Tarpon Springs stars in a new version of "Our Town"
A WUSF-TV documentary video made by residents presents their very personal viewpoints of Our Town.
By JANE MADDEN WELCH
Published June 12, 2004
TARPON SPRINGS - This spring, 22 local volunteers armed with videocameras set out to capture what they think makes Tarpon Springs special.
The results of their efforts are part of a documentary called Our Town: Tarpon Springs to be broadcast at 7 and 8:30 p.m. Sunday on WUSF-TV Ch. 16.
The documentary is part of the public television station's Our Town series. Lakeland and Sarasota previously were featured.
"We like to do the project as thoroughly as possible," said WUSF station manager Patricia Holley. "We limit ourselves to doing one community a year."
Last March WUSF announced it was looking for volunteers from Tarpon Springs to film short segments to show off their town. Amateurs were welcome.
Lise McIntyre's filming experience was limited to taping family events, but when she heard about this project, she was eager to give it a try.
"I love Tarpon Springs," said McIntyre, a 10-year resident. "There were things I wanted to share with people about how I perceive this place."
McIntyre, 44, attended a training class with other volunteers. Their assignment was to make a two-minute video depicting a part of Tarpon Springs they felt was significant.
"We wanted it to be something they were speaking about from their hearts," Holley said.
McIntyre chose to focus on an older home tucked away at the end of a road that is barely visible to the casual passerby. She also filmed the walled garden behind the Oxford House restaurant in downtown Tarpon Springs.
"I called my segment "Secret spots,' " McIntyre said. "These are little hidden jewels in our community."
Aaron Moorhead, 17, also volunteered his talents. Moorhead, winner of the Sol Peska Student Film Competition last January, will be a senior at Palm Harbor University High School. He decided to videotape houses and buildings designed by Tarpon Springs architect Eddie Hoffman.
"They gave us a lot of leeway on what we could shoot," Moorhead said. "Each person added their bit of flavor from their own Tarpon Springs experience."
The project organizers were sufficiently impressed with Moorhead's work to invite him to participate in other WUSF film ventures this summer.
"I got a lot more out of the experience than I expected," he said.
Willie Pura, 48, decided to get involved when his wife, Kelly, suggested they film a friend who is something of a rarity: a female sponge diver.
"For our segment we went to the docks," Pura said. "The tips from the production staff helped. I've never filmed anything before except our kids."
McIntyre said she got a new appreciation for people who do video work. She spent time practicing with her camera and took the advice given at the training session to use a tripod to keep the camera steady.
A prebroadcast premiere showing of the completed documentary was held on May 19 at the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center.
"All along the community was really involved in this project," said Cynthia Poloka, the post production producer. "We've gotten incredibly positive feedback from Tarponites."
Broadcast of the hourlong Our Town: Tarpon Springs is scheduled for Sunday, the last day in a weeklong pledge drive WUSF is holding. Copies of the documentary also are being given to those who become a WUSF member during pledge week.
"We strongly believe that these are stories that are important to the community," Holley said. "You're capturing things on tape that might not exist in the future."
