Filmmakers taking it one reel at a time

By Kevin T. Baldwin - Record Staff

Published in the Telegram and Gazette ©2008

Westborough - Nearly a year ago, the three filmmakers, who make up Feather Flight Films, began shooting their movie “Sinking Ships,” which has since been abandoned. Now, the Westboro trio is moving forward with a new film, “Lightly Ray.”

“The film (‘Lightly Ray’) is based on something I wrote as a short story while I was still a student in high school,” said Felipe Soares, the film’s director, producer and writer.

Soares said he and his fellow producers, Will Bystrov, who also serves as editor, and Sam Bardsley, all were stunned when “Sinking Ships” abruptly stopped production last July.

Working on the film ‘Lightly Ray,’ are (l to r) Felipe P. Soares, Will Bystrov and Dan Wood.
PHOTO/COURTESY PHOTO

“We had shot a few scenes for the movie. But the people who owned the house in Hopkinton where we were hoping to shoot most of the interior scenes for the film didn’t realize how involved a film’s shooting schedule can be,” Soares said. “For example, in a simple two-minute scene, there’s a lot of preparation involved. Sometimes a two-minute scene can take an entire day to set up and shoot. That proved to be too much for the people we were renting the house from. So it pretty much all fell through after that.”

In addition, the equipment they were using came from Westborough TV Inc. and in 2007, both studio Executive Director Mark McMinn and Production Coordinator Bob Cantara left the station.

“Both Mark and Bob were extremely helpful to us as we were learning how to use the equipment from the station,” Soares said. “The new station manager Maria Sheehan has also done a really great job since Mark left. But also losing Bob really was unfortunate, because he had been so helpful to us.”

It was in 2002, with the assistance of McMinn that Feather Flight produced a 40-minute documentary about the town’s reaction to the start of the war in Iraq.

Last July, the filmmakers decided to abandon “Sinking Ships” and consider what to do next when they were unable to find a suitable alternative location to film and while the search to find a new station manager for Westborough TV took place, according to Soares.

The two scenes they did shoot for “Sinking Ships” have been added to their resumes and “demo reels” which aspiring filmmakers use to apply for future film work. In addition to “Sinking Ships” they have also produced the short films, “Sun-Dried Cycle,” which they made in 2004 and “Like Just Waves,” which they shot in the Forbes Municipal Building auditorium in 2005.

The story of “Lightly Ray,” centers on the film’s main character Ray, who is played by Westboro resident Daniel Wood.

“Ray has a vision disorder whereby he can only see three colors. Each of the colors means something to Ray: Yellow, which is everything he likes; red, which is everything he dislikes; and blue, which for Ray, means indifference,” Soares said.

Soares, 22, who is a senior majoring in film and television production and minoring in psychology at Emerson College, said the disorder is a perception disorder, “which means it’s purely psychological in nature. In one of the scenes in the movie, Ray sees a woman who is wearing a yellow dress, and that’s the only color he can see in the entire scene. What it all comes down to is that Ray’s mind is telling him that his mind, or his perceived universe, is trying to correct something he missed earlier in his life.”

He added that “Sam (Bardsley) and Will (Bystrov) liked the story more than I did, actually, so we took about a month and a half to re-work the story as a film script.”

Since re-writing the script with his partners, Soares has added facts to help support the concept of this disorder unique to the film.

“In a scene, Ray speaks with someone, a counselor, who explains other disorders similar to the one Ray’s experiencing,” Soares said. “The person explains to Ray that he needs to find a way to resolve the problem, to find the ‘something’ he missed in his life, in order for the disorder to be corrected.”

Soares said he hopes to have other Westboro residents cast soon in the remaining roles of the film.

“We’ve worked with some of these people in the past, and we’ve got a good supply of local resumes from which to select our cast. We like working with people we know. We even sometimes write some parts with those people in mind,” Soares said.

The group plans to film scenes for “Lightly Ray” at a house in Northboro on Route 20, as well as in Westboro at the Forbes Municipal Building, the library and other locations, according to Soares.

“All we’ve had to do is inform the Police Department of where we’d like to shoot and they’ve been very cooperative with us,” Soares said. “The people and businesses involved which helped us make our films in town have all been very supportive.”

Soares expects to have “Lightly Ray” completed by the end of July.

Soares and Bystrov, who is a senior at Fitchburg State College, will graduate from college in the fall. The two will be moving to Los Angeles to conclude their studies and attempt to break into the movie business.

“We are spending our last semester of school out there. The plan is to use up our internship credits,” Soares said.

Soares, Bystrov and Bardsley graduated from Westboro High School in 2004.

For more information about Feather Flight Films, contact Felipe Soares at (508) 981-1535, or felipe.soares@featherflightfilms.com.

Girl Scouts collect items for U.S. troops overseas

Published in the Telegram and Gazette ©2008

Westborough - The Girl Scouts of Westboro recently conducted a drive to send boxes of Girl Scout cookies to military personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. The effort, supported by many in the community, resulted in the collection of about 800 boxes of cookies.

Nancy Siegal, service unit manager for the Westboro Girl Scouts, expressed thanks to residents and businesses of Westboro and surrounding communities, including: Maria Sheehan, general manager of Westborough TV and her volunteer crew, who ran a live broadcast of a local cookie booth sale that encouraged residents to make donations for soldiers; Christine Cassidy and the volunteers of Fallon Community Health Plan, state Rep. Karyn E. Polito; Westboro Selectman Lydia Goldblatt; Chris Hill and Paul Couturier from the Gathering of Eagles; Dona Colangelo; and Denise Bairos.

Financial assistance toward shipping costs was provided by Fallon Community Health Plan; Heidi Alcock of Bark Unlimited Inc. of Shrewsbury; the Charles P. Lauman Inc. Companies; and the Westboro Senior Center.

Some of the military personnel who received cookies sent the Girl Scouts thank-you notes. Two of the letters received by the Westboro Girl Scouts are reprinted here:

Dear Friends in Westborough!

Hello! And greetings from Al Asad, Iraq. We recently received a box full of Girl Scout cookies from you! How wonderful it was to receive your gift! It brightened our day like no other gift could. Something about those cookies, they are not only delicious, but they make us feel like we’ve been wrapped in a warm hug from home! At home, my family always looks forward to Girl Scout cookie time. I was sad that I was going to be gone during that time, but you sent it to us!

I am a medical officer (fancy way of saying “doctor”) for a squadron of Marines in Al Anbar Province in Iraq. We do security for the base, to about 30 clicks off base (that’s 30 miles beyond the fence surrounding base). I went with them yesterday and it rained and poured, flash floods everywhere. We were all a little wet, the Marine in the gun turret was soaked all the way from his head to the rubber soles of his boots! We all wore about 50 pounds of gear. It is not an easy job, but it is interesting. We saw some Bedouin families who live in tents and herd sheep. When I was a little Girl Scout, I never dreamed I would grow up and actually see people that I read about in my school books. These sweet people look like they came straight from Biblical times! When I got home, I was weary and there was the package of your cookies! They brightened my day. I had a few, and shared with the Marines and sailors that were with me. You made very many people happy. Thank you for your kindness to us!

Affectionately,

Christina Williams, MD

MSG William Sullivan wrote:

Hello from Baghdad. (He sent a picture postcard.) I just wanted to send you a quick note to say thank you for the package of Girl Scout cookies that you sent. That was very thoughtful, and much appreciated by everyone in my unit. We have been in Iraq for 11 months, and are down to our final few weeks. Everyone is excited about going home. It’s been a long, challenging mission, but I’m proud to have had the opportunity to serve. Thank you for your support! It’s nice to know that our work here is appreciated back home.

Regards,

MSG Bill Sullivan

Anyone interested in supporting an American soldier abroad with letters and a monthly care package is invited to visit www.soldiersangels.org.

Television show addresses issues facing local towns

By Ken Powers Community Reporter

Published in the Community Advocate ©2008

Westborough/Shrewsbury - While former Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill was right - all politics is local - Westborough Selectman Lydia Goldblatt and State Rep. Karyn E. Polito, R-Shrewsbury, have become aware of a 21st-century twist to it: all politics is local, and on television.

Because of that, Goldblatt and Polito have joined forces to host a monthly television show that will be seen on both towns' community access television stations.

(l to r) Shrewsbury Town Manager Dan Morgado, Shrewsbury resident and State Rep. Karyn E. Polito, R-Shrewsbury, Westborough Selectman Lydia Goldblatt and Westborough Town Coordinator Henry Danis stand in front of the mural of Harry's Restaurant after taping a talk show hosted by Polito and Goldblatt at the legendary Route 9 restaurant.
PHOTO/KEN POWERS

In another twist cooked up by the pair, the show is not shot in the typical television studio setting, but on location in a booth at Harry's Restaurant on Route 9 in Westborough.

"We didn't want it to be just another show in a studio," Goldblatt said. "We wanted to bring a diff erent look to it and we decided on Harry's because it's more relaxed here. Harry's has been a staple of the town for the last 50 years."

Goldblatt, who works at Harry's as the general manager, stressed that the show isn't of the "talking politics" variety, but rather focuses on local issues facing the Westborough and Shrewsbury communities.

"We deal with issues of the day," said Goldblatt, who is enjoying co-hosting the show. "I absolutely love doing the show. Karyn's a dear friend and I like having the people on that we have on, and I like the casual atmosphere. It's as if we're sitting at home in the kitchen, just two old friends talking."

Polito and Goldblatt were approached about doing the show by Westborough TV representatives Maria Sheehan and Catie Foertsch, who wanted a way to keep residents of the towns in the loop municipally.

"We have new people moving into our towns every day," Polito said, "and they're going to be involved with the decision making and they need to be informed. This is an important time for all the municipalities. Plus, we need feedback. We need to know what people want us to be focusing on and working for. This show gives us another way to reach the people we represent and an avenue for them to know what we're working on."

So far Polito and Goldblatt have taped two shows. The first one, recorded in March, had Westborough Police Chief Al Gordon as the guest. The second, taped earlier this month, features Shrewsbury Town Manager Dan Morgado and Westborough Town Coordinator Henry Danis.

"We're talking about municipal issues," Goldblatt said. "During a lot of our show with Dan and Henry we talked about our schools and all the mandates that have been put through by the state. They give you the mandates, but not the money needed to orchestrate the mandates."

Polito and Goldblatt believe, and Morgado and Danis agreed, that airing town government meetings on television is just the beginning.

"People watch a fair amount of local television," Morgado said. "Our citizens are very engaged in the process and much more informed than years ago. I think the next generation is going to be able to contribute to meetings from home. Eventually there will be a system in place so they will be able to email questions into the annual Town Meeting."

Danis agreed.

"There have been several times recently that people have come to public hearings and said, 'I was just home watching the meeting on television and I think this needs to be addressed.' The community is very engaged," Danis said. "They're watching. And paying attention."

Chamber honored by state association of school committees

By Ken Powers Community Reporter

Published in the Community Advocate ©2008

Westborough - Awards and recognition continue to pour in for the efforts of the Corridor Nine Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber of Commerce was notified recently that its School/Business Partnership Committee is the recipient of the Outstanding School Partner Award from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees.

The School/Business Partnership Committee, chaired by Donna Cox, will receive its award from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees at the Corridor Nine Chamber of Commerce Membership Breakfast Thursday Feb. 28 at the Westborough Doubletree Hotel.

"This is a tremendous honor for us," said Karen Chapman, vice president of the Corridor Nine Chamber of Commerce. "It's a testament to the hard work and dedication of the members of the School/Business Partnership Committee, most notably Donna Cox, who has chaired the committee tirelessly for 10 years."

The nomination of the committee was made by Nancy Spitulnik, director of Student Services for the Westborough Public Schools and submitted by Westborough Superintendent of Schools Dr. Anne Towle with a supporting nomination from Shrewsbury Superintendent of Schools Dr. Anthony Bent.

"We just felt this was an organization very deserving of this award," Towle said. "The work they've put in, the assistance they've provided is invaluable. I don't know where Westborough's schools would be without their help and support and I'm sure that the other school districts feel the same way, too. I know Shrewsbury does."

The School/Business Partnership Committee has been an active supporter of public education in Westborough and Northborough since 1985, and Shrewsbury and Southborough since 2000.

The committee's main goal is to be an effective resource for schools and a driving force in school/ business relationships, Chapman said.

The partnership committee has supported the schools in many ways, including: developing school programs supported by financial resources; matching school needs with community and business resources; supporting school and teacher educational initiatives through grants; and supporting student achievement through scholarships for high school seniors and internship placements.

Since the inception of the School/Business Partnership Committee, almost $300,000 has been provided in scholarships and grants to schools within the four towns the chamber encompasses - Westborough, Northborough, Shrewsbury and Southborough. Businesses have also provided large amounts of excess furniture, computers and supplies to the schools to help offset existing financial constraints.

Since 1996, the committee has provided more then $60,000 in the form of 234 mini-grants to teachers in the member towns.

High school scholarships, funded by the annual Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament, are awarded to seniors who demonstrate outstanding achievement and leadership. To date, since its beginning in 1986, 290 students have received scholarships totaling more than $206,000.

Also with proceeds from the golf tournament, the committee is able to support whole-school needs and initiatives. To date 48 such grants, totaling more than $23,000, have been awarded.

More than 65 businesspeople and educators serve on the School/Business Partnership Committee, including the principals from all of the schools in the member towns.

"Corridor Nine is proud of the strong ties we have forged between our business and educational community and are honored to be recognized for the work that we have accomplished," Chapman said.

Westborough TV has expanded our programming and is now broadcasting several new networks. 

to request a program from any of these channels, contact the studio manager [contact]

Classic Arts Showcase – http://www.classicartsshowcase.org/

Florida Education Television – http://www.paec.org/fec/

Free Speech TV – http://www.freespeech.org/

NASA – http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/

The Pentagon Channel – http://www.pentagonchannel.mil/

Research Channel – http://www.researchchannel.org/prog/

University of California TV – http://www.uctv.tv/

University of Washington TV – http://www.uwtv.org/