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Maryland Filmmaker Launches Documentary on Heroin Crisis

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The story of Frederick County’s heroin crisis will soon be shown on the big screen in a documentary film, being produced by Emmitsburg, filmmaker, Conrad Weaver.

“The heroin and opioid epidemic has devastated hundreds of families, individuals, and businesses all across our county. We see it in the news nearly every day, and it’s easy to think that it’s someone else’s problem. We think that it’s a Frederick or Baltimore issue. It’s not! It’s in our neighborhoods. My neighborhood. My small town. It’s our community’s problem, and we must work together to solve it. I couldn’t simply stand by and watch; I had to get involved. That’s why I’m making this film,” said Weaver.

The film is being called Heroin’s Grip and will tell the story from a variety of angles. Weaver intends to interview current addicts, healthcare and mental health workers, officials from the law enforcement community, as well as families whose lives have been shattered by heroin and opioid addiction.

“We need more documentary films like this so that you become a part of the solution,” said Charlie Smith, State’s Attorney in Frederick. Smith was interviewed for the film to include his perspective on the epidemic.

Filming began in early February and will continue through the spring months. Weaver hopes to complete production by early September in order to submit the project to a number of major film festivals around the country. He plans on releasing a DVD version, along with educational materials related to the film sometime in 2018.

Weaver is not working on this alone. He’s recruited Caressa Flannery, a Frederick entrepreneur and mother of a heroin addict who’s in recovery. Together, they have partnered with the Maryland Heroin Awareness Advocates, who will help manage the fundraising efforts for the film.

Weaver is launching a Crowdfunding campaign on IndieGoGo to raise money for the production of the film. Interested donors should visit the film’s website at www.HeroinsGrip.com for more information.

Weaver is an award-winning filmmaker. Most recently, he received a Mid-America Regional EMMY© Award for his 2014 documentary, The Great American Wheat Harvest.

Arts and Entertainment

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Thurmont Thespians Hold Auditions for 2015 Fall Show

The Thurmont Thespians are proud to announce auditions for their fall show, God’s Favorite, a comedy by Neil Simon and directed by Matthew Bannister.

Auditions will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church, located on 15 N. Church Street in Thurmont, on Tuesday, September 1, at 7:00 p.m. and Wednesday, September 2, at 4:00 p.m. The audition will consist of cold reads from the script and some improvisation scenarios.

God’s Favorite is based on the biblical story of Job and takes place in a Long Island mansion. One night, a messenger from God, Sidney Lipton (with a big G on his sweatshirt) arrives and, as in the biblical story, goes through all manner of temptations to get Joe Benjamin to renounce God. When he refuses, he is visited by all the afflictions imaginable. He stands firm and the messenger has to admit defeat. The household consists of a pious, God-fearing tycoon named Joe Benjamin and his family: a long-suffering wife, Rose; a prodigal son, David; a pair of kooky twins, Ben and Sarah; and the maid and butler, Mady and Morris.

All roles are open. For more information, please contact Matt Bannister at 240-626-8178 or by email MattJB75@outlook.com.

The Great American Wheat Harvest is Nominated for a Regional Emmy Award

Frederick area film maker, Conrad Weaver of ConjoStudios, LLC, just announced that his 2014 documentary film, The Great American Wheat Harvest has been nominated for an Emmy Award! On Thursday, August 7, 2015, the Mid-America Chapter of National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences revealed the nominees for the 2015 Regional Emmy Awards, and The Great American Wheat Harvest was nominated in the documentary-cultural category.

The film aired on WQPT (Quad Cities PBS) this past February and consequently qualified to be submitted for the nomination. As one of nineteen regional chapters of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the Mid-America Chapter is the standard-bearer for excellence in the television broadcasting industry and the gatekeepers of the prestigious regional Emmy Awards. Mid-America represents the most experienced and talented television professionals from all disciplines of the industry in the region.

“It’s really an honor to be nominated for an Emmy Award; it’s the culmination of a lot of hard work and persistence in getting our film to an audience who needs to see it. This nomination is also a tribute to the farmers and harvesters who work hard, year in and year out, to bring food to our tables,” said Weaver.

The 39th Mid-America Emmy Gala will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2015, at the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri, and Weaver hopes to come home with the golden statue.

Weaver is looking for more opportunities to air the film. Any television station programming director who would like to feature The Great American Wheat Harvest, should contact him at 301-606-7794, or email at Conrad@conjostudios.com or on Twitter: @conjostudios. The film is also available on DVD through the website: www.GreatAmericanWheatHarvest.com.

Weaver and his company, along with another Frederick company, Archai media, are currently working on another documentary film, Thirsty Land. This film will tell the story about the drought in the American west and its impact on agriculture and communities. Learn more at www.thirstylandmovie.com.

Hometown Author to Sign Books at Blue Ridge Summit Library

Hometown Author, Allison B. Hanson, will be signing books on Saturday, September 12, 2015, from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., at the Blue Ridge Summit Free Library, located at 15055 Summit Plaza in Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania.

Come out to meet the author as she introduces the first book in the Blue Ridge Romance Series, When Least Expected. Visit her website at www.allisonbhanson.com.

 

 

ConjoStudios and Archai Media Collaborate on Documentary

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Will there be enough water to survive? Thirsty Land is an exciting new documentary that tells the story of drought, its impact on agriculture, communities, and the global food supply.

Two Frederick production companies are collaborating to produce this film. Frederick County filmmaker, Conrad Weaver, is already well-known for his award-winning documentary The Great American Wheat Harvest. His work with farmers and harvesters has led him to turn the focus of his company, Conjostudios LLC, exclusively to agriculture, and now he’s focusing on the drought that’s strangling our landscape.

“Those of us living East of the Mississippi River very rarely think about the amount of water we use. That’s why this story needs to be told! The drought in the American West ultimately impacts all of us, and I want to make the audience think about it every time they take a drink of water, enjoy a shower, or water their lawn,” said Weaver.

Weaver recently collaborated with Archai Media in Frederick to provide production support for the documentary project. Sam Tressler with Archai Media has taken on the responsibilities of Director of Photography for the film that takes the team across the country from the Central Plains to the Central Valley of California.

“I’m excited to be involved in this important project,” said Tressler. “Working with Conrad and helping him capture the story has taken us to some of the most beautiful parts of this country. I’m really looking forward to helping to bring this film to the big screen.”

Weaver is excited to have Archai Media involved, “Tressler’s experience and expertise in shooting in High Resolution 4K is what really made it exciting for me to collaborate with Archai Media. It’s been fun so far to have him along and capturing the story; he’s making my job so much easier,” said Weaver.

Production on the project began in April and will continue throughout the summer and fall months. The film is scheduled for completion in spring 2016. Weaver plans on a Frederick premiere screening once the project is completed. To see the film’s trailer, visit www.thirstylandmovie.com.

For more interview requests and for more information on the making of the film, contact Conrad Weaver at 301-606-7794 or email conjostudios@gmail.com.

California-May-4968

Sam Tressler (left) and Conrad Weaver (right) look over the dry California landscape on a recent trip.