premiere. “My first time seeing the film was at the Concord premiere, though Russ did send me a copy of the script, so I had read where I would appear in the film before I actually saw it. Seeing the product on the ‘big screen’ was wonderful, and I really enjoyed being able to watch it for the first time with
Jim Phillips ’80
Russ, members of the Concord community, and my family,” he said. “I was especially pleased and humbled to have the last word on the documentary.” Berkey said that participating in the project enhances his work as a professor. “Being part of a documentary helps to reinforce and strengthen my role as an educator. Being involved in projects like this re-energizes me, and I try to carry that enthusiasm back to the classroom,” he said. “Many of the topics I touched upon in the film are expanded in my West Virginia history classes at Concord,” he said. “Documentaries like this one allow me to hone my skills at presenting ideas to varied audiences. The documentary also allowed me to show what
historians do: interpret evidence and communicate findings to a broader audience.” This isn’t the first time Berkey has appeared in a documentary. “I made a brief appearance in a documentary series called ‘Civil Warriors.’ I was in episode 2, ‘Free at Last.’ It aired on the National Geographic Channel in April 2011,” he said. “I discussed how Confederate civilians in Unionoccupied Winchester, Virginia tried to aid the Confederate cause. My part was filmed on location in Winchester.” And, another production with Barbour is in the works. “Russ is working on a documentary about West Virginia statehood for the 150th anniversary, and he asked me (along with my Concord colleague Keith Lilly ’93) to serve as a consultant on the script,” he said. Phillips graduated from Concord in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in education with concentrations in biology and general sciences. He is park naturalist at Pipestem through the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. He says the region offers the essentials for both man and nature to flourish, adding that “if you’re gonna have wildlife and a good variety of wildlife, you need to provide them with the basics and the basics would be food, water, shelter, a place to live and a place to raise their families.” His contribution to “Three Rivers” focused on the Bluestone. As a naturalist, Phillips said his topics included “a variety of things… some
plants, some animals, seasons here in the Appalachians.” Filming took place at the Pipestem State Park Nature Center, where he works, and at Bluestone State Park. Scenes in the film show him surrounded by schoolchildren, discussing nature, a familiar and favorite activity of his. Some of his behind-the-scenes work involved catching insect larvae and amphibians for what he called “critter in the hand” shots. Phillips, who grew up nearby, said contributing to the documentary allowed him to expand his audience when it comes to talking about a place near and dear to his heart. “It’s an area I really have great interest in, respect for and a great love of,” he said. He said he valued being “able to share the story of the natural and cultural history of the area along the Bluestone…with a lot more people.” His audience continues to expand. WVPBS has posted the documentary on YouTube. The link to “Three Rivers” is: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=_6G_T3Regdk DVDs of the production are being distributed in West Virginia. “We’re in the process of distributing a complete copy to every school and every library in the state,” Shawn Patterson, director of communications for West Virginia Public Broadcasting, said. For more information about “Three Rivers: The Bluestone, Gauley and New” contact Patterson at spatterson@wvpubcast.org or 304556-4900. Spring 2013 • 24