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Rich Cowan (born February 7, 1956) was the 2012Democratic nominee for theU.S. House of Representatives inWashington's 5th congressional district.^[1] He is also an American film producer, director, and screenwriter. He co-foundedNorth by Northwest Productions, avideo andfilmproduction company based inSpokane, Washington. After starting the company in 1990 with a group of partners, he served as its CEO for 22 years, launching the movie industry in theInland Northwest and producing more than 40 feature films.

Rich Cowan was born in Spokane, Washington to George and Betty Cowan. His father served in theUnited States Air Force, and his mother was a school teacher. He attendedWashington State University inPullman, Washington, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree inBroadcast Journalism,cum laude, and aMaster of Science degree inHuman Nutrition. While in Pullman, Cowan worked as afire fighter andemergency medical technician, living in the firehouse for six years. Cowan earned his pilot's license in high school and worked as a pilot in Alaska while in college.^[2]

Cowan's career in media began in 1979 at Spokane television stationKHQ-TV, the localNBCaffiliate, on its PM Magazine show. He eventually became the station's Community Affairs Director. In 1989 Cowan produced the TV documentary about then-Congressman andHouse Majority LeaderTom Foley, titled "The Gentleman from Washington." Cowan spent a week with Congressman Foley taping the video and gathering interviews with colleagues such as House Minority LeaderRobert Michel,Rep. Leon Panetta andSenatorDan Evans. Cowan won twoEmmy awards from theNorthwest Chapter of the National Association of Television Arts & Sciences while with KHQ.

Cowan co-founded the video and film production company North by Northwest Productions in 1990. The company originally specialized in commercial and industrial video production, but quickly began expanding its business. The company now contains five separate divisions as well as astudio inBoise, Idaho. In 1995, North by Northwest produced its first feature-length film. Following on that success, the company produced its first breakout movie, "The Basket," in 1999. Cowan directed, produced, and co-wrote the feature which won several awards, including Best of the Fest Family/Children from the Breckenridge Festival of Film, Directors Gold Medal Award from the International Family Film Festival, and Best Family Movie of the Year from theMovie Guide Awards. He has since been involved with over 40 additional feature film projects, including producer credits onLies and illusions,Norman, andCamilla Dickinson.

In February 2012, Cowan announced his candidacy for Washington State's 5th Congressional District.^[3] In May, he received the official nomination of theWashington State Democratic Party to run for that seat. He ran againstincumbentU.S. RepresentativeCathy McMorris Rodgers, aRepublican. McMorris Rodgers had been serving as the U.S. representative for the 5th district since2005. In the primary, Cowan received 35.65% of the vote,^[4] enough to beat out two other primary contenders and face McMorris Rodgers in the general election. Cowan lost in the general, receiving 38.08% of the vote to McMorris Rodgers' 61.92%.^[5]

In 2014, Cowan ran against incumbentstate senatorMichael Baumgartner forWashington's 6th Legislative District senate seat. In the primary, Cowan received 42.69% of the primary vote^[6] and moved on to face Baumgartner in the general election. Cowan lost in the general, receiving roughly 43% of the vote to Baumgartner's 57%.^[6]

Director

• The Basket (1999) (Also writer)
• Shadow of Fear (2004)
• The River Murders (2011)

Editor

• Hard Vice (1994)
• Laws of Deception (1997)
• Matter of Trust (1998)
• The Basket (1999)

Producer

• Navajo Blues (1996)
• The Basket (1999)
• Whacked! (2002)
• Hangman's Curse (2003)
• The Making of the Passion of the Christ (2004) (Also writer)
• The Spider Wrangler: The Spiders of Hangman's Curse (2004)
• Frank Peretti: From Page to Screen (2004)
• The Choke (2006)
• A Thousand Years of Good Prayers (2007)
• The Family Holiday (2007)
• Lies & Illusions (2009)
• Wrong Turn at Tahoe (2009)
• Norman (2010)
• Oy Vey! My Son Is Gay!! (2010)
• Late Autumn (2010)
• The River Murders (2011)
• Thunderballs (2011)
• The Hit List (2011)

Executive producer

• Mel (1998)
• Jazz Seen: The Life and Times of William Claxton (2001)
• The Choke (2006)
• Frank (2007)
• Give 'Em Hell, Malone (2009)
• Falling Up (2009)
• The Ward (2010)
• The Big Bang (2010)
• Camilla Dickinson (2012)
• Knights of Badassdom (2012)

Executive in charge of production

• Mozart and the Whale (2005)
• The Cutter (2005)
• End Game (2006)

Unit production manager

• Navajo Blues (1996)
• The Giving Tree (2000)
• Wrong Turn at Tahoe (2009)
• Give 'Em Hell, Malone (2009)
• The Ward (2010)
• The Big Bang (2011)

Other credits

• Official Campaign WebsiteArchived March 29, 2014, at theWayback Machine
• Cowan throws hat in ring for Congress Spokesman Review, Feb 11, 2012
• Rich Cowan atIMDb

• 1956 births
• Living people
• Politicians from Spokane, Washington
• American male screenwriters
• Washington State University alumni
• Washington (state) Democrats
• Film directors from Washington (state)
• Screenwriters from Washington (state)
• Film producers from Washington (state)

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