Local man featured in A&E's Biography series

The series Biography, which airs on the Arts and Entertainment (A&E) network, highlights individuals who have sparked us creatively, emotionally, and sometimes even tragically. George Eastman, logically, has been one of those featured on this series.

On Location, a newsletter for the Rochester/Finger Lakes Film & Video Office, recently reflected on the immense effort of the staff at Biography, Lou Reda Productions and Pittford's Mammoth Productions to put together the hour-long Eastman feature. The whole process began when the three groups spent over a week filming interviews, historical recreations, and those elements of the Rochester community that stand as a testament to Eastman's life.

At the helm was veteran A&E/History Channel director Sammy Jackson, whose previous biographical work included the lives of Norman Rockwell, General Robert E. Lee and George Armstrong Custer, for which he was nominated for several cinematography awards.

Throughout production, Jackson's energy never wavered as he worked with technical advisors from The George Eastman house, various A&E staff, and the local Rochester production crew to meticulously recreate several stages of Eastman's life.

Called upon for personal interviews were Eastman biographer Betsy Brayer; George Eastman House curator Kathy Connor; former Eastman Kodak CEO George Fischer; and Eastman School of Music representative, Dr. Donald Hunsberger. Connor's input was essential as she talked about Eastman and his unique East Avenue home where he resided from 1905 until his death in 1932.

In addition to her insightful interview, Brayer also served as a technical advisor for the shoot. Her 1996 biography of Eastman stands as the definitive chronicle of the man and when asked what it was like to see her research come to life, she enthusiastically stated, "Oh, I love it!"

After the initial interviews, the production team shot scenes from Eastman's life as well as portrayals of the people who knew him best. Genesee County Village and Museum served as the backdrop of Eastman's youth. His childhood home is now located on the museum's grounds.

Other locations in the museum were used for various emulsion workshop settings to show Eastman's experimental teenage years plus the days of his first dry plate business. The scenes set up how Eastman "the businessman" shaped the early stages of the Eastman Kodak Co.

The next stop was the George Eastman House. Here, Eastman's warmth to his guests was shown. An evening masquerade ball in the conservatory and other social functions were recreated for the program along with scenes from his last days in the house, as well as the eventual aftermath of his passing.

The shoot brought over $50,000 to the area in production value.

For more information on this and other area film projects, contact the Rochester/Finger Lakes Film & Video Office at 546-5490 or go to www.filmrochester.org.

If you have a candidate for "Going The Extra Mile," please contact Scott Perkins at 394-3343. His e-mail is sperkins@frontiernet.net. Perkins is CEO of Agility Advertising Agency, 80 North Union St., Rochester, NY 14607.

Copyright 2002 Dolan Media Newswires
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