The tri-state upper Delaware River highlands and valleys are a place of rare beauty…
Seeing the region and living in it almost aren’t enough. Such beauty should be captured on canvas or film so that one can truly appreciate it, glimpse it in the quiet of an art gallery or museum, or between the pages of a poetry book or literary sketch.
The Journal Group’s mission is to capture these momentary snapshots of beauty graphically and through the written word. We celebrate our area and the uniqueness of the people who live and work in the tri-state region. From Pike to Wayne and Monroe to Lackawanna Counties in Pennsylvania, upriver to Sullivan County and on to Orange County in New York, and to the headwaters of the Wallkill River and
Mission
Editorial Readers
Robert Bowman Amy Smith
David Dangler dangler908@yahoo.com
The Poet
Darlene Scarince a.k.a. D.J. Pasternak
along Warren and Sussex Counties’ rolling hills in New Jersey, with quaint, historic towns and hamlets at the center, the Journal Group opens its doors to our communities, businesses and organizations, to serve as a communicative journal of all that we have to offer for those who live here and for those who love to visit us, too.
Publication Information
The Journal Group publishes The Journal eight times a year and distributes it in eight counties in PA, NJ and NY. We assume no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts. Contents may not be reproduced in any form without prior written permission. We reserve the right to refuse to print advertisements that we deem inappropriate. All rights reserved.
Model Christie Brinkley from the personal photo colleciton of Jule Campbell.
Photo by Jule Campbell
Ronny Whyte
May 12, 1937– August 19, 2025
When I sat down to write this tribute, I was thinking of “my” friend Ronny Whyte because we considered each other instant friends from the moment we met at a dinner party in Hemlock Farms, PA, over ten years ago. Upon further reflection and because I’ve met so many in his wide circle of friends over the years, I realized that the proper and appropriate phrase is “our” friend Ronny Whyte.
The words to describe Ronny flow easily: perpetually upbeat, always the gentleman, kind, charming, flirtatious, an amusing raconteur, a multi-talented entertainer who enjoyed a good bawdy laugh, and an extremely gracious host at his intimate at-home Milford dinner parties.
Ronny grew up in the Seattle suburbs in a musical family. He enlisted in the armed services in his late teens, serving several years in the Air Force band, mostly performing in the northeastern United States, with easy access to, as he described with a naughty smile, “wild” New York City, about which he shared many stories of his colorful youth.
Following his years of service, Ronny settled in New York and devoted his energies to his love of music and acting. He once told me he had auditioned for 48 Broadway shows, and according to Stephen Sondheim, he came “this close” to landing a role in the original production of Company. Ronny confided to me that one of his few regrets in life was never landing a Broadway role. But he more than made up for it by appearing in many off-Broadway shows and other Equity productions, including Company, Arsenic and Old Lace (“a real stinker”), and even Shakespeare, playing Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Later in life, he named his cat Oberon.
Over the years, he continued to hone his musical talents, singing jazz and playing piano with the Ronny Whyte Trio. He performed as a self-described roadie (“Oh, I loved being on the road,” he reminisced last year) across the United States and internationally, in countries such as France, the Netherlands, and Brazil throughout his illustrious career.
Many in the Milford area were enthralled by his performances, both for fun and for fundraising, and will be pleased to know that Ronny’s piano has been donated to the Delmonico Room at the Hotel Fauchère.
Ronny enjoyed a long-term relationship with “my Jack,” of whom he spoke lovingly, up until his final days.
But it’s for being the kind gentleman and loving person that many of us will most fondly remember Ronny Whyte: the consummate host, born entertainer, and beloved friend, always ready with a song, an amusing story, and a gentle smile.
When last we spoke, I asked about the most memorable highlights of his amazing life and career. He smiled and replied without a moment’s hesitation, “Every day of my life has been a highlight: every song I sang, every place I went, and every friend I made.”
Rest in peace, our friend.
Guest
Entry–Will Voelkel
An Autumn Morning
There is nothing like an autumn morning Stirring hearts to lofty heights When heretofore the laze of summer
Extolled the virtues borne of rest
Beaches, sun, expanse of seas Lying down on sand and grass Restoring mind and soul and body
Precursor for the time of waking Icy mornings, falling leaves Recalling other autumn rousings Seasons of return to learning Holidays and gatherings
Speaking of the wonders ’round us Striking color, yet approaching Starkness, bare with bark unclothed Still, there is nothing like an autumn morning Stirring hearts to lofty heights.
-Darlene Scarince a.k.a. D.J. Pasternak
Edward Jones Client Consultation Group
Your financial goals and needs are unique
Your complex needs deserve personalized solutions from the Edward Jones Client Consultation Group (CCG). CCG partners with us and your trusted professionals (CPAs, attorneys) to review complex situations and develop a tailored financial strategy.
Specialized team, deep expertise
CCG professionals have backgrounds in specialized areas such as:
• Estate matters – Financial considerations related to beneficiary, trust and charitable planning
• Executive compensation –Stock restrictions, options and over-concentrations, deferred compensation
• Business ownership – Transition to retirement, succession plans and employee compensation
• Significant lump sums – Legal settlements, inheritances or professional athletes
• Income strategies – Portfolio allocation and risk management for life events
• Protection strategies – Life insurance, long-term care and disability insurance
CCG can enhance the services we provide by building on the strategies we already have in place. Let’s review your assets and personal situation, allowing us to evaluate whether your situation qualifies for a collaboration with CCG.*
*Working with CCG may not be appropriate for all clients.
Edward Jones, its affiliates, financial advisors and Edward Jones Client Consultation Group (CCG) do not provide tax or legal advice. Individuals should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning, and work with their attorney for matters involving trusts, estate planning, business planning and other legal matters.
Insurance products are offered in conjunction with Edward Jones’ licensed insurance agency affiliates.
Timothy M Dalton Financial Advisor
202 U S Hwy 206 Suite B Branchville, NJ 07826 862-303-3189
RETURN TO RANGELEY
by Robert J. Romano, Jr.
Join Nathaniel Palmer, George Anne Brady, and company as they seek meaning in an increasingly troubling world among the vast lakes, unrestrained rivers, and those little rills found only by following a logging road through the heart of western Maine.
Around the Towns
Late Fall
October 1st
Wednesday 7:30 p.m.
Awareness Park Benefit Dinner. Ravyn & Robyn Food & Wine, Hawley, PA. Dinner, cocktails, piano bar, auction. Benefits building of Awareness Park, a skate park dedicated to mental health awareness. $200. Info: messinettifoundation@gmail.com.
Car & Craft Show. Dingmans Ferry United Methodist Church, Dingmans Ferry, PA. Food, drink & music. Info: 570.828.2288, www.dfumc.com.
11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Fall Farm Fest. Minisink Heritage Center, Westtown, NY. Music, bake sale, kids’ activities, museum & more. Presented by Town of Minisink Heritage Commission. Info: 845.726.4148, visitcarolscabin@gmail.com.
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. & 2:00–3:30 p.m.
Dramatic Production: Laurel Hill Burial Ground Walk. Grey Towers, Milford, PA. Guided walk through Milford’s original town graveyard. $20–$25. Tickets required. Info: 570.296.9630, greytowers.org.
by Robert J. Romano, Jr.
October 5th
October 10th–13th
Friday–Saturday
Family Camp Weekend & Harvest Festival. PEEC, Dingmans Ferry, PA. $260. Hikes, crafts, animal presentations & more. Harvest Festival on Saturday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Info: 570.828.2319, www.peec.org
October 11th
Saturday 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
Toast to Milford. Community House Lawn, Milford, PA. Free nibbles & beverages. Hosted by Milford Presents. Info: milfordpa.us.
10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Harvest & Heritage Day. Honesdale, PA. Hayrides, pumpkin painting, crafts, live music & more. Hosted by the Greater Honesdale Partnership. Info: 570.253.5492, www. visithonesdalepa.com.
11:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Fall Festival. Stillwater Township School, Stillwater, NJ. Hay rides, food, music, craft vendors. Hosted by Historical Society of Stillwater Township. Info: historicstillwater.org
6–9 p.m.
Ghost Tours. North Main Street, Honesdale, PA. Guided tour of haunted spots. $15–$20. Hosted by Greater Honesdale Partnership. Info: 570.253.5492, visithonesdalepa.com.
October 11th–12th Saturday–Sunday
Sunday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
AVAILABLE THROUGH: https://shop.midcurrent.com and https://www.amazon.com For an autographed copy email Bob at magalloway@mac.com
Praise for Bob’s previous novels:
Applefest. Warwick, NY. Crafts, food, music, children’s carnival & more. Hosted by Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce. Info: www.warwickapplefest.com.
3-6 p.m.
A Titanic Dinner. Columns Museum, Milford, PA. Presentation by Ken Rossignol, author of Titanic 1912. Dinner based on meals served on the Titanic that fateful day. $75. Hosted by Pike Historical Society. Info: 570.296.8126, pikehistorical.org/events
October 6th
Monday 10:30 a.m.
Join Nathaniel Palmer, George Anne Brady, and company as they seek meaning in an increasingly troubling world among the vast lakes, unrestrained rivers, and those little rills found only by following a logging road through the heart of western Maine.
Teeing Up for Veterans Golf Outing. Black Bear Golf Club, Franklin, NJ. Benefits Project Help, which aids military and veterans. $225. Includes golf, lunch, dinner, games & giveaways. Info: 973.875.2068, projecthelp. us.
Heritage Weekend. Sussex County, NJ. Tour of historical sites, museums, farmers’ markets. Sponsored by the Sussex County Arts & Heritage Council. Info: 973.383.0027, www.scahc.org
10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Harvest Festival. Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm, Stroudsburg, PA. Historical demonstrations, crafts, food, music. $18. Info: 570.992.6161, www.quietvalley.org
October 12th
Sunday 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Children’s Book Festival. Warwick Valley Middle School, Warwick, NY. Book signing, food, music. Presented by Albert Wisner Public Library. Info: www.warwickchildrens bookfestival.org
11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Fall Festival & Car Show. Spring Street, Newton, NJ. Vendors, line music, food. Hosted by Town of Newton, NJ. Free. Info: newton townhall.com.
“A fine tribute to one of the last wilderness enclaves of New England and to the tough, resourceful, kind-hearted, and ever so independent-minded people who eke out a living there.” – Howard Frank Mosher, author of eight novels including Waiting For Teddy Williams.
Noon–4:30 p.m.
Van Campen Day. Van Campen Inn, Walpack Township, NJ. Free tours, historical activities. Hosted by the Walpack Historical Society. Info: 973.552.8880, walpackhistory.org.
1–3 p.m.
Fall on the Farm. Time and the Valleys Museum, Grahamsville, NY. Explore fall farm activities: harvesting, canning, cider making & more. Info: 845.985.7700, www.timeandthe valleysmuseum.org.
October 15th
Wednesday 5–9 p.m.
Grown Here. Barn at Villa Venezia, Middletown, NY. Farm-to-table experience, silent auction & more. $150. Hosted by Boys & Girls Clubs of Town of Wallkill. Info: 845.342.8833, www.bgcorange.org
5:30 p.m.
Funding Their Future. Perona Farms, Andover, NJ. Cocktails, entertainment, silent auction. Hosted by Sussex County Community College Foundation. $100. Info: 973.300.2173, www.sussex.edu
October 17th
Friday 7:15 p.m.
Rusty Blackbirds: Species on the Brink. Sparta Ambulance Squad, Sparta, NJ. Presented by Don Torino. Open to the public. In person and on Zoom. Hosted by Sussex County Bird Club. Info: www.spartacameraclub.org.
October 17th–19th
Friday–Sunday
Black Bear Film Festival. Milford, PA. Info: 570.832.4858, blackbearfilmfestival.org. See pages 18–23 of The Journal for the schedules.
Bat-tacular Program & Walk. Van Scott Nature Reserve, Beach Lake, PA. Learn about
bats in our area and take an optional walk to look for them. Hosted by Delaware Highlands Conservancy. $5–$10. Info: 570.226.3164, www.DelawareHighlands.org.
October 25th
Saturday 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Fall Vendor Fair. Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Sparta, NJ. Crafters & vendors. Info: 973.729.7010, www.sothnj.org
1–2 p.m., 3–4 p.m., 5–6 p.m.
An Afternoon & Evening with Edgar Allen Poe. Grey Towers, Milford, PA. Dramatic reading by American Readers Theatre. $20–$25. Info: 570.296.9630, greytowers.org
November 1st–2nd
Saturday–Sunday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Explore Warren: History Trail. Warren County, NJ. Free self-guided tour of historic sites. Info: www.warrenhistorytrail.org.
November 2nd
Sunday 2:00–3:30 p.m.
Neversink & Denning History Afternoon. Time and the Valleys Museum, Grahamsville, NY. Explore photos, records stories & artifacts. Free. Info: 845.985.7700, www.timeandthe valleysmuseum.org
2 p.m.
Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Delaware Township Municipal Building, Dingmans Ferry, PA. Theatrical performance by Jonathan Kruk. Free. Hosted by the Dingmans Ferry-Delaware Township Historical Society. Info: www. dingmansferryhistoricalsociety.org.
November 8th
Saturday 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Fall Craft & Vendor Fair. At Peace by Piece Community Center, Sparta, NJ. Music, food, crafters, vendors. Benefits those faced with intellectual/developmental disabilities. Info: 973.500.8408, www.peacebypiecenj.com.
6:00–9:30 p.m.
Interwoven: The Inspiration of Our Landscape. Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center, Chester, NY. Evening of immersion in the art and culture of Orange County. Hosted by Orange County NY Arts Council. $125–$300. Info: 845.202.0140, www.ocnyartscouncil.org.
November 21st
Friday 6:30 p.m.
Hanna Q Dance Company Performance. St. Patrick’s Event Hall, Milford, PA. Dance with photographic backdrops. Reception to follow. $60. Info: hannaqdancecompany.com.
November 22nd
Saturday 3 p.m.
New Sussex Symphony. First United Methodist Church, Newton, NJ. Includes Borodin, Stravinsky, Delibes, Massenet. $10–$15. Info: 973.579.6465, newsussexsymphony.org.
BLACK DOG BOOKS NEW LOCATION!
Don’t worry, we are just up the road!
191 Route 15 South Unit 8 Lafayette, NJ
Stop by and say hello! More space, more stories, same lovable dog and indie spirit. blackdogbooks_nj
Jersey Ave, Port Jervis ( 845 ) 754-1808
ARTIST RECEPTION Saturday, October 11th • 1-6pm
PAINTING CLASS Friday, October 17th • 1-6pm ART WALK Sunday, October 19th
ART BATTLE Sunday, October 26th • 1-6pm GROOVE-PORT PRESENTS
Saturday, October 18th • 7pm
Circular Jazz Trio featuring Bob Meyer
Top: Setting up a shot with Christie Brinkley. Bottom: Ingrid Seynhaeve and Tyra Banks. Photos courtesy of Jule Campbell estate
Beyond the Gaze at the Black Bear
Jule Campbell’s Swimsuit Issue
My mother-in-law, Jule Campbell, began at Sports Illustrated as a fashion editor.
In 1964, the Managing Editor was trying to figure out how to breathe life into the February issue. Back then, February was dead space—no major sporting events took place at that time. So, Andre Laguerre approached Jule, who was stylish, savvy, and always had an eye for cultural shifts. He told her to “go to a resort and find a pretty girl to possibly put on the cover.”
Jule took this odd assignment and made it her own. Since it was a sports magazine, she decided to look for athletic, outdoorsy women, more “the girl next door” than the skeletal high-fashion model.
In California, she met Sue Peterson, who would become the first cover model for what would later evolve into the
“Swimsuit Issue.” What Jule didn’t anticipate was the backlash. Of course, there were swimsuits in other magazines at the time. But because Sports Illustrated had such a large, overwhelmingly male readership, the cover created an uproar. Suddenly, the magazine was accused of exploitation.
That controversy pursued Jule for her entire career. For her, it was frustrating because her aim was never to exploit women but to celebrate them. She was trying to present women who looked healthy, vibrant, approachable— women who felt real. At SI, the environment was sexist and often dismissive of women’s voices. Jule had to learn to navigate that and ultimately transform it.
What she achieved was nothing short of extraordinary. The “Swimsuit Issue” became the most profitable annual issue in American magazine history. And she did it by staying true to her own moral compass. She protected the
Tyra Banks
women she worked with. She treated them not as interchangeable mannequins but as personalities, as people. She nurtured their careers.
Many of the biggest names in modeling—Cheryl Tiegs, Christie Brinkley, Tyra Banks, Kathy Ireland, Carol Alt, Elle Macpherson, Roshumba Williams, Stacey Williams—all passed through the pages of the issue under Jule’s guidance.
I knew Jule as my mother-in-law, and the film Beyond the Gaze was the first time I directed a film about someone who was part of my own family, and that made the process unlike anything I had done before. I respected her career, of course, but at home she didn’t usually want to dwell on work. At the farm, she wanted to be a mother, a grandmother, and a companion.
She had outer elegance, grace, and class. She taught me to appreciate the finer things in life, both intellectually and culturally. She loved art, literature, and conversation. But there was also a thread of guilt running through her. She had spent so many years traveling and working that she sometimes felt she hadn’t been as present as she wanted to be as a mother. Perhaps because of that, she was a bit overprotective of me when it came to raising my own children.
Making the film forced me to reconcile these two sides: the Jule I knew in the family and the Jule who was a formidable editor. It was eye-opening. She was meticulous, almost obsessive, about details. She considered herself an artist, and rightly so.
The way she built the “Swimsuit Issue” resembled the way a filmmaker builds a film. She scouted locations. She cast the models. She hired swimsuit designers. She matched specific photographers with specific settings. All of it was analog—film, slides, Polaroids. Nothing digital, nothing instantaneous. The artistry and craftsmanship behind those images is remarkable when you really look at it. She saw the “Swimsuit Issue” as more than a collection of pretty pictures. To her, it was a curated vision of beauty, health, and aspiration.
Beyond the Gaze spans from the Mad-Men-era 1960s through the supermodel explosion of the 1990s, showing how one woman, often underestimated, redefined an entire industry.
The reception for the film has been more than I hoped for. Beyond the Gaze has played at 25 festivals across the United States. It won Best Documentary at the Omaha Film Festival and the Grand Jury Award, Best of Festival,
Carol Alt, Walter looss Jr., and Jule at a photo shoot
Jule Campbell with Sports Illustrated Managing Editor, Gil Rogan.
Photo by Nancy Kessler
at the Vermont Film and Folklore Festival. It screened in competition at Montclair and Phoenix Film Festivals.
The reviews have been strong, both on Letterboxd and in the press. We’ve posted links on our website (www.jule campbell.com) for those who want to read more. But perhaps most meaningful has been the response from Jule’s family and from the women who worked with her.
Kathy Ireland, for example, wrote me the most beautiful note after seeing the film. She said she was glad it was me telling Jule’s story because in someone else’s hands it could have gone very differently. That validation matters because I wanted the film to be honest. I didn’t want to dodge the controversy. I embraced it. What resulted is a balanced portrait, not a sanitized one.
into a cultural phenomenon. It’s about someone who survived in a male-dominated workplace and carved out space for herself, and, in doing so, gave opportunities to generations of women who followed.
In a way, I decided to make this film 30 years ago, when I first realized what an extraordinary life Jule had lived. But in reality, I decided during the pandemic, when Jule herself signaled that she was ready. Why did I make it? Because her story needed to be told—and because it mattered to me personally.
Jule Campbell was many things: a pioneering editor, a champion of women, a reluctant trailblazer, and, to me, family. Making this film has been my way of honoring her, of reconciling the woman I knew with the legacy she left behind.
Ultimately, this isn’t just a fashion story. It’s a story about power, gender, and the way media shaped our collective ideas of beauty. It’s about a woman who took an assignment that could have been a throwaway and turned it
Jill Campbell is an award-winning, independent documentary producer, director, and editor who will be interviewed on stage after the screening of Beyond the Gaze at 12:00 p.m, October 18th, at the Milford Theater during the Black Bear Film Festival.
Jule with Elle McPherson.
Photo by Philip Jache
MAIN STAGE FILMS Black Bear Film Festival October 17–19, 2025
PRESENTED AT THE MILFORD THEATER
Friday, October 17
6:00 p.m. • Gala Reception in the Festival Tent at the Milford Theater
7:30 p.m. • Magic Hour
Harriet, a once-promising filmmaker, is stuck in the suburbs of New Jersey. Alienated from her cheating husband and spurned by her teenage daughter, she secretly enrolls in film school. She loves its grueling, exhilarating world. But Harriet must decide if her life’s ambition is pure folly or a dream worth saving.
Director’s note: I hope my audience will see themselves in the hopeful and hapless lead character and feel their own untested dreams. The magic hour is a time of transition.
Comedy/Drama/USA/94m. Written & directed by Jacqueline Christy. Post-film interview with Jacqueline Christy.
Saturday, October 18
10:00 a.m. • A Life Inside Me
A debut feature juxtaposing the predicaments of a terminally ill father who wishes to live his final days as his true self, as a woman, with his daughter, who is trapped in an abusive marriage. Set in rural South Asia, the film traces the intertwined journeys of Sitaram and Mira as they confront deeply buried truths in a society bound by tradition. This is a heartfelt exploration of identity, silence and the fragile courage it takes to reclaim one’s voice.
Drama/India/101m/English subtitles. Directed by Jackie R. Bala.
12:00 p.m. • Beyond the Gaze: Jule Campbell’s Swimsuit Issue
In the 1960s, Jule Campbell transformed a struggling magazine into a media empire: the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, with her vision to showcase female beauty in a tasteful, artistic manner. Chic and controversial, the mastermind behind the pages was a creative trailblazer who navigated a male-dominated workplace while rebuffing accusations of objectification. This documentary by her daughter-in-law Jill Campbell chronicles her 32-year reign through stunning visuals and intimate interviews. Jule championed intelligence and empowered supermodels, who recall the era and working with her. We witness a legacy that continues to inspire.
Documentary/USA/107m. Written and directed by Jill Campbell. Post-film interview with Jill Campbell.
2:30
p.m. • The Princess Bride
CLASSIC MOVIE with special guest star Chris Sarandon, hosted by author/film historian, John DiLeo.
Few films are as beloved as the love story, comedy and fairy-tale adventure, The Princess Bride. It boasts a stellar ensemble cast that includes Mandy Patinkin, Billy Crystal and Peter Falk, with Cary Elwes and Robin Wright as the young lovers, and Chris Sarandon as the evil Prince Humperdinck. The Princess Bride combines laughs, thrills, romance and an Oscar-nominated song, all in perfect balance. After the screening, stay to hear Chris Sarandon’s thoughts about the making of the movie and its enduring legacy. Comedy/USA/98m. Directed by Rob Reiner. Post-film interview with Chris Sarandon.
5:15
p.m. • Hello Beautiful
Based on the book, Walk Beside Me by Christine Handy, a breast cancer survivor and model, Hello Beautiful portrays Handy’s journey through breast cancer and aims to provide a patient’s perspective on the emotional and physical challenges of the disease, emphasizing themes of survivorship, resilience and the importance of community support.
Docu-fiction/USA/98m. Directed by Michael Espinosa.
7:15 p.m.
• Anxiety Club
Some of today’s most brilliant comedians offer a heartfelt and humorous exploration of anxiety. With a mix of stand-up performances, sketch videos, exclusive interviews and relatable everyday life scenarios, they candidly share their personal struggles with anxiety. The comedians reveal how vulnerability and humor can coexist, turning their mental health battles into powerful narratives that resonate with audiences everywhere.
Documentary/USA/86m. Directed by Wendy Lobel.
9:15 p.m.
• Flux
Filmed locally with scenery from Matamoras, Port Jervis and Northeast Pennsylvania, Flux is a full-length feature film that dares to delve into all of the possibilities and theories of man’s tenuous relationship with the supernatural. Our questions about what lies beyond are answered in this apocalyptic thriller that confirms what many believe to be the final biblical outcome.
Thriller/USA/90m. Directed by Geraldo J. Uscategui.
Sunday, October 19
11:00 a.m. • Middletown
Inspired by an unconventional teacher, a group of teenagers in upstate New York uncover a vast conspiracy that is poisoning the ground. Together they confront the indifferent adults, corrupt politicians and a violent criminal organization threatening their small town. They produce an investigative documentary that causes shockwaves in their community. Middletown is a coming-of-age story featuring candid, humorous and nostalgic video outtakes and the cooperation of Fred Isseks and his intrepid students as they reckon, thirty years later, with a defining event in their lives and a remarkable journey of civic courage.
Documentary/USA/110m. Directed by Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss.
1:15 p.m. • Short Block
Invasion ‘53
A man-eating alien crashes a suburban cocktail party.
Short/USA/10m. Directed by Danielle Weinberg.
Shoot, Shovel and Shut Up
The Clifford family hopes to start a new life by selling their dilapidated, impoverished farm. But when the discovery of an endangered bird on the property threatens to collapse the sale, the son must decide whether to make the bird’s presence known or to shoot, shovel and shut up.
Short/USA/14m. Directed by Tràn Hoàng Calvin.
Coming Out Polyamourous for Thanksgiving
When polyamorous spouses, Alex and Don, introduce Don’s partner Aly to his Southern parents on Thanksgiving, they must weigh biological family against their chosen one.
Short/USA/20m. Directed by Maren Lavelle.
The Rope
The film tells the story of a mother and her son, bound by an uncut umbilical cord. Their lives are shaped by this inseparable connection, preventing them from experiencing success, achievements and joyful moments, as they must always be together.
Short/Iran/17m. Directed by Saba Javar.
Down the Hill
Detective Marty Flynn has an eerie gift: his childhood teddy bear tells him where to find dead bodies. His partner, Detective Burke, has no idea about Marty’s strange source of guidance—he just thinks Marty has an impeccable instinct for solving cases.
Short/USA/12m. Directed by Zack Wilcox.
The Dark Watchers
Follow two park rangers as they investigate an abandoned vehicle deep in the remote forest. Their search leads to unsettling cult objects and a strange young man with no memory of who he is. The rangers find themselves ensnared in a growing analog nightmare—one that is controlled by the all-seeing Dark Watchers.
Short/USA/34m. Directed by Elias Noel Almeda.
3:00 p.m. • Awards & Closing Ceremony
SATURDAY SALONS
Salon screenings are free to the public.
At Good Shepherd Episcopal Church
10:00 a.m. • DOCUMENTARY SHORT
FILMS
Gone Huntin’ (10m)
Directed by Ethan Haggerty
A documentary about 4 men who are infatuated with cycling segment hunting on the app Strava
Warriors Beyond The Battlefield: African Americans in the Armed Forces (26m)
Directed by Dave Messic
A documentary highlighting the untold stories from multiple generations of brave African American soldiers who have served in the United States military since the Civil War.
Handwoven (9m)
Directed by Dasha Levin, Mason Cazalet, Mihika Das, Matthew Wisdom
A lyrical portrait of Nikyle Begay, a non-binary shepherd and weaver; working to preserve their way of life through the traditional art of weaving.
The Third Child (25m)
Directed by Serna Amini
Mehdi is the only hearing child in a completely deaf family and has struggled with pronunciation and speech due to his family’s circumstances. Now, he is striving to become a professional voice actor.
11:30 a.m.
• DRAMA SHORT FILMS
Love, From Ellie (16m)
Directed by Chantelle James
Nine-year-old Ellie Williams pretends to be sick at school so she can sneak out and venture by bus to visit her veteran father’s memorial on his birthday.
Stronghold (15m)
Directed by Meghann Artes
When a group home for boys closes, the house mother must go in search of the boy’s mom before heading off to her new life where she hopes to reconcile with her own estranged daughter.
Over (18m)
Directed by Duncan Ragg, Anna Phillips
A father must confront his apathy towards the world’s big issues when his disabled son, who is terrified of open water, steals his boat and refuses to come back to shore until his dad has saved the world.
Infinity Girls (14m)
Directed by Molly Ehrenberg-Peters, Alexandra Nedved
After completing another round of rehab, Jess is eager to reconnect with her best friend, Andi, on their annual weekend camping trip.
Baby Love (7m)
Directed by Kate Kelsen
A teenage girl desperate for an abortion faces off with a physician assistant.
SATURDAY SALONS
12:45 p.m. • SUSPENSE/THRILLER SHORT FILMS
Delivery! (12m)
Directed by Samuel Giordano
A man hunts through the rough city streets for food and cash to bring back to the woman he is holding captive in an abandoned warehouse.
Two Chairs (27m)
Directed by Enni Eastman
A road weary traveler takes the chance meeting of a lifetime, but it turns out to be a mysterious interrogation beyond time and space that will reverse the core of human existence...FOREVER.
Passing (3m)
Directed by Annarose Davidson
A surrealist looks into the mind and emotions of a failing pre-med student.
Resurrection (18m)
Directed by Sam Zaslow-Braverman
In the wake of a traumatic incident at a funeral, an aging widow faces an impossible, bizarre choice.
2:00 p.m. • COMEDY SHORT FILMS
Blue Comp (7m)
Directed by Farzaneh Ghobadi
The story is about abilities and disabilities that exist in every person.
Thieving (3m)
Directed by Felipe Arturo Sanchez Robles
Inspired by Jeff Springman’s story, a Texas oilfield worker turned whistleblower. He sued Diamondback, the site owner, and Pilot, Jeff’s employer, for hydrocarbon poisoning caused by deadly manual tank gauging.
Friends Not Food (26m)
Directed by Peter Stray
Rachel inherits a barely-functioning farm sanctuary thanks to her half-brother’s terrible poker face and even worse judgment. Her plan is to get the place stable, hand it back, and return to civilization. But the sanctuary isn’t what she expected.
Prom Party Massacre (19m)
Directed by Jordan Gustafson
A young gay man tries to woo his crush with a swinging prom party,
but when popular kids start turning up dead, the partygoers discover a slasher killer amongst the student body!
The HouseMate (10m)
Directed by Hamed Ghonuei
A solitary fly enters a woman’s home uninvited. The woman, seeking peace in the silence and order of her space, finds her routine disrupted. But the fly does not come to annoy—it approaches her with a quiet passion.
3:30 p.m. • STUDENT SHORT FILMS
Hivemind (3m)
Directed by Joey Tangradi
A girl explores a strange game after her friends mysteriously stop talking to her.
Paint (1m)
Directed by Angeline Irene Ameloot
Two paintings in a museum argue about the visitors.
Ubiquitous (20m)
Directed by Grace Drury
An up-and-coming filmmaker, suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder, spirals into obsession in order to win best picture.
Who Will Be There for Me (2m)
Directed by Ethan Hillel Baron
An abused university student monologues about how rumors have negatively impacted his life.
My Next Guest (11m)
Directed by Lucas Hydock
An awkward high schooler named Jimmy pretends to be a talk show host to socialize with people. Can he maintain his persona after asking out Chloe, the captain of the volleyball team?
Saint James (13m)
Directed by Luke Joseph McDonough
After a failed suicide attempt, a young man becomes obsessed with becoming a sailor.
What We Become (15.5m)
Directed by Lauren Donatoni
Two friends, thinking they deserve more than they have, spiral into a life of theft, but when one begins to question if they have crossed the line, their bond is tested, and they both must determine how far is too far.
Schedule
SUNDAY SALONS
Salon screenings are free to the public.
At The Columns Museum
608 Broad St., Milford, PA
11:00 a.m.
Land of the Mustaches (88m)
Directed by: Leon Joosen
For the children and women of all wars, it never leaves. Land of the Mustaches is an autobiographical story of a young girl growing up in the Displaced Persons refugee camps with her mother and grandmother after World War II left them starving and stateless. Her father’s disappearance into Stalin’s notorious gulag labor camps in Siberia with only what he was wearing the day he was abducted parallels her own experiences, until they finally merge into one story, resulting in the ultimate celebration of resilience and human spirit.
Jane’s Carousel (4m)
Directed by Lauren Burnfield
When a college student in NYC travels to Brooklyn for an afternoon, she meets a young woman who inspires her to rethink her approach to life and love, and sparks fly.
Standby (25m)
Directed by Robert Gomes
At Triversity: The Pride Center
201 W. Harford St., Milford, PA
11:00 a.m.
Lavender Outlaws (15m)
Directed by Damon Beirne
Amidst a wave of violence and restrictive legislation, a group of musicians converge on Nashville, Tennessee, to reveal the true outlaws of country music.
Don’t Cry for Me All You Drag
Queens (9m)
Directed by Kristal Sotomayor
An homage to the legendary drag queen, Mother Cavallucci, by weaving together the present and past to provide a striking portrait of belonging and memory.
Evaders (15m)
Directed by Hudson Shelton
In an authoritarian future America, the government controls gender and family life. Ziya and Walker anxiously await their Specification ceremony: the day when they must choose to be male or female and then will get sorted into nuclear families.
A disheartened, but dedicated, middle-aged gay actor, living and working in NYC as a standby for an off-Broadway show, has his love for his art reawakened—with a jolt—in this valentine to the theater.
Abby Stein (6m)
Directed by Yulia Starostina
A look into the world of Abby Stein, a transgender rabbi who discusses her former life in the Hasidic Jewish community and her new life as an activist for trans rights.
The Art of Gender (18m)
Directed by Karson Ionetta Sims
Uplifting the stories of drag, queer, gender-non-conforming individuals, as well as individuals that participate in activities that emphasize a certain norm or stereotype for gender presentation.
Queens of Stonewall (20m)
Directed by Jean Sonderand
Simone and her fellow transgender community navigate decades of adversity, from the AIDS epidemic through COVID-19, culminating in defiant and celebratory outdoor drag performances.
At Grey Towers National Historic Site, Cornelia Room
151 Grey Towers Drive, Milford, PA
11:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
A selection of conservation films hosted by Board Member, Darian Rivera. Seating is limited to 40 people. Seating will begin at 10:30 a.m.
Crossing through the Highlands of Iceland (30m)
Directed by Dan Razvan Coman
Only accessible during the Icelandic summer, the Highlands of Iceland is an oasis of tranquility and inspiration; unique landscapes inspire those who decide to explore this place.
Hetch Hetchy: Constructing the Framework for Modern Environmentalism (10m)
Directed by Luke Morris
Selected by Ken Burn’s Better Angel’s Society, student filmmaker Luke Morris of North Carolina presents his middle school National History Day project about Gifford Pinchot and the Hetch Hetchy.
Pastures and Panels (17:39m)
Directed by Tucker Gragg
Pastures and Panels tells the story of Daniel Dotterer, a 7th-generation Pennsylvania farmer, and other family farms who’ve breathed new life into their land through solar grazing. Their stories capture the decline of small, independent farms and the hope for a new beginning.
conscious | unconscious (2:36m)
Directed by Fiona Nellist
The piece focuses on the beauty of patterns, repetition, and meditation. Patterns are all around us, from the sequence of windows on buildings to the microscopic pattern in our hair; anything has a pattern if one looks close enough.
Gardener of the Galaxy (10:43m)
Directed by Nick Natalicchio
World renowned astrophysicist and planetary scientist Dr. Edward Guinan reflects on his life, work, and involvement in the “Red Thumbs Mars Garden Project” at Villanova University, which experiments with growing sustainable food sources on Mars.
Q&A with Nick Natalicchio.
No Safe Exposure: Rehabilitating America’s Eagles (29:56m)
Directed by David Rohm
Compelling, never-before-seen footage of the inspiring work of wildlife rehabilitators as they treat injured eagles and help them return to the skies.
CELEBRATING BLACK BEAR
1 Wantage Avenue Branchville, New Jersey 973-948-9401 tristateflagpoleandgifts.com
TETIANA ABRAMOV
Photos courtesy of Apple Ridge Farm
Autumn at Apple Ridge Farm
The hard-working people behind Apple Ridge Farm describe it as a “naturally raised produce farm that raises pastured chickens, a poultry farm that raises pastured pigs, a pig farm that makes artisan breads, and a bakery that grows hydroponic lettuce.” You can’t beat that.
Brian Bruno was born and raised on the farm that he now owns. At the time, it really wasn’t a farm, but an eightacre homestead with some sheep, goats, and chickens. “We had a small apple orchard, a large garden, and, seasonally, we’d have pick-your-own asparagus or apples and sell apple cider.
“I went off to Penn State to major in Environmental Resource Management but always remembered our small stand. When I was home on college vacation, I decided to try selling produce from a small garden and fruit from our orchard in the roadside driveway stand. It was a side gig to bring in some money.”
After graduation, he worked as a biologist, but he had moved back home to Saylorsburg, PA, in 2004, and by that time the farming bug had hit hard. Bruno continued growing vegetables and added to his produce garden every year. Ensconced in the farming lifestyle, he had a vision for a business that included building a wood-fired brick oven in a certified kitchen to bake bread. Apple
Ridge’s sourdough bread bakery took off. He expanded into farmers markets, quit his day job, and a full-time passion was born.
Bruno started with basic sourdough breads made with a natural starter, flour, water, and sea salt. No commercial yeast is used, which he finds makes the bread more easily digestible. The product line slowly expanded with salad dressing and more baked goods. As the business grew, he added poultry, pork, hydroponic equipment, and a greenhouse onto the property.
There’s now a small farm store at Apple Ridge Farm. The farm participates in about 15 farmers markets in the tristate area, including Milford, Monroe, and Warwick. It sells mostly bread and produce to about 30 health food stores, roadside stands, and cafés. Bruno also partners with the Shawnee Craft Brewing Company on a woodfired brick oven pizza pub in the Easton Public Market.
“Our farm team and our bakery team work as a group,” Bruno explained. “We craft readymade foods from the farm such as chicken pot pies and frozen pizzas. We also sell different cuts of pork, like bacon and sausage. Products harvested on the farm such as berries are baked into mixed berry scones. All of the main ingredients that we use for our breads in the bakery are organic.”
Bruno described his farming philosophy: “We are farming with organic principals, which means that we are sustainable and regenerative, a form of agriculture where we’re rebuilding soil every year through crop rotation, composting, and leaf mulching.”
While studying to be an environmental scientist, he was concerned about how modern agriculture can be a source of chemical pollutants—his family had never used chemicals.
“What’s interesting about our style is that we don’t need to buy fertilizers or lime, for example.” Bruno continued, “We make compost with our own vegetable waste, rotate the pastures on the vegetable farm, and build nutrients for the vegetables on the animal side. The chickens and pigs are pasture raised; they eat green grass, bugs, and nonGMO, organically grown feed. If we have leftover bread from the farmers markets, we’ll soak it in water for animal feed. Our mission is to produce healthy, nutrient-dense food in a sustainable manner.”
How did Bruno learn to do all of this? “It’s been a learnas-we-go experience. I’ve learned from other farmers, by going to conferences, and, of course, hands-on. I’ve been doing this since 2003.”
Autumn changes life on a farm in the Northeast. The last beds are planted in the vegetable gardens, and they’re still harvesting warm season crops such as tomatoes, peppers, and basil, but that finishes up with the first frost.
Carrots, radishes, kale, spinach, and mescalin mix, which were planted outside, get covered with a high tunnel and
will continue to be harvested over the winter. Lettuce will grow hydroponically until mid-December, but microgreens will keep growing this way all year.
Fall is focused on root crops and storage squash. Many of the walk-in coolers are stocked with these products. “Our muffins become a double-dark chocolate beet muffin, as we’ve harvested the beets. Apple turnovers and granola are baking in the oven, and sweet potato oatmeal raisin cookies join butternut squash cookies. We use our carrots and zucchinis, and our harvested vegetables such as potatoes, onions, garlic, and kale. Chicken stock and bone broth soups simmer on the stove.” As Bruno talks, I can smell the delicious fall aromas in the air.
“In the autumn, we ferment a lot of our crops into sauerkrauts and kimchee. We have a whole line of fermented products, including beverages such as kombucha and switchel, which is an apple-cidervinegar-based drink that contains honey and ginger.
“We also get fields into cover crops before it gets too cold. This holds the nutrients in so they can become pastures next year. And we need to winterize our irrigation systems and do firewood processing for the wood oven in the bakery.”
People not familiar with a farmer’s routine don’t realize how much work goes into preparing a farm for winter and may not really understand how much work it takes year-round. One of Bruno’s favorite dishes for sustenance is a hearty potato kale hash that he makes from his own products. He starts by boiling the potatoes until they’re soft and then putting them in a skillet with some chopped chorizo. He then melts the kale down until it gets nice and crispy. It’s a delicious and healthy energizer to end his workday.
Bruno says that the future of farming is full of challenges, especially when you’re a seasonal farmer. “We worry about maintaining staff, climate effects, diet trends, and other issues. Winter farmers markets are important to us. We hope that people will keep eating local and follow the family farmers. There are still a lot of crops coming into the markets in the winter. Locally, there is the Monroe Farmers Market in Stroudsburg, PA, which goes every Saturday year-round, and the Morris County Winter Farmers Market on Sundays from December to April, which is held at Convent Station in Morris Township, NJ.
“In nature,” Bruno concludes, “everything works in harmony, and we have found that the same is true in agriculture. We are committed to producing healthy food that harkens back to a simpler time. I feel as good about that philosophy as the consumer feels about eating our food.”
For more information, visit www.appleridge.net.
Chris Sarandon. Opposite page: Sarandon as Prince Humperdinck in The Princess Bride
Photos courtesy of Chris Sarandon
The Princess Bride Chris Sarandon
Avaried career with standout roles in musicals, theater, television, and classic films has given actor Chris Sarandon the versatility he desired. On October 18th, Sarandon will be interviewed on stage by film historian John DiLeo at the Black Bear Film Festival after the screening of The Princess Bride.
In 1987, Sarandon had a lead role as the handsome and villainous Prince Humperdinck in this all-time favorite film. Directed by Rob Reiner, he was cast as the perfect foil in the witty and humorous parody of an adventure fairy tale.
Q. William Goldman wrote the book and the screenplay for The Princess Bride and was very happy with the film. Had you read the book, which Reiner considered a classic, before taking the role?
A. In the mid-1970s, my former wife Susan Sarandon was completing work on The Great Waldo Pepper (about a 1920s barnstorming stunt pilot) that also starred Robert Redford and was co-written by William Goldman. Redford and Susan became friends, and at the conclusion of
shooting, she was exhausted. (She had done some actual wing walking!) Redford offered us a few vacation days at his then small chalet at Sundance. He also gave Susan a copy of the book, which Redford had optioned and was developing as a movie with his production company. We both read it and literally flipped out: we loved its mixture of dark humor and adventure and its vivid characters. As it turned out, Rob Reiner’s take was somewhat sunnier than the book’s, but he never lost Goldman’s balance of humor, unforgettable dialogue, and, most importantly, its mixture of cynicism and romanticism.
PS: Many had tried in the years since the 1970s to make The Princess Bride into a movie, but until Rob Reiner, no one was able to bring it to the screen, not even the late Robert Redford at the peak of his stardom.
As Leon Shermer in Dog Day Afternoon, Sarandon received an Oscar nomination for his role as the lover of Sonny Wortzik, played by Al Pacino. It’s hard to believe this movie, based on a true story, is now celebrating its 50th anniversary and interesting to note that it is now Broadway-bound, slated for the spring of 2026.
Q. Infamous Dog Day director, Sidney Lumet, has said that he directs the piece and the people, and if he does it well, the moral message will come through. What did you feel that message was?
A. The Oscar-winning Frank Pierson script makes full use of the circus-like media atmosphere of what was a real-life event, and I think Sidney Lumet, with his genius for casting and locale, realized this on film. Lumet also understood that beneath the clichés and sensationalism of the subject matter lie complex human relationships, be they straight or gay, a novel moral lesson for that time in 1970s America.
In the beginning of Sarandon’s career he performed in regional theater. He then moved to NY and got a role on the soap opera, The Guiding Light.
Q. What was it like to live in NY in the 60s, especially after growing up in West Virginia?
A. New York City was a rough and tumble place when I moved there in the late 1960s. Our first apartment was at 72nd St. and Riverside Drive, now a tony neighborhood, but at the time it was across the street from what was then called “Needle Park,” a notorious drug hangout. Crime was rampant: I had to walk Susan daily the two long blocks to the subway. But at the same time, there were great possibilities for young actors. Several soap operas were shot at major network studios there, and the Broadway and Off-Broadway scenes were flourishing.
While I’d grown up in a small town in WV and went to undergraduate school at West Virginia University, before moving to NYC, we lived in Washington, DC, which to a certain extent offered a smoother transition into urban life. After getting a graduate degree in DC and working with an improv company in Georgetown, I then worked in the repertory company at the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, CT, and often commuted into NYC for auditions. After serendipitously getting signed by an agent, the move from New Haven to NYC seemed destined and relatively seamless. And, luckily, work came quickly, which healed any apparent wounds from the move.
Sarandon moved on to Broadway plays, The Rothschilds and Two Gentlemen of Verona.
In the 1980s and 90s, he worked with many well-known film directors, including Sam Peckinpah in The Osterman Weekend, based on a novel by Robert Ludlum, and was Jack Skellington’s speaking voice in Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Q. Adriana Trigiani was in town this September at the Milford Readers and Writers Festival to discuss her newest book. You worked with her in 2014 on the film of her book, Big
Top: Chris with Sonny Landham at the Weekend of Horrors Convention.
Photo by Markus Wissman.
Bottom: Chris hosting a podcast for Cooking by Heart.
Stone Gap. Was her book about growing up in Appalachia relatable for you?
A. My good friend Adriana’s book, Big Stone Gap, was something of a mirror into my experience growing up. We were both children of immigrants struggling to adapt to wildly new cultures while still attempting to hold on to their ethnicity. I think my having to bridge both cultures sowed the seeds for my becoming an actor, since, as my parents taught me to say, I was “100% American and full-blooded Greek.” I had to straddle both worlds.
Theater was Sarandon’s first love, and after playing dual roles in the television production of Tale of Two Cities, Jesus Christ in The Day Christ Died, and then recurring roles on such shows as ER and Judging Amy, he returned to theater, Broadway, and Off-Broadway.
Today, Sarandon is hosting a podcast, Cooking by Heart, where he has invited over 64 guests from varied backgrounds to discuss favorite foods and memories of meals they’d grown up with. One of his guests was Cary Elwes who played Westley in The Princess Bride. Elwes reminisced about his time spent in Spain and his father’s Spanish omelets. Other guests have included some of The Journal’s previous interviewees and visitors to our area, from Carla Hall to Illeana Douglas and Adriana Trigiani.
Q. Does discussing food, intertwined with family meals, in this podcast take you full circle—back to the family restaurant you grew up in?
A. Absolutely! In many ways, food is memory, and working in my father’s restaurant from the age of nine until I went to college provided me with the basic idea for creating a podcast and for talking to my guests about their food experiences growing up. Be they fond memories or difficult ones, our conversations have centered not only on the food but on the vivid people and stories attached to that time in their lives. From live shows (legendary chefs Jacques Pépin and Alice Waters and actress and activist Susan Sarandon among others) to virtual interviews (TV writers and show runners John Markus and Diane English), comedians (Mario Cantone and Greg Proops), author Adriana Trigiani, former NBC Universal VP Bonnie Hammer, and actors (Stockard Channing, Kelli O’Hara and many more), we all share the stories of our youth and food as communal glue in our communities and our families.
Chris Sarandon comes to the Black Bear Film Festival stage in Milford, PA, on October 18th at 10:30 a.m. to be interviewed by film historian, John DiLeo. For ticket information, visit www.blackbearfilmfestival.org.
Jacqueline Christy directing Magic Hour
Photos courtesy of Jacqueline Christy
Jacqueline Christy’s Magic Hour
Opening night at this year’s Black Bear Film Festival will be a night of firsts.
The indie movie Magic Hour will be the first movie to be screened as the Friday night pick at Milford’s 26th annual film festival, and it will also be the first full-length feature written and directed by the talented Jacqueline Christy.
The essential plot of Magic Hour involves Harriet, a middle-aged woman, played by Miriam Shor, who lives in the New Jersey suburbs and is going through a divorce. She has a troubling relationship with her daughter and suffers low self-confidence, but she simultaneously decides to pursue her dream of a career in filmmaking, a dream that she left behind many years before.
“Magic Hour is the perfect film to kick off the festival,” promises Barbara McNamara, director of programming at the Black Bear. “To me the message is: ‘It’s never too late.’ It’s always possible to start something new, to pursue your goals regardless of missed opportunities, past failures, or age. It’s about hope and resilience, which we all can appreciate these days.”
Jacqueline Christy grew up in Bala Cynwyd, PA, outside Philadelphia and comes by her love of theater, learning, and film by way of her parents. Her dad was the chair of the Theater Department at Villanova, and her mom was a high school teacher in Radnor.
She studied English and Philosophy as an undergraduate before getting her Masters in Theater at Villanova. She then founded the Access Theater space in the Tribeca section of Manhattan. She worked there for several decades before attending the NYU Graduate Film Program to pursue a Masters in Film. Magic Hour was inspired, in part, by her own middle-aged enrollment in film school.
“We are so excited to bring Magic Hour to Black Bear,” Jacqueline stated from her home in Brooklyn during our Zoom interview. “It’s been screened at other film festivals, and the film’s themes resonate so well with both men and women. It’s a blend of comedy and drama and takes on the challenges and joys of life choices—especially in middle age.”
Magic Hour has been shown around the US at festivals, Continued on next page
Actress Miriam Shor as Harriet in the film Magic Hour
such as the Miami Film Festival, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the Woods Hole Film Festival (where it garnered Winner, Director’s Choice for Emerging Filmmaker), and the Annapolis Film Festival and Berkshire International Film Festival (both of which bestowed on it the Audience Award for Best Feature Film).
Not bad for someone’s first feature-length movie!
The Journal: Jackie, you took on many roles in the making of Magic Hour: writer, lead producer, director, and even a cameo acting role. If you had to choose just one of those roles, which would it be?
Jacqueline: While I really enjoyed all those roles in their own way, I’d have to say I enjoyed directing the most. There’s nothing more exciting than walking onto a set every day of production and working with a group of people who are excited to collaborate.
At the beginning of the day, you have nothing, and at the end of each day you’ve created something that the world has never seen. There’s nothing like the rush of actual production. I loved making it all come together: the di-
recting, the acting, the lights, the sound, the set design… everything.
The Journal: What’s your own personal-favorite film?
Jacqueline: One of my favorites is The Apartment, a 1960 Billy Wilder film. There are a lot of things going on in that film. It’s charming and funny, and the Jack Lemmon character starts out as a schmuck and ends up a mensch. It’s about how his corporate ambition is stealing his soul, and how he ultimately rejects some societal norms because it’s the ethical choice. He’s learned he wants to do the right thing. At its heart, the movie is filled with optimism as well as social satire, and as Miriam Shor, Magic Hour’s lead actress says, “The Apartment is ‘quietly subversive,’ and so is our film.”
The Journal: “What brought you to filmmaking?” the film school instructor asks Harriet, the central character in Magic Hour. I’ll ask you the same question.
Jacqueline: I loved my time in the theater, but when running Access Theater space, I was devoting my time to cultivating the work of other artists. I had gotten comfortable
Director
Jacqueline Christy and crew
standing in the shadows; at heart I’m a creative person.
For many years, I was too fearful to put my own voice out there, preferring to support the work of others. Ultimately, I didn’t really want to be an arts administrator. I felt this creative pull to be a filmmaker and decided to go to film school because I wanted the structure and rigor that I needed to write and direct in my own voice.
It took a leap of faith, but I got the opportunity to discover what I wanted to say and find a way to say it. At NYU, I loved the classes, my fellow students, my instructors, and the whole filmmaking process; all that gave me a way to find myself.
The Journal: Why did you make this film at this particular time? How autobiographical is it?
Jacqueline: My trajectory and Harriet’s are somewhat similar but also very different. I was drawn to write this film at this particular time because I was noticing that kindness is often perceived as weakness in our culture. The message is: To be strong, you have a be a bully.
Harriet is told she must change her personality to be successful and in fact gets bullied herself. But it doesn’t have to be that way. After I graduated from NYU and got into filmmaking as a profession, I saw some bullying culture in moviemaking and elsewhere.
But there’s a better way. True leadership isn’t about bullying. As a leader, if you create a sense of community and collaboration, a sense that we’re all in this together, your colleagues support you through thick and thin. I actually believe leadership is more powerful through kindness, and I hope it resonates with our audience.
The Journal: Well said. Tell us about the movie’s target audience.
Jacqueline: At first, I thought our target audience was women over the age of 40, but after the reception we’ve received at film festivals, I’ve come to realize the film resonates equally well with men.
Age is a bigger factor than gender, but I thought it was the other way around. If someone, anyone, has built up a reservoir of regret or hasn’t pursued their dreams, it can be heartbreaking, but it’s never too late to fix things.
We’ve seen both men and women sobbing at the end of the film. I think one of the key takeaways is that we may be looking for that perfect moment in life to change things up and move forward, or we think we need to be perfect in order to bring the change about. We don’t. We can take our messy, neurotic selves as we are now because the actual transition to happiness begins as we start to live our dreams.
The Journal: The film moves from many initial comical scenes to much more dramatic ones. In terms of genre, how do you describe Magic Hour?
Jacqueline: I view it as a comedy/drama, with about 70 percent comedy and 30 percent drama. I tried to get emotional truth in many of the comedy scenes, and the dramatic scenes contain some comedy, so they are relatable.
The Journal: What were the greatest challenges with making Magic Hour?
Jacqueline: One was setting the appropriate tone, especially for Harriet, the main character, who could easily go in a sad direction—the character, in the wrong hands, could be seen as a doormat. Miriam Shor, who plays Harriet, was genius in bringing just the right tone for Harriet in every scene.
The other challenge, as with any independent filmmaker, is getting distribution. Our desire, of course, is to go from festivals to theatrical distribution to streaming services.
The Journal: Making a film requires both financial support and emotional support. Who provided those for you?
Jacqueline: For financial support, we relied on and are so grateful to the New York State Council on the Arts, the NYC Women’s Fund for Media, Music & Theatre, the Chimaera Project, and Seed&Spark crowdfunding.
Friends and family, especially my parents, came through emotionally, and the crew and cast were simply incredible in providing emotional support. In fact, through this experience, the cast and crew have become my family and my friends.
We can’t wait to bring Magic Hour to Milford, and we hope that Black Bear festival goers will enjoy the film as much as we enjoyed making it.
With multiple film festival awards, screenings at Black Bear and other film festivals scheduled this fall and winter, and a new script in pre-production, it seems this is indeed a magical hour for Jacqueline Christy.
Jacqueline Christy is being interviewed on stage after the movie screening on Friday, October 17th, at 7:30 p.m. For more information about Magic Hour, visit www.magichour.us.
Will Voelkel, a former Film Salon chairperson, board member, and Executive Director at Black Bear Film Festival, is looking forward to seeing Magic Hour on the big screen on opening night. He is a frequent contributor to The Journal
Aesthetic 212 Med Spa( formerly a|k Studios) in Milford offers a range of state-of-the-art medical aesthetic treatments designed to enhance your natural beauty. Performed by medical professionals and licensed aestheticians. Our services include award-winning permanent makeup, a variety of injectable treatments, and effective weight loss solutions. We specialize in advanced laser treatments for hair removal and pigmentation concerns, along with microneedling for rejuvenated skin. Additionally, our spa features a selection of professional peels and facials tailored to your needs. Don’t forget to explore our boutique, which showcases well-known brands alongside premium medical-grade skincare products.
by Trish
Photos
Romano
Change of Season
The air this morning is still, the temperature warmer than might be expected for October. While I was sipping tea from a favorite mug, my attention is drawn to a pair of cedar waxwings plucking dusty-blue berries from a red cedar beside our porch.
The wooden deck feels cool under my bare feet, but not too cold. I remove a cushion from a redwood chair and lay it on the upper step to prevent moisture from seeping up from the floorboard. Seated, with my mug cupped between my hands, I watch the day unfold like the last of summer’s morning glories.
A mist has dampened the lawn. Beads of moisture illuminate webs weaved by spiders. Daisies, black-eyed Susans, and Queen Anne’s lace growing along the edges of the lawn have withered, their simple beauty pressed into memory. It’s been awhile since we’ve seen the silver-haired woodchuck waddle out from his den onto the earthen dam behind our pond where he likes to bask in the late-afternoon sun.
The next few weeks will mark the beginning of fall’s great hurrah. The biting wind and rain of November will inevitably give way to months of ice and snow, but not before
the celebration of heart-breaking beauty. In a corner of our yard, the scarlet leaves of a young maple are backlit by the rising sun while the hills surrounding our home only hint at the yellow, gold, and russet colors soon to come.
Leaves need to be raked and stove-wood stacked. Moss growing on the siding along the north-facing wall must be removed and the snowplow connected to our Kubota tractor, but I’m drawn, more than any other time of year, to Bonnie Brook. Perhaps there are still a few trout willing to play tag with a fly before giving themselves over to the icy shroud of winter.
It’s a few minutes past ten when I park my pickup along the cracked macadam. A breeze has yet to stir, and I’m able to hear the tick of leaves as they touch down between patches of summer grass turned the color of straw.
I follow a well-worn deer trail through a field, crossing under a grove of white pine. The previous week, remnants of a late-season hurricane disgorged three inches of rain. The sound of the swollen stream rises upward as the current sweeps through a gorge, sliding over boulders and under fallen trees. Runoff seeps through lush moss and along the jagged edges of shale as I hug a ledge. While
ORDER YOUR HOLIDAY PIES! ALSO GLUTEN FREE!
FOR EVERY BUDGET & TASTE
ON PREMISE BAKERY - PIES, QUICHE,
working my way down the steep ravine, my wading boots shuffle through soggy leaves and wet underbrush.
The woodland surrounding this stretch of stream is comprised primarily of hemlocks and spruce, with some pine and a lesser amount of hardwood. Sadly, the ash trees have fallen victim to the emerald borer, but maple, oak, and a number of shagbark hickory remain. Although the sun is strong, the temperature remains cool under the shade of the mature trees. Suspended over the forest floor is an aromatic blend of damp bark, hemlock needles, and fallen leaves that combines with the scent of decaying ferns and rotting mushrooms.
Bending on one knee, I scan the current for signs of fish. I’m looking for the flutter of a fin, the heave of a gill, a shifting shadow. The brown trout here are wild and have no use for me. Their backs bear dark green markings like sinuous worm trails allowing these secretive fish to blend in with a streambed dappled with sunken leaves over copper-and-flint-colored cobble. Although the sides of each brown trout are covered with pumpkin-colored spots, their flanks are visible only when they are removed from the current. I have caught bigger trout in larger rivers, but none quite as comely as those that begin and end their secret lives in this little mountain brook.
No rises. Didn’t expect any. I knot a wet fly to my tippet. One I tied myself. Nothing special—a bit of hare’s ear dubbed along the shank of the hook, a few strands of brown hackle for a tail, and a single turn of a grouse feather behind the eye for a collar.
Nothing on my first few casts, but then I come upon a familiar boulder. The current, diverted around its far side, swings beside an undercut bank where I took a nice fish a few years ago. The soft-hackle ticks off the side of the boulder and sinks before drifting down along the edge of the stream. Sure enough, I’m into my first fish, a not-so-pleased, but nevertheless plump, nine-inch brown trout.
I work upstream for at least a mile, maybe farther, fooling a few fish, spooking others. Clouds have rolled in, the wind picking up. There is good water above the bend, but my right knee has begun to ache. There’s always tomorrow, I tell myself, although at my age, that’s not nearly as certain as it might have once been.
It begins to spit rain on the hike out to the road. The sleeves of my flannel shirt are lowered, the collar around my neck raised by the time I reach the truck.
Through intermittent wipers, I spot a large black bear with three cubs rambling along the edge of the forest. The yearlings lope into the middle of the road. Their mother follows, advancing between her young and the truck. There’s a slight hitch in the bruin’s stride. I wonder if she too has a bum leg. The fur along her broad shoulders has a whisper of white, like the gray sweeping through my once black beard.
Only after the triplets shuffle up an embankment does the matriarch follow. Before lumbering into the forest, the old sow turns to look in my direction. The only sound is that of the wipers as they sweep across the windshield. At first, I notice her muzzle. It is dignified, with a hint of a hump. The tan fur around the snout glistens with droplets of rain. Then my eyes catch hers, and I wonder what manner of brown trout might be found in those chestnut pools.
Aries (March 20-April 19) – Most people are terrified of their own power — mostly because to express this in some way will get a result. That might be the power of speech (telling the truth about something) or the power of decision (making a choice that others might not agree with, even though it’s none of their business). Before you make any decisions, it would be wise to exercise your ability to say what is on your mind. Words alone could get the result you want — if you’re bold enough to speak the truth.
Taurus (April 19-May 20) – Respect the mystery that is you, and the other mystery of that which is not you. These days and seasons of your life are the time to find out, and that is a living experiment. The results may not seem conclusive; but the you versus not you distinction is more about deciding what methods work for you and which do not, and then honoring that knowledge. While it seems easier to float along in ignorance, the beauty of what is actually your true being is calling.
Gemini (May 20-June 21) – You may finally feel like you know what you’re thinking such that you can express yourself clearly. That would be a miracle, considering that your sense of who you are is going through more alterations than a dress shop in prom season. Anyway, you may feel as if your values are suddenly changing. But what is really happening is that you are catching up with yourself in ways that very likely feel very good.
Cancer (June 21-July 22) – You are in one of the most important extended phases of building your success in many years. This will happen no matter what, though your involvement will set the tone and scale. For the time being, planets are in retrograde motion in your house of professional development. That may seem to represent a delay. However, something else is happening, which is about you refining your vision for what you want to do. With planets retrograding back into your fellow water sign Pisces, take the time to refine your vision.
Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) – You’re now looking at the unstoppable force of Pluto all the time, gazing back at you from your opposite sign Aquarius. If you’re evaluating relationships of any kind — amorous, collaborative, formal partnerships, or confrontational, there’s a crucial factor to watch: in considering someone, what is their relationship to the group around them? Do they relate to others as a distinct individual? Can they stand up for themselves when they’re under duress? This will reveal who they are, and describe where you may or may not belong in their life.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) – Saturn and Neptune in your most sensitive chart angle mean that you must be truthful in all the ways you have avoided being so before. Perhaps make a list of what those were — all the ways you skewed the perception of your reality; the ways you didn’t quite let on the terms of your agreements; all the times it was about you when you said it was about someone else. The time has come to stand uncompromisingly in your truth. It’s all you have.
Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) – Most people act like things ‘just happen’ rather than understanding that they are made to happen by will, intent and action. With that in mind, the planets indicate that you will need to take initiative for the next few weeks, as partners and associates seem to drift off into their daydreams. Since you’re the one with the plan, take advantage of a moment when you’ll face little resistance. Get things started. Your success will give you well-deserved confidence and self-respect.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) – You are in rare form right now, though you must be aware of blind spots. You will need to keep your attention focused inwardly while at the same time maintaining situational awareness. You are handling and channeling tremendous power right now. So you must be aware of the process of aiming and directing that power, as well as the environment into which you release your energy. It is possible to hurt and get hurt. It is possible to move mountains.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) – You remain in one of the most creative moments of your life. Creativity is not specific. It’s a potential, like electricity. Talent is also a state of potential, which responds to investment of your love and attention. What you direct your faith, energy and passion into will grow. And it can grow in beautiful ways that you’ve wanted to happen for a long time. Keep going. Recognize what you’ve accomplished, and remember, you started not from nothing, but rather from an idea.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) – As part of your essential leadership role right now, you have the assignment of having a vision for what can be, what might be and what needs to be. This is both a skill and a gift; both are related to what I would call your practical spirituality. Part of your role is to stay close to your values and principles and to guide those of some larger group. It may not be easy to stay connected to your core being. But you must.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) – No matter how old you are, this is a peak threshold of maturity, especially of your mental development. This is happening in a time when the world is being driven even more insane by having thought itself outsourced to computing devices. Needless to say, you must keep control of your mental processes. Therefore, do the work of thinking, of writing, and of speaking. Stay close to yourself and your ideas. Keep an active dialog with yourself. Be like Motel 6 — keep your lights on.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) – Saturn’s brief return to your birth sign for the last few months of the year is about remembering and firming up your commitment to yourself — in tangible ways. Neptune will be making a similar move, and that’s your reminder to reaffirm your vision for your life — the one that took you so many years to refine and consider. Stay with these things…your life begins and ends with you. If you can handle this, you’ll do very well for yourself.
