Palen, by reviving his past traditions and introducing them to new generations.
Cole’s passion for building and repairing antique airplanes transcends multiple generations, forging connections through childhood experience, memory, and storytelling. Founded in 1958, Old Rhinebeck was one of the first airfields dedicated to antique airplane restoration. But the community brought together by the romantic era of flight lost their hero after Cole Palen’s death in 1993. More than twenty years later, Cole’s own childhood dream is sustained by the now grown children who were touched at an early age by Cole’s passion and vision.
Christopher Nostrand MFA, is a home-grown Hudson Valley resident and filmmaker. Filmmaking began as a hobby for him at an early age. Chris and often a couple of his buddies would quietly sneak into his Mother’s bedroom and escape with her Panasonic Handy-Cam to replicate what they watched on TV just to playback on a VCR and laugh at themselves. Unknowingly, Chris was actually building some raw talent, but it wasn’t until his pursuit of a higher education
(SUNY Ulster, 2009), (SUNY New Paltz, 2011), (Hunter College, 2016) that his work started to progress. Chris’ films have now screened 30+ times in film festivals, public screenings, and showcases around the country earning over a dozen awards.
Chris’ most recognized films to date are “Garbage Girl in Daily Consumption” (2013), a short experimental film that visualizes the trash a person produces in a single day. “Silent Exposure (2013), a short documentary where Chris explores a personal tragedy between his military father, the Vietnam War, and the use of Agent Orange. “Against The Wind” (2014), a short documentary that explores a community of ice yachters on the Hudson River. “Mister Morvillo” (2015), a short documentary where Chris brings to life the memory of his Grandpa’s Korean War adventure. And lastly Chris’ latest work, “Destined To Fly” (2016) a documentary where the history, camaraderie, and, passion of Cole Palen’s Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome is revealed.
Currently, Christopher owns and operates a video production company, Nostrand Productions, and also is a professor at SUNY New Paltz’s Digital Media and Journalism department.
“The creation of film is parallel to the painter and the painters canvas. In film, our canvas is the two-dimensional screen that we use to create new realities within each brushstroke or subjective choice we make. As Filmmakers, our highlights are lights and our blacks are shadows to create the illusion of depth to engage our audiences. But our greatest strength is the powerful tool of meaning which master storytellers can only achieve.” – Christopher Nostrand
