New film profiles peninsula Locals tell stories

It’s where farmers put their faith in the soil and fishermen shove off well before the sun rises. It’s where telling tall tales is as much an art form as building one-of-a-kind boats or casting ornate bells.

And it’s the subject of a new documentary by New Hampshire filmmakers John Gfroerer and Lisa Brown. The couple runs a video production company, Accompany, based in Concord, N.H.

Through Accompany, Brown and Gfroerer created “Schoodic: Where Sea Meets Land,” a one-hour film about the Down East coastal communities of Winter Harbor, Gouldsboro, Prospect Harbor and Corea.

“It’s one of the most magical places I’ve ever had the pleasure to videotape,” Gfroerer said.

Filmed over 21/2 days last August, the piece includes footage of golden sunsets, crashing waves and colorful locals telling stories about what it is like to live and work on the Schoodic Peninsula.

The crew filmed more than 22 hours of videotape, which they whittled down to 60 minutes.

“Everybody has a story to tell if you give them a chance to tell it,” Gfroerer said.

Among the locals featured in the film are blueberry farmer Robert Haycock, bell maker Richard Fisher, boat builder Randy Young, and lobsterman Dale Torrey, who reflected on the spirituality associated with working on the water.

“The good Lord is with every fisherman who’s on the ocean. They wouldn’t even dare to go out if they didn’t know that,” he muses in the video. “They might tell you they don’t believe in that, but they all do. There are so many times when you’re alone like that, fishing. You’ve got to have somebody, right? And he’s awful easy to talk to.”

Brown, who is a former television reporter, said she had never heard of Schoodic Point before someone gave her a flier about the area while she was working on another project. She was intrigued and started making some phone calls. One thing led to another and the film began to take shape.

Brown is quite proud of the fact the film cost only $3,000 to make.

“You can tell stories without a lot of money,” she said.

She and Gfroerer have done documentaries on other Maine communities including Stonington, Castine and Vinalhaven. The Vinalhaven piece is their best seller with 2,000 copies sold.

The Schoodic film is doing well, too. It premiered last fall at Hammond Hall in Winter Harbor. More than 200 people attended.

“We had a packed house and they gave us a standing ovation,” Gfroerer said. Since then, more than 700 copies have sold.

The couple is now looking for their next community to profile. They are considering Jonesport but are open to suggestions, Brown said.

“We always ask people, “Where’s the neat place that people don’t go to?'” she said.

For more information, write filmmakers John Gfroerer and Lisa Brown at 44 South Main St., Concord, N.H. 03301. (603) 226-3130. Or visit the Web site: www.accompanyvideo.com.