Premieres set!

NEWPORT DOCUMENTARY PREMIERES SET

May 13, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PROVIDENCE, R.I. –– BEHIND THE HEDGEROW: Eileen Slocum and the Meaning of Newport Society, the exclusive and first-ever movie about the secret world of old-money aristocratic Newport, will have its world premiere as the feature event of the opening night of the 2010 FLICKERS: Rhode Island International Film Festival on Aug. 10 at Veterans Memorial Auditorium, it was announced today.

Its official Newport premiere will be Aug. 14 at Bazarsky Hall, Salve Regina University, in the City by the Sea. Both screenings will be followed by receptions –– with the Newport reception, “a Gilded Age tea party,” hosted by members of the late Eileen Gillespie Slocum’s family.

“We are honored to have these two prestigious venues to launch HEDGEROW, a documentary that provides a unique look at a one-of-a-kind woman who ruled atop a unique class at an extraordinary period of American history,” said writer/producer G. Wayne Miller. 

“The screening of this special motion picture promises to be the must-attend event of the summer,” added George T. Marshall, RIIFF Executive Director and executive producer of the film. “The screening also marks the return of Flickers to its home base of Newport, where it began 29 years ago. We could not be more delighted to bring summertime viewing back to the City by the Sea.”

Part history, part contemporary look, HEDGEROW is told through the focus of Slocum, Newport’s last grand dame, who died in the summer of 2008. Slocum’s family has granted the filmmakers exclusive access to her archives and private Bellevue Avenue estate, where much of the film was shot over the last year. The film is currently in post-production.

The Providence premiere will be at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 10, at Veterans Memorial Auditorium, 1 Avenue of the Arts, Providence, R.I., 02903. The Newport opener will be 2 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 14, in Bazarsky Hall, O'Hare Academic Building, Salve Regina University, 100 Ochre Point Ave., Newport

Ticket information is available at the FLICKERS: Rhode Island International Film Festival, and at the HEDGEROW site.

BEHIND THE HEDGEROW is the second title from Eagle Peak Media, the production company founded in 2008 by Miller and Bettencourt. ON THE LAKE, its first title, premiered in February 2009 to critical acclaim. PBS broadcasts in major national markets began in March 2009 and continue today. ON THE LAKE has been nominated for an Emmy by the New England chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Awards will be presented May 22 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., home of the New England Patriots

For news, links to the HEDGEROW blog and Facebook page, and more, visit www.BehindTheHedgerow.com


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Great new presence on R.I. International Film Festival site!

We could not ask for more than this: A link to our site from the home page of the Rhode Island International Film Festival site. HEDGEROW will premiere as one of the main attractions at this August's festival. Thanks to our executive producer, George Marshall!

Roving Eye, April 25

Very fine afternoon yesterday at the Roving Eye Film festival at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I. We screened some work-in-progress selections and discussed the making of the film -- and also received audience input into our poster. That's some of the people on hand looking at poster mockups. Also, a shot of the presentation, with a passage from the script on the screen.
Next up: a similar pre-release evening at Salve Regina University, 6 p.m. Wednesday.

New media coverage

We had a burst of publicity last year when we announced we were making this movie, and this week brings a fresh round, which we expect will continue through the August premiere.
Read how the Westerly Sun's widely-circulated (in Rhode Island and Connecticut) arts and entertainment magazine, The Guide, wrote about us in its April 22 edition. It's PDF format, scroll down to Page 5. A nice photo of Eileen friend and Jackie Kennedy stepbrother Yusha Auchincloss from one of our shoots, too, which I have re posted here.
And read how we were covered on April 22 in the Providence Business News -- our Roving Eye early look and discussion on Sunday, April 25, were listed as one of 10 Things To Do This Weekend!

Emmy Nomination for On The Lake!

ON THE LAKE: Life and Love in a Distant Place, has been nominated for Best Documentary in the 33rd annual Boston/New England Emmy competition, sponsored by the New England chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. This is quite an honor for David, me and the rest of the crew who made the movie. Congratulations to all of us here at Eagle Peak Media (as we move toward completion of our second doc, BEHIND THE HEDGEROW: Eileen Slocum and the Meaning of Newport Society. Winners will be announced at a ceremony May 22 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass.
ON THE LAKE premiered in February 2009 to critical acclaim, and has since been broadcast in PBS markets around the country. For more on ON THE LAKE, visit the movie site.

EARLY LOOK

April 12, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BRISTOL, R.I. –– This year’s Roving Eye documentary film festival will feature an early look at BEHIND THE HEDGEROW: Eileen Slocum and the Meaning of Newport Society, the first-ever feature-length movie about the secret world of old-money Newport that will premiere at the 2010 Rhode Island International Film Festival.
Writer/producer G. Wayne Miller and director David Bettencourt will be on hand April 25 at Roger Williams University to screen selections from the film and join RWU professor Edward Delaney to talk about the making of HEDGEROW and participate in a more general discussion, “The Art of Creative Storytelling.”
Part history, part contemporary look, HEDGEROW is told through the focus of Eileen Gillespie Slocum, Newport’s last grand dame, who died in the summer of 2008. Slocum’s family has granted the filmmakers exclusive access to her archives and private Bellevue Avenue estate, where much of the film was shot over the last year.
The Roving Eye event will be at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 25, at Roger Williams’ Global Heritage Hall 01. It is free and open to the public.
HEDGEROW, scheduled for PBS broadcast, is now in post-production. A second advance look and discussion will be staged in Newport on Wednesday, April 28. This session is by invitation only. Those interested in attending should contact Eagle Peak Media for time, location and other details.
BEHIND THE HEDGEROW is the second title from non-profit Eagle Peak Media. ON THE LAKE, its first title, premiered in February 2009 to critical acclaim. PBS broadcasts in major national markets began in March 2009 and continue today.
For news, links to the HEDGEROW blog and Facebook page, and more, visit the Hedgerow site.
More information about Roving Eye at the festival site.

Fire and thievery

We were back at 459 Bellevue yesterday for two critical pieces of Hedgerow: lighting and burning-down the fire that will be a central narrative device (trust me, it will work), and also to film Col. Brendan Doherty, head of the Rhode Island State Police, who recounted his encounters with Eileen which began in 1998 when he (then a detective) successfully investigated the theft of many priceless items by one of Eileen's butlers. A fascinating segment in her life -- and the film -- and Col. Doherty told the story with great detail and flair. He is, after all, Irish.
Pictured here are: Col. Doherty during the shoot, with Cal handling the camera, and me the questions; a closeup of Doherty during the interview; Cal setting up the lights; Doherty talking with me; the table in the main dining room, where Doherty first met Eileen; Cal, with rose-colored glasses; and Dave, Calvin and me discussing how to simultaneously shoot a fire and Doherty.
Photos by Y. T. Gabrielle.
-- Wayne