>>> COMING UP, WE'RE CONNECTING WITH YOU THE CREATIVITY AND WITH YOU THE CREATIVITY AND CULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, CULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING A BLOCK BACK AT THE INCLUDING A BLOCK BACK AT THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF A LEGENDARY LIFE AND LEGACY OF A LEGENDARY BERKSHIRES FILMMAKER.

BERKSHIRES FILMMAKER.

>> DOUG'S WHOLE BODY OF WORK WAS >> DOUG'S WHOLE BODY OF WORK WAS ABOUT IMMERSING THE AUDIENCE IN ABOUT IMMERSING THE AUDIENCE IN JUST A MORE PROFOUND EXPERIENCE JUST A MORE PROFOUND EXPERIENCE OF FILM.

OF FILM.

>> WE'LL HEAD TO THE DRAWING >> WE'LL HEAD TO THE DRAWING TABLE WITH HARTFORD-BASED TABLE WITH HARTFORD-BASED CARTOONIST JOE YOUNG.

CARTOONIST JOE YOUNG.

>> AND I SAID I GOT TO DO THIS, >> AND I SAID I GOT TO DO THIS, BECAUSE ART IS SUPPOSED TO BECAUSE ART IS SUPPOSED TO PROVOKE CONVERSATION.

PROVOKE CONVERSATION.

>>> AND ADVANCING RACIAL >>> AND ADVANCING RACIAL SOLIDARITY AND EQUITY THROUGH A SOLIDARITY AND EQUITY THROUGH A MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF BLACK MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY.

HISTORY.

>> HOW DO YOU HARNESS THE POWER >> HOW DO YOU HARNESS THE POWER OF.

OF.

¦ THIS, UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE -- ¦ THIS, UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE -- MUSIC, THIS VIEWRNG LANGUAGE.

MUSIC, THIS VIEWRNG LANGUAGE.

>> JOIN US FOR THOSE STORIES AND >> JOIN US FOR THOSE STORIES AND MORE AS WE EXPLORE THE MORE AS WE EXPLORE THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, UP NEXT ON NEW ENGLAND, UP NEXT ON "CONNECTING POINT."

"CONNECTING POINT."

>> Announcer: SUPPORT FOR >> Announcer: SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" PROVIDED BY "CONNECTING POINT" PROVIDED BY OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> WELCOME AND THANKS FOR >>> WELCOME AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR YRP, YOUR SOURCE JOINING US FOR YRP, YOUR SOURCE FOR CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND FOR CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY.

COMMUNITY.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

EACH WEEK THIS SUMMER WE ARE EACH WEEK THIS SUMMER WE ARE EXPLORING ALL THAT WESTERN EXPLORING ALL THAT WESTERN NEW ENGLAND HAS TO OFFER, AND NEW ENGLAND HAS TO OFFER, AND TODAY WE'RE COMING TO YOU FROM TODAY WE'RE COMING TO YOU FROM DEERFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

DEERFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

WE'RE IN THE TOWN'S HISTORIC WE'RE IN THE TOWN'S HISTORIC DISTRICT, AN AREA OVERFLOWING DISTRICT, AN AREA OVERFLOWING WITH MEMORIES OF THE PAST THAT WITH MEMORIES OF THE PAST THAT YOU CAN EXPLORE IN 11 HOUSE YOU CAN EXPLORE IN 11 HOUSE MUSEUMS AND THROUGH EVENTS AND MUSEUMS AND THROUGH EVENTS AND PROGRAMS THAT ARE PUT ON BY PROGRAMS THAT ARE PUT ON BY HISTORIC DOORFIELD -- DEERFIELD.

HISTORIC DOORFIELD -- DEERFIELD.

WHILE WE SOAK IN THE HISTORY OF WHILE WE SOAK IN THE HISTORY OF THIS FRANKLIN TOWN -- FRANKLIN THIS FRANKLIN TOWN -- FRANKLIN COUNTY TOWN, OUR FIRST STORY COUNTY TOWN, OUR FIRST STORY TODAY TAKES US TO THE TODAY TAKES US TO THE BERKSHIRES.

BERKSHIRES.

LEGENDARY HOLLYWOOD SPECIAL LEGENDARY HOLLYWOOD SPECIAL EFFECTS WIZARD AND FILMMAKER EFFECTS WIZARD AND FILMMAKER DOUGLAS TRUM BASKETBALL PASSED DOUGLAS TRUM BASKETBALL PASSED AWAY IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR.

AWAY IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR.

THE OSCAR-WINNING BERKSHIRES THE OSCAR-WINNING BERKSHIRES RESIDENT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RESIDENT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAZZLING VISUALS OF SOME OF THE DAZZLING VISUALS OF SOME OF THE MOST ICONIC FILMS IN CINEMA MOST ICONIC FILMS IN CINEMA HISTORY AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER HISTORY AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER TONY LECHNER TAKES A LOOK AT HIS TONY LECHNER TAKES A LOOK AT HIS LIFE AND LEGACY THROUGH HIS OWN LIFE AND LEGACY THROUGH HIS OWN WORDS.

WORDS.

>> DOUG'S BODY OF WORK WAS >> DOUG'S BODY OF WORK WAS IMMERSING THE AUDIENCE.

IMMERSING THE AUDIENCE.

>> AND WHAT HE CREATED IN THE >> AND WHAT HE CREATED IN THE SPECIAL EFFECTS WORLD, IT SPECIAL EFFECTS WORLD, IT CHANGED FILM FOREVER FOR US.

CHANGED FILM FOREVER FOR US.

WE LOOK AT FILM IN A WHOLE WE LOOK AT FILM IN A WHOLE DIFFERENT WAY BECAUSE OF THE DIFFERENT WAY BECAUSE OF THE THINGS DOUG PUT IN PLACE.

THINGS DOUG PUT IN PLACE.

>> NAME ONE MOVIE THAT HE'S DONE >> NAME ONE MOVIE THAT HE'S DONE THAT HASN'T BEEN ELEVATED BY HIS THAT HASN'T BEEN ELEVATED BY HIS WORK.

WORK.

MADE BECAUSE OF HIS WORK.

MADE BECAUSE OF HIS WORK.

>> BY ANYONE'S MEASURE, >> BY ANYONE'S MEASURE, OSCAR-WINNING MOTION PICTURE OSCAR-WINNING MOTION PICTURE DIRECTOR DOUGLAS TRUMBULL WAS A DIRECTOR DOUGLAS TRUMBULL WAS A GENIUS AND A VISIONARY AND ONE GENIUS AND A VISIONARY AND ONE TO WHOM SCIENCE FICTION MOVIE TO WHOM SCIENCE FICTION MOVIE LOVERS OWE A GREAT DEBT.

LOVERS OWE A GREAT DEBT.

>> THIS WAS NOBODY THAT CREATED >> THIS WAS NOBODY THAT CREATED OUR VISION OF SPACE BETTER THAN OUR VISION OF SPACE BETTER THAN DOUG TRUMBULL.

DOUG TRUMBULL.

HE JUST WAS THE MASTER AT WHAT HE JUST WAS THE MASTER AT WHAT SPACE LOOKS LIKE.

SPACE LOOKS LIKE.

>> BUT FOR THE MAN RESPONSIBLE >> BUT FOR THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MIND-BENDING VISUALS IN FOR THE MIND-BENDING VISUALS IN "2100 A SPACE ODYSSEY" FOR "2100 A SPACE ODYSSEY" FOR DIRECT THE DIRECTOB ROBERT WISE, DIRECT THE DIRECTOB ROBERT WISE, AND BLADE RUNNER, SPECIAL AND BLADE RUNNER, SPECIAL EFFECTS WERE MERELY TOOLS IN EFFECTS WERE MERELY TOOLS IN SERVICE TO A GREATER CAUSE.

SERVICE TO A GREATER CAUSE.

>> IT WASN'T JUST AN EFFECTS >> IT WASN'T JUST AN EFFECTS WORK.

WORK.

HE BROUGHT STORY TO THE EFFECTS.

HE BROUGHT STORY TO THE EFFECTS.

HE ALSO GAVE A LOT OF -- INPUT HE ALSO GAVE A LOT OF -- INPUT TO THE DIRECTORS ABOUT HOW HE TO THE DIRECTORS ABOUT HOW HE FELT THE STORY SHOULD GO AND A FELT THE STORY SHOULD GO AND A LOT OF -- A LOT OF DIRECTORS LOT OF -- A LOT OF DIRECTORS LISTENED TO HIM.

LISTENED TO HIM.

>> DOUGLAS TRUMBULL PASSED AWAY >> DOUGLAS TRUMBULL PASSED AWAY ON FEBRUARY 11ED, 2023.

ON FEBRUARY 11ED, 2023.

-- 7TH, 2022.

-- 7TH, 2022.

HIS CAREER STARTED IN HOLLYWOOD, HIS CAREER STARTED IN HOLLYWOOD, WITH A PASSION TO MAKE GOING TO WITH A PASSION TO MAKE GOING TO THE MOVIES MORE THAN JUST THE MOVIES MORE THAN JUST VIEWING IMAGES OWE A SCREEN.

VIEWING IMAGES OWE A SCREEN.

>> MY INTEREST IS IN >> MY INTEREST IS IN EXPERIENCEIALTY MOVIES, WHAT I EXPERIENCEIALTY MOVIES, WHAT I CALL ENMESHESSIVE SIB MA.

CALL ENMESHESSIVE SIB MA.

IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WAY IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WAY OF TELLING A STORY.

OF TELLING A STORY.

AND I GOT LOOKED -- HOOKED ON IT AND I GOT LOOKED -- HOOKED ON IT AS A VERY YOUNG GUY WHEN I WAS AS A VERY YOUNG GUY WHEN I WAS WORKING FOR STAN DI COULD YOU WORKING FOR STAN DI COULD YOU BRICK.

BRICK.

SO THAT -- STANLEY COULD YOU SO THAT -- STANLEY COULD YOU BRICK.

BRICK.

IT LED TO A REALLY TERRIFIC IT LED TO A REALLY TERRIFIC RESUME' BECAUSE BEING ASSOCIATED RESUME' BECAUSE BEING ASSOCIATED WITH THAT MOVIE AND SPECIAL WITH THAT MOVIE AND SPECIAL EFFECTS WAS A CALLING CARD THAT EFFECTS WAS A CALLING CARD THAT WOULD GET ME INTO ANY STUDIO AND WOULD GET ME INTO ANY STUDIO AND THAT LED TO BLADE RUNNER AND THAT LED TO BLADE RUNNER AND CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND AND "STAR TREK" THE MOTION KIND AND "STAR TREK" THE MOTION PICTURE, AND A LOT OF THOSE KIND PICTURE, AND A LOT OF THOSE KIND OF MOVIES.

OF MOVIES.

>> NOT SATISFIED WITH BRINGING >> NOT SATISFIED WITH BRINGING OTHER'S VISIONS TO LIFE, HE SOON OTHER'S VISIONS TO LIFE, HE SOON TURNED HIS OWN HAND TO TURNED HIS OWN HAND TO DIRECTING.

DIRECTING.

BUT THE BUREAUCRACY OF THE BUT THE BUREAUCRACY OF THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS LEFT A ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS LEFT A BITTER TASTE IN HIS MOUTH.

BITTER TASTE IN HIS MOUTH.

>> HE HAD BEEN IN HOLLYWOOD FOR >> HE HAD BEEN IN HOLLYWOOD FOR MANY YEARS, DEVELOPED A HIGH MANY YEARS, DEVELOPED A HIGH FRAME RATE FILM TECHNIQUE CALLED FRAME RATE FILM TECHNIQUE CALLED SHOW SCAN AND HAD DIRECTED TWO SHOW SCAN AND HAD DIRECTED TWO FILMS AND HE WAS HOPING THAT THE FILMS AND HE WAS HOPING THAT THE STUDIOS WOULD DO THE FILMS AT A STUDIOS WOULD DO THE FILMS AT A HIGHER FRAME RATE AND THEY HIGHER FRAME RATE AND THEY WOULDN'T DO IT.

WOULDN'T DO IT.

HE GOT VERY FRUSTRATED AND MOVED HE GOT VERY FRUSTRATED AND MOVED OUT HERE TO THE BERKSHIRES.

OUT HERE TO THE BERKSHIRES.

>> I STARTED LOOKING FOR WORK >> I STARTED LOOKING FOR WORK THAT WAS NOT FEATURE FILMS THAT WAS NOT FEATURE FILMS BECAUSE I WAS COMPLETELY BURNED BECAUSE I WAS COMPLETELY BURNED OUT.

OUT.

>> AND IN 1989, STEVEN SPIELBERG >> AND IN 1989, STEVEN SPIELBERG WAS HIRED BY UNIVERSAL SPHIEWD WAS HIRED BY UNIVERSAL SPHIEWD YOS TO DO THE BACK TO THE FUTURE YOS TO DO THE BACK TO THE FUTURE WRITE.

WRITE.

AND HE SAYS THERE'S ONLY ONE AND HE SAYS THERE'S ONLY ONE PERSON ON THE PLANET TO DO IT PERSON ON THE PLANET TO DO IT AND THAT'S DOUG TRUMBULL.

AND THAT'S DOUG TRUMBULL.

>> IT WAS A SOMETIME U -- >> IT WAS A SOMETIME U -- SIMULATION RIDE.

SIMULATION RIDE.

AND I DEVELOPED THAT AT AND I DEVELOPED THAT AT PARAMOUNT.

PARAMOUNT.

AND THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW AND THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE IT WORK.

TO MAKE IT WORK.

AND I SAID I'LL DO IT.

AND I SAID I'LL DO IT.

I'D LOVE TO DO IT.

I'D LOVE TO DO IT.

SO WE DID THE WHOLE "BACK TO THE SO WE DID THE WHOLE "BACK TO THE FUTURE" RIDE IN MASSACHUSETTS, FUTURE" RIDE IN MASSACHUSETTS, ABOUT 20 MINUTES FROM HERE.

ABOUT 20 MINUTES FROM HERE.

AND THAT WAS PROOF TO ME THAT WE AND THAT WAS PROOF TO ME THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY DO WORLD-CLASS COULD ACTUALLY DO WORLD-CLASS FILMMAKING IN A REMOTE LOCATION FILMMAKING IN A REMOTE LOCATION LIKE THAT.

LIKE THAT.

>> HE WAS INCREDIBLE.

>> HE WAS INCREDIBLE.

HIS GENEROSITY, PEOPLE TALK HIS GENEROSITY, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME, BUT I ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME, BUT I WITNESSED IT WITH -- I MEAN, WITNESSED IT WITH -- I MEAN, LITERALLY DOZENS OF FILMMAKERS LITERALLY DOZENS OF FILMMAKERS THAT WE WOULD BRING TO HIS THAT WE WOULD BRING TO HIS PROPERTY.

PROPERTY.

HE WOULD SPEND TIME WITH THEM.

HE WOULD SPEND TIME WITH THEM.

THEY COULD REACH OUT AFTERWARDS.

THEY COULD REACH OUT AFTERWARDS.

HE WAS 100% ABOUT THE NEXT HE WAS 100% ABOUT THE NEXT GENERATION, HE WAS 100% ABOUT GENERATION, HE WAS 100% ABOUT BEING A MENTOR, BEING AN BEING A MENTOR, BEING AN INSPIRATION FOR FILMS AND INSPIRATION FOR FILMS AND FILMMAKERS.

FILMMAKERS.

>> YOU KNOW, I CAME HERE 30 >> YOU KNOW, I CAME HERE 30 YEARS AND I -- 30 YEARS AGO, I YEARS AND I -- 30 YEARS AGO, I MET MY HUSBAND, HAD TWO MET MY HUSBAND, HAD TWO CHILDREN, I CREATED ANOTHER CHILDREN, I CREATED ANOTHER COMPANY AFTER WORKING WITH HIM, COMPANY AFTER WORKING WITH HIM, AND YOU KNOW, I -- I TOLD HIM, AND YOU KNOW, I -- I TOLD HIM, MAYBE NOT ENOUGH, BUT I'M MAYBE NOT ENOUGH, BUT I'M GRATEFUL BECAUSE MY LIFE AND MY GRATEFUL BECAUSE MY LIFE AND MY CAREER ARE HERE BECAUSE OF HIM.

CAREER ARE HERE BECAUSE OF HIM.

AND IT HAPPENED FOR ME AND SO AND IT HAPPENED FOR ME AND SO MANY PEOPLE.

MANY PEOPLE.

>> AND WHILE HIS IMPACT ON THE >> AND WHILE HIS IMPACT ON THE ART AND CRAFT OF FILMMAKING IS ART AND CRAFT OF FILMMAKING IS UNDENIABLE, TRUMBULL'S GREATEST UNDENIABLE, TRUMBULL'S GREATEST LEGACY MIGHT JUST LIE IN THE LEGACY MIGHT JUST LIE IN THE PEOPLE THAT HE TOUCHED ALONG THE PEOPLE THAT HE TOUCHED ALONG THE WAY.

WAY.

>> TO ME AND MOST PEOPLE ON THE >> TO ME AND MOST PEOPLE ON THE SET, HE WASN'T THE TECHNICAL SET, HE WASN'T THE TECHNICAL PERSON.

PERSON.

HE BROUGHT EVERYBODY TOGETHER.

HE BROUGHT EVERYBODY TOGETHER.

AND HIS GLEAM IN HIS EYE WAS AND HIS GLEAM IN HIS EYE WAS CONTAGIOUS.

CONTAGIOUS.

EVERYONE WAS DRAWN TO HIM AND EVERYONE WAS DRAWN TO HIM AND WANTED TO MAKE IT WORK THE WAY WANTED TO MAKE IT WORK THE WAY HE SAW IT.

HE SAW IT.

SO HE WAS A STORYTELLER MORE SO HE WAS A STORYTELLER MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

>> HE TAUGHT US HOW TO THINK OUT >> HE TAUGHT US HOW TO THINK OUT OF THE BOX AND THAT WAS I THINK OF THE BOX AND THAT WAS I THINK THE BIGGEST LESSON FROM DOUG, IS THE BIGGEST LESSON FROM DOUG, IS NOT TO DO WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN NOT TO DO WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE BUT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S DONE BUT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S NEXT AND WHAT'S GOING TO CREATE NEXT AND WHAT'S GOING TO CREATE THAT EXCITEMENT FOR THE THAT EXCITEMENT FOR THE AUDIENCE.

AUDIENCE.

DOUG LIVED UP HERE.

DOUG LIVED UP HERE.

WE LIVE HERE.

WE LIVE HERE.

BUT DOUG LIVED UP HERE.

BUT DOUG LIVED UP HERE.

AND HE WAS -- HE WAS -- YEAH, HE AND HE WAS -- HE WAS -- YEAH, HE WAS AN INSCREBL PERSON.

WAS AN INSCREBL PERSON.

-- AN INCREDIBLE PERSON.

-- AN INCREDIBLE PERSON.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> AND FOR MORE OF THE >>> AND FOR MORE OF THE CINEMATIC WIZARDRY OF THE LATE CINEMATIC WIZARDRY OF THE LATE DOUGLAS TRUMBULL, LOG ON TO OUR DOUGLAS TRUMBULL, LOG ON TO OUR WEB PAGE FOR A DIGITAL EXTRA AS WEB PAGE FOR A DIGITAL EXTRA AS HE DISCUSSES SOME OF THE HE DISCUSSES SOME OF THE INWHY -- INNOVATIVE FILMMAKING INWHY -- INNOVATIVE FILMMAKING TECHNIQUES THAT HE DEVELOPED.

TECHNIQUES THAT HE DEVELOPED.

>> I FOUND OUT YEARS AGO WHEN I >> I FOUND OUT YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS DOING MY SHOW SCAN FILM WAS DOING MY SHOW SCAN FILM PROCESS, WHICH WAS ONE OF MY PROCESS, WHICH WAS ONE OF MY STEPPINGSTONES ALONG THE WAY, STEPPINGSTONES ALONG THE WAY, THAT I WAS SHOOTING 70 THAT I WAS SHOOTING 70 MILLIMETER FILM AT 60 SECONDS, MILLIMETER FILM AT 60 SECONDS, PUTTING OUT GIANT SCREENS AT PUTTING OUT GIANT SCREENS AT DOUBLE THE BRIGHTNESS.

DOUBLE THE BRIGHTNESS.

EVERYBODY SAID IT'S LIKE THREE EVERYBODY SAID IT'S LIKE THREE D -- 3D WITHOUT GLASSES.

D -- 3D WITHOUT GLASSES.

I FEEL THE MOVIES SCREEN HAS I FEEL THE MOVIES SCREEN HAS BECOME A WINDOW ON TO REALITY BECOME A WINDOW ON TO REALITY AND I STARTED EXPLORING HOW TO AND I STARTED EXPLORING HOW TO MAKE A NEW KIND OF MOVIE MAKE A NEW KIND OF MOVIE EXPERIENCE,.

EXPERIENCE,.

>> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL >> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL EXTRA AND SO MUCH MORE RIGHT NOW EXTRA AND SO MUCH MORE RIGHT NOW ONLINE AT ONLINE AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> WHEN CONNECTICUT NATIVE JOE >>> WHEN CONNECTICUT NATIVE JOE YOUNG STRUGGLED IN SCHOOL AS A YOUNG STRUGGLED IN SCHOOL AS A CHILD, HE FOUND THAT COMIC BOOKS CHILD, HE FOUND THAT COMIC BOOKS OFFERED HIM A POSITIVE ESCAPE OFFERED HIM A POSITIVE ESCAPE WHILE EDUCATING HIM ON TOPICS WHILE EDUCATING HIM ON TOPICS THAT HE COULD NOT PREVIOUSLY THAT HE COULD NOT PREVIOUSLY COMPREHEND.

COMPREHEND.

YOUNG TURNED THAT PASSION FOR YOUNG TURNED THAT PASSION FOR DRAWING AND STORYTELLING INTO A DRAWING AND STORYTELLING INTO A YEAR AND IS NOW AN AWARD-WINNING YEAR AND IS NOW AN AWARD-WINNING MULTIMEDIA ARTIST.

MULTIMEDIA ARTIST.

I JOINED YOUNG TO HEAR MORE I JOINED YOUNG TO HEAR MORE ABOUT HIS WORK AND HIS ABOUT HIS WORK AND HIS COLLABORATION WITH LEGENDARY COLLABORATION WITH LEGENDARY MOTOWN ARTIST SMOKEY ROBINSON.

MOTOWN ARTIST SMOKEY ROBINSON.

>> IT WAS THE CREATIVE ARTS THAT >> IT WAS THE CREATIVE ARTS THAT SAVED ME, SPECIFICALLY WRITING SAVED ME, SPECIFICALLY WRITING ACTUALLY.

ACTUALLY.

AND THEN WHEN I START WRITING, I AND THEN WHEN I START WRITING, I GOT INTO COMICS.

GOT INTO COMICS.

SO THAT HOLE COMIC ART SPACE -- SO THAT HOLE COMIC ART SPACE -- WHOLE COMIC ART SPACE CHANGED WHOLE COMIC ART SPACE CHANGED ME, BECAUSE WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL ME, BECAUSE WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL I WAS A SLOW LEARNER.

I WAS A SLOW LEARNER.

AND KIDS MADE FUN OF MY.

AND KIDS MADE FUN OF MY.

I MADE FUN OF MYSELF.

I MADE FUN OF MYSELF.

AND I NAMED MYSELF THE FIR -- AND I NAMED MYSELF THE FIR -- FISHERMAN WAS ALL MY GRADES WERE FISHERMAN WAS ALL MY GRADES WERE BELOW SEA LEVEL.

BELOW SEA LEVEL.

I LEARNED ABOUT CHARACTER, ABOUT I LEARNED ABOUT CHARACTER, ABOUT SCIENCE, AND SO A LOT OF MY WORK SCIENCE, AND SO A LOT OF MY WORK IS BASED ON COMICS.

IS BASED ON COMICS.

AND FROM THAT, ONCE YOU LEARN AND FROM THAT, ONCE YOU LEARN HOW TO WRITE COMICS, YOU CAN HOW TO WRITE COMICS, YOU CAN WRITE SCRIPTS AND I LEARNED HOW WRITE SCRIPTS AND I LEARNED HOW TO DRAW LATER.

TO DRAW LATER.

BUT WRITING WAS MY FIRST BUT WRITING WAS MY FIRST INTRODUCTION TO ART.

INTRODUCTION TO ART.

>> COMIC ART SPECIFICALLY HAS >> COMIC ART SPECIFICALLY HAS BEEN ONE OF THE GREATEST BEEN ONE OF THE GREATEST INFLUENCES IN YOUR LIFE AND IT INFLUENCES IN YOUR LIFE AND IT HAS REALLY LED TO YOUR SUCCESS.

HAS REALLY LED TO YOUR SUCCESS.

BUT SPEAK TO ME ABOUT WHAT -- BUT SPEAK TO ME ABOUT WHAT -- WHAT IS IT ABOUT THAT ART FORM WHAT IS IT ABOUT THAT ART FORM SPECIFICALLY THAT YOU'RE SO SPECIFICALLY THAT YOU'RE SO PASSIONATE.

PASSIONATE.

WHY WERE YOU ABLE TO CONNECT WHY WERE YOU ABLE TO CONNECT WITH COMIC ART?

WITH COMIC ART?

>> BECAUSE, GOOD QUESTION.

>> BECAUSE, GOOD QUESTION.

BECAUSE ART IS ENGAGING.

BECAUSE ART IS ENGAGING.

IT'S VISUALLY ATTRACTIVE.

IT'S VISUALLY ATTRACTIVE.

IT'S FUN.

IT'S FUN.

IT'S ENTERTAINING.

IT'S ENTERTAINING.

I REMEMBER GROWING UP, I LEARNED I REMEMBER GROWING UP, I LEARNED ABOUT GOVERNMENT, NOT THROUGH ABOUT GOVERNMENT, NOT THROUGH SOCIAL STUDIES CLASS.

SOCIAL STUDIES CLASS.

IT WAS A SO-CALLED SCHOOL HOUSE IT WAS A SO-CALLED SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK.

ROCK.

I'M JUST A BILL -- AND SO AND I'M JUST A BILL -- AND SO AND EVEN NOW, FOR ME TO REACH KIDS, EVEN NOW, FOR ME TO REACH KIDS, I DO A LOT OF WORKSHOPS.

I DO A LOT OF WORKSHOPS.

I TEACH CARTOONING.

I TEACH CARTOONING.

AND KIDS SEEM TO GRAVITATE AND KIDS SEEM TO GRAVITATE TOWARDS IT.

TOWARDS IT.

AND CARTOON WORK.

AND CARTOON WORK.

AND IT'S JUST SOMETHING ABOUT AND IT'S JUST SOMETHING ABOUT COMIC -- I THINK I FOUND MY COMIC -- I THINK I FOUND MY PURPOSE WHEN I DISCOVERED COMIC PURPOSE WHEN I DISCOVERED COMIC ART.

ART.

>> AND COMICS ALSO KIND OF >> AND COMICS ALSO KIND OF PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH AN ESCAPE PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH AN ESCAPE AND ALSO -- AND ALSO -- >> OH, YES.

>> OH, YES.

>> INSPIRATION.

>> INSPIRATION.

AND SO THAT BRINGS ME TO YOUR AND SO THAT BRINGS ME TO YOUR MOST RECENT COMIC SERIES, KEMIT.

MOST RECENT COMIC SERIES, KEMIT.

TELL ME ABOUT THE SERIES.

TELL ME ABOUT THE SERIES.

HOW IT'S UNIQUE TO YOUR OTHER HOW IT'S UNIQUE TO YOUR OTHER CREATIONS, AND ALSO HOW CREATIONS, AND ALSO HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO HAVE THIS IMPORTANT IS IT TO HAVE THIS REPRESENTATION FOR -- ESPECIALLY REPRESENTATION FOR -- ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN OF COLOR IN COMICS FOR CHILDREN OF COLOR IN COMICS OR LITERATURE.

OR LITERATURE.

>> ACTUALLY, KEMIT WAS CREATED >> ACTUALLY, KEMIT WAS CREATED DURING COVID.

DURING COVID.

KEMIT IS A TIME TRAVELERS.

KEMIT IS A TIME TRAVELERS.

HE WORN IN 17 -- BORN IN 1771 HE WORN IN 17 -- BORN IN 1771 AND HE IS PICKED UP BY SLAVE AND HE IS PICKED UP BY SLAVE CATCHERS AND GOES THROUGH MIDDLE CATCHERS AND GOES THROUGH MIDDLE PASSAGE.

PASSAGE.

HE COMES TO AMERICA.

HE COMES TO AMERICA.

THIS IS IN 1776.

THIS IS IN 1776.

HE MEETS BENJAMIN, THE FAMOUS -- HE MEETS BENJAMIN, THE FAMOUS -- INVENTOR AND THEY CREATE A TIME INVENTOR AND THEY CREATE A TIME MACHINE AND HE TRAVELS TO THE MACHINE AND HE TRAVELS TO THE 21ST CENTURY TO TELL PEOPLE IN 21ST CENTURY TO TELL PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE IF YOU'RE GOING THE FUTURE IF YOU'RE GOING THROUGH A PROBLEM, YOU CAN OVER THROUGH A PROBLEM, YOU CAN OVER COME -- OVERCOME IT.

COME -- OVERCOME IT.

LOOK WHAT PEOPLE DID IN THE PAST LOOK WHAT PEOPLE DID IN THE PAST AND HE BRINGS THEM BACK AND HE AND HE BRINGS THEM BACK AND HE SHOWS THEM TO BLACK HISTORY AND SHOWS THEM TO BLACK HISTORY AND BLACK EXCELLENCE, ANYBODY CAN DO BLACK EXCELLENCE, ANYBODY CAN DO ANYTHING.

ANYTHING.

>> AND WHAT DOES THIS DO FOR A >> AND WHAT DOES THIS DO FOR A CHILD'S CONFIDENCE WHEN THEY CHILD'S CONFIDENCE WHEN THEY HAVE THIS REPRESENTATION IN A HAVE THIS REPRESENTATION IN A CALM YICK, THAT THEY -- COMIC CALM YICK, THAT THEY -- COMIC THAT THEY LOVE TO READ?

THAT THEY LOVE TO READ?

>> THEY SEE KEMIT.

>> THEY SEE KEMIT.

HE GOES THROUGH CHALLENGES AND HE GOES THROUGH CHALLENGES AND PROBLEMS AND ISSUES BUT HE PROBLEMS AND ISSUES BUT HE OVERCOMES IT BECAUSE OF GOOD OVERCOMES IT BECAUSE OF GOOD CHARACTER.

CHARACTER.

BUT IT'S AN ESCAPE.

BUT IT'S AN ESCAPE.

THEY CAN LIVE DID YOU KEMILT.

THEY CAN LIVE DID YOU KEMILT.

HE'S COOL.

HE'S COOL.

HE'S GOT THE NATURAL HAIR WHEN HE'S GOT THE NATURAL HAIR WHEN HE TAKES HIS BASEBALL CAP AND HE HE TAKES HIS BASEBALL CAP AND HE SPEAKS WITH AN AFRICAN ACCENT.

SPEAKS WITH AN AFRICAN ACCENT.

SO THEY CAN IDENTIFY.

SO THEY CAN IDENTIFY.

AND HE CAN DANCE, BREAK DANCE.

AND HE CAN DANCE, BREAK DANCE.

AND THE PARENTS ENJOY HIM AND THE PARENTS ENJOY HIM BECAUSE HE LOVES OLD SCHOOL BECAUSE HE LOVES OLD SCHOOL MUSIC.

MUSIC.

HIS FAVORITE MUSICIAN IS JAMES HIS FAVORITE MUSICIAN IS JAMES BROWN.

BROWN.

>> AND SO KEMIT CAME OUT OF >> AND SO KEMIT CAME OUT OF COVID BUT SOMETHING ELSE.

COVID BUT SOMETHING ELSE.

YOU'VE BEEN VERY BUSY DURING YOU'VE BEEN VERY BUSY DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

THIS PANDEMIC.

YOU HAVE PRODUCED A SHORT YOU HAVE PRODUCED A SHORT ANIMATED FILM.

ANIMATED FILM.

YOUR DEPICTION OF THE SPOKEY YOUR DEPICTION OF THE SPOKEY HOBINSON -- SMOKEY ROBINSON HOBINSON -- SMOKEY ROBINSON POEM, BLACK AMERICA.

POEM, BLACK AMERICA.

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH.

>> TELL ME ABOUT HOW AND WHY NOW >> TELL ME ABOUT HOW AND WHY NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME TO RELEASE IS THE PERFECT TIME TO RELEASE THIS TIME?

THIS TIME?

>> BECAUSE AFTER GEORGE FLOYD, >> BECAUSE AFTER GEORGE FLOYD, RACE RELATIONS AND -- YOU KNOW, RACE RELATIONS AND -- YOU KNOW, RACE IS SUCH AN ISSUE.

RACE IS SUCH AN ISSUE.

YOU KNOW.

YOU KNOW.

I MET SMOKEY AT A NEW TEAL I MET SMOKEY AT A NEW TEAL FRIEND OF OURS, CURTIS FRIEND OF OURS, CURTIS ROBINSON'S, GOVERNMENT ROBINSON'S, GOVERNMENT TOURNAMENT.

TOURNAMENT.

AND HE STARTED RECITING THIS AND HE STARTED RECITING THIS POEM AND I SAID, IT IS SO POEM AND I SAID, IT IS SO POWERFUL.

POWERFUL.

BUT I ALSO SAW THAT SOME FOLKS BUT I ALSO SAW THAT SOME FOLKS MAY NOT LIKE WHAT HE'S SAYING IN MAY NOT LIKE WHAT HE'S SAYING IN THE POEM.

THE POEM.

AND I SAID, I GOTTA DO THIS AND I SAID, I GOTTA DO THIS BECAUSE ART IS SUPPOSED TO BECAUSE ART IS SUPPOSED TO PROVOKE CONVERSATION.

PROVOKE CONVERSATION.

AND I AGREE WITH A LOT OF STUFF AND I AGREE WITH A LOT OF STUFF THAT SMOKY SAYS -- SMOKEY SAYS.

THAT SMOKY SAYS -- SMOKEY SAYS.

I NEED SOME MORE CLARET, BUT MY I NEED SOME MORE CLARET, BUT MY THING WAS CREATE THIS THING AND THING WAS CREATE THIS THING AND ANIMATE WHAT HE'S TRYING TO SAY.

ANIMATE WHAT HE'S TRYING TO SAY.

>> NOT APPRECIATE FEDERAL WHEN >> NOT APPRECIATE FEDERAL WHEN YOU SEE ME YOU SAY, THERE GOES A YOU SEE ME YOU SAY, THERE GOES A MAN WHO SAID IT LOUD, I'M BLACK.

MAN WHO SAID IT LOUD, I'M BLACK.

I'M BLACK.

I'M BLACK.

I'M A BLACK AMERICAN AND I'M I'M A BLACK AMERICAN AND I'M PROUD.

PROUD.

BECAUSE I LOVE BEING AN BECAUSE I LOVE BEING AN AMERICAN.

AMERICAN.

>> AND AGAIN, THAT JUST TOOK >> AND AGAIN, THAT JUST TOOK OFF.

OFF.

AND THAT WAS A DREAM COME TRUE, AND THAT WAS A DREAM COME TRUE, TO WORK WITH AN ICON LIKE SMOKEY TO WORK WITH AN ICON LIKE SMOKEY ROBINSON, YOU KNOW.

ROBINSON, YOU KNOW.

>> YOU WERE BORN IN HARTFORD BUT >> YOU WERE BORN IN HARTFORD BUT HAD DEEP ROOTS IN SPRINGFIELD, HAD DEEP ROOTS IN SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, AS WELL.

MASSACHUSETTS, AS WELL.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD ABOUT WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD ABOUT BEING FROM THIS PART OF THE BEING FROM THIS PART OF THE REGION?

REGION?

>> IT'S JUST RICH WITH HISTORY, >> IT'S JUST RICH WITH HISTORY, ARCHITECTURE, AND THE PEOPLE ARE ARCHITECTURE, AND THE PEOPLE ARE SECOND TO NONE.

SECOND TO NONE.

YOU COULD FIND A LITTLE BIT OF YOU COULD FIND A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYBODY IN NEW ENGLAND AND EVERYBODY IN NEW ENGLAND AND THEY'RE VERY CREATIVE IN THEY'RE VERY CREATIVE IN NEW ENGLAND.

NEW ENGLAND.

YANKEEAN INGENUITY.

YANKEEAN INGENUITY.

THIS IS WHERE I'M AT, WHERE I'M THIS IS WHERE I'M AT, WHERE I'M TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN DO IT EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN DO IT ANYWHERE IN THE HARD BECAUSE OF ANYWHERE IN THE HARD BECAUSE OF TECHNOLOGY, HARTFORD HAS BEEN TECHNOLOGY, HARTFORD HAS BEEN GOOD, SPRINGFIELD IS HAS BEEN A GOOD, SPRINGFIELD IS HAS BEEN A BLESSING TO ME.

BLESSING TO ME.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> EVERIY, "CONNECTING POINT" >>> EVERIY, "CONNECTING POINT" EXPLORES THE CREATIVITY, ACTUAL EXPLORES THE CREATIVITY, ACTUAL TOUR -- CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY TOUR -- CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

NEW ENGLAND.

BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANYTIME YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANYTIME FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND CONTENT.

CONTENT.

>>> NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED >>> NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED CARTOONIST, FILMMAKER, PRODUCER, CARTOONIST, FILMMAKER, PRODUCER, AND WRITER JOE YOUNG CAN LAY AND WRITER JOE YOUNG CAN LAY CLAIM TO UNIQUE RECOGNITION.

CLAIM TO UNIQUE RECOGNITION.

IN 1999, YOUNG BECAME A GUINNESS IN 1999, YOUNG BECAME A GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS HOLDER FOR BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS HOLDER FOR CREATING THE LONGIST COMIC STRIP CREATING THE LONGIST COMIC STRIP IN THE WORLD N. THIS WEEK'S IN THE WORLD N. THIS WEEK'S DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE, HE SHARES THE DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE, HE SHARES THE STORY OF HOW THE COMMUNITY CAME STORY OF HOW THE COMMUNITY CAME OUT TO SUPPORT HIM IN HITS QUEST OUT TO SUPPORT HIM IN HITS QUEST FOR THIS HONOR.

FOR THIS HONOR.

>> PEOPLE THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY!

>> PEOPLE THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY!

SO THE CITY OF HARTFORD GAVE MAE SO THE CITY OF HARTFORD GAVE MAE A WHOLE PARK, A WHOLE FACILITY.

A WHOLE PARK, A WHOLE FACILITY.

THEY BUILT A BIG EASEL.

THEY BUILT A BIG EASEL.

I CALLED ALL OF MY FRIENDS.

I CALLED ALL OF MY FRIENDS.

AND WE HAD 5,000 KIDS FROM ALL AND WE HAD 5,000 KIDS FROM ALL OVER.

OVER.

THEY SAID 2,000.

THEY SAID 2,000.

IT WAS REALLY 5,000 FROM ALL IT WAS REALLY 5,000 FROM ALL OVER NEW ENGLAND TO PAINT ON OVER NEW ENGLAND TO PAINT ON THIS COMIC STRIP.

THIS COMIC STRIP.

>> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL >> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT EXCLUSIVE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> FROM AN EARLY AGE, LAURA >>> FROM AN EARLY AGE, LAURA RADWELL DREAMED OF BEING AN RADWELL DREAMED OF BEING AN ARTIST, AND WITH A CAREER IN ARTIST, AND WITH A CAREER IN MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS, SHE ALWAYS TRIED TO INCORPORATE SHE ALWAYS TRIED TO INCORPORATE VISUAL COMPONENTS INTO HER WORK.

VISUAL COMPONENTS INTO HER WORK.

SO WHEN SHE BEGAN TO WIND DOWN SO WHEN SHE BEGAN TO WIND DOWN HER BUSINESS, SHE DECIDED TO HER BUSINESS, SHE DECIDED TO MAKE HER DREAM OF BEING A MAKE HER DREAM OF BEING A PAINTER A RE.

PAINTER A RE.

IA.

IA.

TODAY SHE WORK OUT OF HER STUDIO TODAY SHE WORK OUT OF HER STUDIO AT COTTAGE STREET IN EAST AT COTTAGE STREET IN EAST HAMPTON CREATING LARGE-SCALE HAMPTON CREATING LARGE-SCALE PAINTINGS THAT FOCUS ON PAINTINGS THAT FOCUS ON ATMOSPHERE AND -- ATMOSPHERE AND ATMOSPHERE AND -- ATMOSPHERE AND HER INNER IMPRESSIONS OF THE HER INNER IMPRESSIONS OF THE LANDSCAPE.

LANDSCAPE.

PRODUCER DAVE FRASER VISITED HER PRODUCER DAVE FRASER VISITED HER THERE AND BRING US HER STORY.

THERE AND BRING US HER STORY.

>> I DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A >> I DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A PLAN IN MIND.

PLAN IN MIND.

SOMETIMES I HAVE A COLOR FEELING SOMETIMES I HAVE A COLOR FEELING IN MIND.

IN MIND.

AND I JUST LET SOMETHING EMERGE.

AND I JUST LET SOMETHING EMERGE.

AT ONE POINT IN MY WORKING LIFE, AT ONE POINT IN MY WORKING LIFE, I NOTICED THAT EVERYTHING I DID I NOTICED THAT EVERYTHING I DID WAS GRAPHTATING TOWARD THE WAS GRAPHTATING TOWARD THE VISUAL.

VISUAL.

AND THAT WAS SOME TYPE OF AND THAT WAS SOME TYPE OF SUBCONSCIOUS ATTEMPT TO SATISFY SUBCONSCIOUS ATTEMPT TO SATISFY ME DREAM -- MY DREAM.

ME DREAM -- MY DREAM.

SOMETIMES I WAKE UP IN THE SOMETIMES I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING WITH COLORS 0 MY MIND -- MORNING WITH COLORS 0 MY MIND -- ON MY MIND.

ON MY MIND.

THEY MAY HAVE COME TO ME IN THEY MAY HAVE COME TO ME IN DREAMS.

DREAMS.

THEY MAY HAVE COME TO ME FROM THEY MAY HAVE COME TO ME FROM SOMETHING I SAW THE EVENING SOMETHING I SAW THE EVENING BEFORE.

BEFORE.

OR THE DRIVE INTO THE STUDIO IN OR THE DRIVE INTO THE STUDIO IN THE MORNING.

THE MORNING.

BETWEEN NORTH HAMPTON AND EAST BETWEEN NORTH HAMPTON AND EAST HAMPTON WHERE MY STUDIO IS AT HAMPTON WHERE MY STUDIO IS AT COTTAGE STREET IS ONLY 12 COTTAGE STREET IS ONLY 12 MINUTES.

MINUTES.

BUT THERE IS SOME BEAUTIFUL BUT THERE IS SOME BEAUTIFUL FIELDS AND WILD THINGS THAT I FIELDS AND WILD THINGS THAT I SOMETIMES SEE AND THE CHANGE OF SOMETIMES SEE AND THE CHANGE OF THE SEASONS, I'M VERY ATTUNED TO THE SEASONS, I'M VERY ATTUNED TO THE COLORS AND THE TONES OF THE THE COLORS AND THE TONES OF THE ATMOSPHERE, REALLY.

ATMOSPHERE, REALLY.

SO THAT CAN AFFECT WHAT HAPPENS SO THAT CAN AFFECT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I OPEN THE DOOR TO THE WHEN I OPEN THE DOOR TO THE STUDIO.

STUDIO.

AND I OPEN THE PAINTS AND I AND I OPEN THE PAINTS AND I TYPICALLY WILL MIX A PALATE AND TYPICALLY WILL MIX A PALATE AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS THE SAME.

IT'S NOT ALWAYS THE SAME.

I THINK IN TRADITIONAL WORKING I THINK IN TRADITIONAL WORKING STYLES, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO LAY STYLES, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO LAY OUT YOUR PALETTE IN A PARTICULAR OUT YOUR PALETTE IN A PARTICULAR ORDER.

ORDER.

YOUR WHOLE ARRAY SO, MIX YOUR WHOLE ARRAY SO, MIX ANYTHING.

ANYTHING.

I DON'T DO THAT.

I DON'T DO THAT.

I THINK I'M JUST UNSCHOOLED AND I THINK I'M JUST UNSCHOOLED AND I'M A BIT REBELLIOUS, SO I MIX I'M A BIT REBELLIOUS, SO I MIX THE COLORS THAT I LIKE, THAT I THE COLORS THAT I LIKE, THAT I WANT TO WORK WITH IN THAT WANT TO WORK WITH IN THAT PARTICULAR DAY.

PARTICULAR DAY.

AND I'LL PUT THE CANVAS ON THE AND I'LL PUT THE CANVAS ON THE EASEL AND I'LL JUST LET IT RIP.

EASEL AND I'LL JUST LET IT RIP.

I WAS HANDED SOME WHAT WE CALLED I WAS HANDED SOME WHAT WE CALLED CHIPPY BRUSHES AND YOU BUY THEM CHIPPY BRUSHES AND YOU BUY THEM AT HARDWARE STORES AND THEY COST AT HARDWARE STORES AND THEY COST UNDER $2 FOR A VARIETY OF SIZES.

UNDER $2 FOR A VARIETY OF SIZES.

AND I CAME TO REALLY APPRECIATE AND I CAME TO REALLY APPRECIATE THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE ROUGH AND THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE ROUGH AND THEY SHOW THE BRUSH STROKE AND THEY SHOW THE BRUSH STROKE AND TO ME THAT EQUATES WITH SOME TO ME THAT EQUATES WITH SOME KIND OF EMOTION AND SOME KIND OF KIND OF EMOTION AND SOME KIND OF SPONTANEITY.

SPONTANEITY.

AND I REALLY LIKE USING THEM.

AND I REALLY LIKE USING THEM.

PLUS I CAN THROW THEM AWAY.

PLUS I CAN THROW THEM AWAY.

I CAN WASH THEM THE ONES OR -- I CAN WASH THEM THE ONES OR -- ONCE OR TWICE AND THROW THEM ONCE OR TWICE AND THROW THEM AWAY WITHOUT FEELING ANY GUILT.

AWAY WITHOUT FEELING ANY GUILT.

I THINK THERE'S A CERTAIN KIND I THINK THERE'S A CERTAIN KIND OF A MYSTERY IN THE PAINTINGS OF A MYSTERY IN THE PAINTINGS GIVEN THAT THEY DON'T REPRESENT GIVEN THAT THEY DON'T REPRESENT ACTUAL PLACES.

ACTUAL PLACES.

AND OFTEN I'M ASKED, WHERE IS AND OFTEN I'M ASKED, WHERE IS THAT PLACE.

THAT PLACE.

AND EU8 SAY -- I WILL SAY, IT IS AND EU8 SAY -- I WILL SAY, IT IS NOT A PLACE.

NOT A PLACE.

IT'S A PLACE THAT YOU CAN IT'S A PLACE THAT YOU CAN DEFINE.

DEFINE.

IT'S A PLACE THAT YOU CAN GO TO IT'S A PLACE THAT YOU CAN GO TO IF YOU SO WISH.

IF YOU SO WISH.

I COULD SAY THAT I'M HAVING THE I COULD SAY THAT I'M HAVING THE TIME OF MY LIFE.

TIME OF MY LIFE.

I'M VERY GRATEFUL.

I'M VERY GRATEFUL.

I'M VERY EXCITED.

I'M VERY EXCITED.

I FEEL HOPEFUL THAT I'LL HAVE A I FEEL HOPEFUL THAT I'LL HAVE A LOT OF TIME LEFT, BECAUSE I HAVE LOT OF TIME LEFT, BECAUSE I HAVE SO MANY IDEAS AND SO MANY THINGS SO MANY IDEAS AND SO MANY THINGS I'D LIKE TO EXPLORE.

I'D LIKE TO EXPLORE.

THIS IS A DREAM COME TRUE.

THIS IS A DREAM COME TRUE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> THE BLACK LEGACY PROJECT IS >>> THE BLACK LEGACY PROJECT IS PRODUCED BY THE NONPROFIT GROUP PRODUCED BY THE NONPROFIT GROUP MUSIC IN COMMON, AND IT'S A MUSIC IN COMMON, AND IT'S A MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF BLACK MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY, BRINGING ARTISTS OF ALL HISTORY, BRINGING ARTISTS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS TOGETHER TO RECORD BACKGROUNDS TOGETHER TO RECORD AND COMPOSE SONGS CENTRAL TO THE AND COMPOSE SONGS CENTRAL TO THE BLACK AMERICAN EXPERIENCE.

BLACK AMERICAN EXPERIENCE.

I SPOKE REQUEST CO-DIRECTORS I SPOKE REQUEST CO-DIRECTORS TODD MACK AND TREY CARLISLE TO TODD MACK AND TREY CARLISLE TO HEAR HOW THEY'RE AMERICANING THE HEAR HOW THEY'RE AMERICANING THE PAST WITH THE PRESENT IN ORDER PAST WITH THE PRESENT IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD.

TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> WE WERE INCONSPIRED TO CREATE >> WE WERE INCONSPIRED TO CREATE IN IN -- INSPIRED TO CREATE THIS IN IN -- INSPIRED TO CREATE THIS IN 2020 -- WE WANTED TO CREATE IN 2020 -- WE WANTED TO CREATE SPACES WHERE BLACK AND WHITE SPACES WHERE BLACK AND WHITE AMERICANS, REALLY ALL AMERICANS, AMERICANS, REALLY ALL AMERICANS, CAN COME TOGETHER AND ENGAGE IN CAN COME TOGETHER AND ENGAGE IN ENTER GENERATIONAL ENTER GENERATIONAL CONVERSATIONS.

CONVERSATIONS.

NOT JUST ABOUT LEGACY OF RACISM, NOT JUST ABOUT LEGACY OF RACISM, BUT THE LEGACY OF BLACK AND BUT THE LEGACY OF BLACK AND WHITE FOLKS WORKING IN SOLID WHITE FOLKS WORKING IN SOLID DAUGHTER TO HELP US -- DAUGHTER TO HELP US -- SOLIDARITY TO HELP US MOVE SOLIDARITY TO HELP US MOVE FORWARD THAT.

FORWARD THAT.

WAS THE INSPIRATION.

WAS THE INSPIRATION.

AND AS A RESULT WE WILL GO TO A AND AS A RESULT WE WILL GO TO A SPECIFIC COMMUNITY, FACILITATE SPECIFIC COMMUNITY, FACILITATE ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS, AND ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS, AND BRING BLACK AND WHITE COMMUNITY BRING BLACK AND WHITE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TOGETHER TO EXPLORE MEMBERS TOGETHER TO EXPLORE SONGS, CENTERED AROUND THE BLACK SONGS, CENTERED AROUND THE BLACK AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, AND EXPLORE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, AND EXPLORE HOW THEY STILL RELATE TO THE HOW THEY STILL RELATE TO THE ISSUES TODAY AND THEN WE HAVE ISSUES TODAY AND THEN WE HAVE LOCAL BLACK AND WHITE ARTISTS LOCAL BLACK AND WHITE ARTISTS CREATE PRESENT-DAY CREATE PRESENT-DAY INTERPRETATIONS OF THOSE SONGS INTERPRETATIONS OF THOSE SONGS AS WELL AS ORIGINAL SONGS ABOUT AS WELL AS ORIGINAL SONGS ABOUT HOW WE MOVE FORWARD.

HOW WE MOVE FORWARD.

♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ >> NOW, YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT >> NOW, YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT STOOD OUT TO ME.

STOOD OUT TO ME.

YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, YOU YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BLACK AND WHITE AMERICANS KNOW, BLACK AND WHITE AMERICANS COMING TOGETHER.

COMING TOGETHER.

ALL AMERICANS REALLY, YOU SAID.

ALL AMERICANS REALLY, YOU SAID.

AND SO ALTHOUGH THE PROJECT IS AND SO ALTHOUGH THE PROJECT IS CALLED THE BLACK LEGACY PRIEJ -- CALLED THE BLACK LEGACY PRIEJ -- PROJECT, YOU HAVE AN EMPHASIS ON PROJECT, YOU HAVE AN EMPHASIS ON BRINGING PEOPLE FROM ALL BRINGING PEOPLE FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS TOGETHER.

BACKGROUNDS TOGETHER.

WHY IS THAT SO CRUCIAL?

WHY IS THAT SO CRUCIAL?

>> MAINLY BECAUSE WE'RE A MOSAIC >> MAINLY BECAUSE WE'RE A MOSAIC OF SOCIETY IN THE UNITED STATES.

OF SOCIETY IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM ALL SORTS OF WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM ALL SORTS OF RACIAL ETHNIC CULTURAL, RACIAL ETHNIC CULTURAL, RELIGIOUS BACKGROUNDS.

RELIGIOUS BACKGROUNDS.

AND WHILE THE CONFLICT -- AND AND WHILE THE CONFLICT -- AND I'M GOING TO CALL 8 CONFLICT, I'M GOING TO CALL 8 CONFLICT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S REALLY BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S REALLY THE APPROACH THAT WE'RE TAKING THE APPROACH THAT WE'RE TAKING TO BUILDING SOLIDARITY AND TO BUILDING SOLIDARITY AND BELONGING AND EQUITY -- AND BELONGING AND EQUITY -- AND ROOTED HISTORICALLY IN BLACK AND ROOTED HISTORICALLY IN BLACK AND WHITE.

WHITE.

IN 2022 IT'S REALLY THE COUNTRY IN 2022 IT'S REALLY THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE THAT I THINK NEEDS TO AS A WHOLE THAT I THINK NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS.

ADDRESS THIS.

>> NOW, THIS IS A MUSICAL >> NOW, THIS IS A MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY AS CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY AS YOU WERE SAYING.

YOU WERE SAYING.

WHY WAS MUSIC THE ART FORM WHY WAS MUSIC THE ART FORM CHOSEN FOR THIS PROJECT?

CHOSEN FOR THIS PROJECT?

>> MUSIC IS A POWERFUL TOOL OF >> MUSIC IS A POWERFUL TOOL OF CONNECTION AND EMPATHY.

CONNECTION AND EMPATHY.

AND THE EMPATHETIC AND AND THE EMPATHETIC AND CONNECTING ASPECTS OF MUSIC, WE CONNECTING ASPECTS OF MUSIC, WE HAVE FOUND OVER THE PAST 17 HAVE FOUND OVER THE PAST 17 YEARS, CAN BE A POWERFUL TOOL TO YEARS, CAN BE A POWERFUL TOOL TO ENHANCE PEACE BUILDING AND ENHANCE PEACE BUILDING AND ENGAGE PEOPLE IN THE SAME TYPE ENGAGE PEOPLE IN THE SAME TYPE OF PRACTICES THAT WE NEED TO OF PRACTICES THAT WE NEED TO HAVE IN BUILDING PEACE.

HAVE IN BUILDING PEACE.

COLLABORATION.

COLLABORATION.

LISTENING TO ONE ANOTHER, LISTENING TO ONE ANOTHER, RECOGNIZING OUR INT.ER RECOGNIZING OUR INT.ER DEPENDENCE IN WORKING TOGETHER.

DEPENDENCE IN WORKING TOGETHER.

BUT WE RECOGNIZE WHEN WE BUT WE RECOGNIZE WHEN WE CONCEPTUALIZED IN THE PROJECT CONCEPTUALIZED IN THE PROJECT THAT SONGS THAT WERE WRITTEN BY THAT SONGS THAT WERE WRITTEN BY BLACK AND WHITE FOLKS.

BLACK AND WHITE FOLKS.

WHETHER IKE -- LIKE THE WHETHER IKE -- LIKE THE HURRICANE CAIN BY BOB DYLAN, HURRICANE CAIN BY BOB DYLAN, THESE SONGS SPOKE TO THE LEGACY THESE SONGS SPOKE TO THE LEGACY AND REALITIES OF RACIAL CONFLICT AND REALITIES OF RACIAL CONFLICT AND VIOLENCE IN THE PAST.

AND VIOLENCE IN THE PAST.

THEY STILL RING TRUE TODAY.

THEY STILL RING TRUE TODAY.

AND THEY HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN AND THEY HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN FOLKS' HEARTS.

FOLKS' HEARTS.

SO WE WANTED TO CREATE A SPACE SO WE WANTED TO CREATE A SPACE FOR FOLKS TO REVISIT THESE FOR FOLKS TO REVISIT THESE SONGS, SEE HOW HE STILL RELATE SONGS, SEE HOW HE STILL RELATE TODAY, AND CREATE NEW SONGS FOR TODAY, AND CREATE NEW SONGS FOR HOW WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.

HOW WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.

>> SPEAKING TO THE STONGS, >> SPEAKING TO THE STONGS, OVER -- SONGS, OVER THREE DOZEN OVER -- SONGS, OVER THREE DOZEN LOCAL MUSICIANS CAME TOGETHER LOCAL MUSICIANS CAME TOGETHER FOR THIS PROJECT, WHICH IS FOR THIS PROJECT, WHICH IS AMAZING.

AMAZING.

SO YOU RECORDED SIX SONGS THAT SO YOU RECORDED SIX SONGS THAT ADDRESSED THE THEME, HOPE AND ADDRESSED THE THEME, HOPE AND HATEFUL WORLD.

HATEFUL WORLD.

AND FOUR OF THE SONGS WERE -- AND FOUR OF THE SONGS WERE -- LIKE YOU WERE SAYING, SONGS THAT LIKE YOU WERE SAYING, SONGS THAT HAVE BEEN REVISITED ON PAST HAVE BEEN REVISITED ON PAST SONGS AND TWO ORIGINALS.

SONGS AND TWO ORIGINALS.

SO TELL ME ABOUT THAT PROCESS OF SO TELL ME ABOUT THAT PROCESS OF THE SONG SELECT AND JUST -- THE SONG SELECT AND JUST -- SELECTION AND JUST REIMAGINING SELECTION AND JUST REIMAGINING AND REVISITING AND EXAMINING AND REVISITING AND EXAMINING THESE SONGS.

THESE SONGS.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO IS >> ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO IS CHOOSE SONGS THAT HAVE A DIRECT CHOOSE SONGS THAT HAVE A DIRECT CONNECTION TO THE COMMUNITY THAT CONNECTION TO THE COMMUNITY THAT THE PROJECT IS IN.

THE PROJECT IS IN.

AND THAT'S A LOT OF EXHAUSTIVE AND THAT'S A LOT OF EXHAUSTIVE RESEARCH THAT TREY PRIMARILY RESEARCH THAT TREY PRIMARILY TAKES THE LEAD ON.

TAKES THE LEAD ON.

LOOKING AT WHAT SONGS, WHAT LOOKING AT WHAT SONGS, WHAT ARTISTS HAVE A CONNECTION OR ARTISTS HAVE A CONNECTION OR EVEN THEMES HAVE A CONNECTION TO EVEN THEMES HAVE A CONNECTION TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

>> I'M GLAD THAT YOU BROUGHT UP >> I'M GLAD THAT YOU BROUGHT UP THAT CONNECTION THAT THE SONGS THAT CONNECTION THAT THE SONGS HAVE TO THE LOCAL HISTORY, HAVE TO THE LOCAL HISTORY, BECAUSE THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT BECAUSE THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT REALLY AMAZED ME WHEN I WAS REALLY AMAZED ME WHEN I WAS READING ABOUT THE PROJECT.

READING ABOUT THE PROJECT.

ALL OF THOSE SELECTIONS, THE ALL OF THOSE SELECTIONS, THE FOUR EXISTING SONGS, HAVE A FOUR EXISTING SONGS, HAVE A TIE-IN TO THE BERKSHIRES TIE-IN TO THE BERKSHIRES SPECIFICALLY WITH BLACK HISTORY.

SPECIFICALLY WITH BLACK HISTORY.

SO CAN YOU SHARE SOME OF THAT SO CAN YOU SHARE SOME OF THAT CONNECTION THAT THE SONGS HAVE CONNECTION THAT THE SONGS HAVE TO THE AREA.

TO THE AREA.

>> SO ONE OF THE SONGS WE CHOSE >> SO ONE OF THE SONGS WE CHOSE WAS STRANGE TRUTH.

WAS STRANGE TRUTH.

BILLIE HOLIDAY PERFORMED A BILLIE HOLIDAY PERFORMED A COUPLE OF TIMES IN THE COUPLE OF TIMES IN THE BERKSHIRES.

BERKSHIRES.

AND ESPECIALLY IN THE LATER PART AND ESPECIALLY IN THE LATER PART OF HER CAREER WHEN SHE WAS OF HER CAREER WHEN SHE WAS PERFORMING.

PERFORMING.

AND THEN STRING FRUIT WAS AND THEN STRING FRUIT WAS WRITTEN BY ABLE MIRPOOL WHO WAS WRITTEN BY ABLE MIRPOOL WHO WAS FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATED WITH WB FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATED WITH WB DEBOYS.

DEBOYS.

AN EYE AN YICK -- AN AKRONNIC AN EYE AN YICK -- AN AKRONNIC THOUGHT LEADER FOR BLACK LEGACY THOUGHT LEADER FOR BLACK LEGACY AND HE WAS BORN AND RAISED.

AND HE WAS BORN AND RAISED.

SO THAT WAS THE TIE THE STRENGTH SO THAT WAS THE TIE THE STRENGTH TRUTH HAS -- STRANGE TRUTH HAS TRUTH HAS -- STRANGE TRUTH HAS TO THE SONG.

TO THE SONG.

WE HAD FOLKS CREATE AN ARTISTIST WE HAD FOLKS CREATE AN ARTISTIST INTERPRETATION OF THE POEM, MY INTERPRETATION OF THE POEM, MY COUNTRY 'TIS OF THEE.

COUNTRY 'TIS OF THEE.

AND WE SELECTED LIFT EVERY VOICE AND WE SELECTED LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING, WHO WOULD TRAVEL TO AND SING, WHO WOULD TRAVEL TO THE CIRCUMSTANCE TO DO SOME OF THE CIRCUMSTANCE TO DO SOME OF HIS MOST MEANINGFUL WRITINGS AND HIS MOST MEANINGFUL WRITINGS AND POETRY.

POETRY.

AND THEN WE SHALL OVERCOME, WE AND THEN WE SHALL OVERCOME, WE ALSO CHOSE THE SONG TO EXPLORE, ALSO CHOSE THE SONG TO EXPLORE, WHICH IS MADE POPULAR BY PETE WHICH IS MADE POPULAR BY PETE SEEGER WHO HAS CLOSE TIES WITH SEEGER WHO HAS CLOSE TIES WITH THE GUTHRIE FAMILY LIKE WOODIE, THE GUTHRIE FAMILY LIKE WOODIE, ARLO GUTHRIE, WHOSE HOME BASE IS ARLO GUTHRIE, WHOSE HOME BASE IS IN DID BERKSHIRES.

IN DID BERKSHIRES.

>> YOU FIND THAT IN RESPONSE TO >> YOU FIND THAT IN RESPONSE TO THE MURDER OF DANIEL PEARL WHO THE MURDER OF DANIEL PEARL WHO WAS ABDUCTED AND MURDERED IN WAS ABDUCTED AND MURDERED IN PACKERS IN 2002, SO THIS WAS IN PACKERS IN 2002, SO THIS WAS IN RESOMEPAKISTAN, IN 2002.

RESOMEPAKISTAN, IN 2002.

SO HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE SO HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE CARRYING ON THIS TYPE OF LEGACY CARRYING ON THIS TYPE OF LEGACY WORK AND THEN HOW DOES IT FEEL WORK AND THEN HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE PART OF IT AS WELL?

TO BE PART OF IT AS WELL?

>> WOW.

>> WOW.

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THANK YOU FOR THAT THANK YOU FOR THAT ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

AND YOU KNOW, I THINK THE WORK AND YOU KNOW, I THINK THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE BLACK THAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE BLACK LEGACY PROJECT REALLY LIKE LEGACY PROJECT REALLY LIKE EVERYTHING THAT I THINK MUSIC EVERYTHING THAT I THINK MUSIC HAS IN COMMON IS ENGAGED IN, HOW HAS IN COMMON IS ENGAGED IN, HOW DO YOU HARNESS THE POWER OF DO YOU HARNESS THE POWER OF MUSIC AS A WAY TO SORT OF OPEN MUSIC AS A WAY TO SORT OF OPEN DOORS THAT DON'T OPEN ON THEIR DOORS THAT DON'T OPEN ON THEIR OWN.

OWN.

I THINK THERE'S SUCH A DIRECT I THINK THERE'S SUCH A DIRECT CORRELATION TO WHAT WE'RE DOING CORRELATION TO WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW, AS MUCH AS THE WORK THAT NOW, AS MUCH AS THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE IN INTER FAITH WE'VE DONE IN INTER FAITH CONTACTS OR OVERSEAS IN THE CONTACTS OR OVERSEAS IN THE MIDDLE EAST OR FAR EAST AND IT'S MIDDLE EAST OR FAR EAST AND IT'S JUST AMAZING TO BE A PART OF IT JUST AMAZING TO BE A PART OF IT AND IT'S AMAZING TO SEE IT GROW.

AND IT'S AMAZING TO SEE IT GROW.

IT'S AMAZING TO HAVE NEW YOUNG IT'S AMAZING TO HAVE NEW YOUNG LEADERS WHO START OUT AS LEADERS WHO START OUT AS PARTICIPANTS IN OUR PROGRAMS PARTICIPANTS IN OUR PROGRAMS COME TAKE THE REINS AND HELP COME TAKE THE REINS AND HELP LEAD IT.

LEAD IT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> AND THAT DOES IT FOR THIS >>> AND THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "CONNECTING POINT."

EDITION OF "CONNECTING POINT."

REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND ALL THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW IN ALL THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW IN THIS EPISODE, AS WELL AS THIS EPISODE, AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY CONTENT, AND SO MUCH MORE ONLINE CONTENT, AND SO MUCH MORE ONLINE ANYTIME AT ANYTIME AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

OUR THANKS TO THE TOWN OF OUR THANKS TO THE TOWN OF DEERFIELD FOR HOSTING US TODAY.

DEERFIELD FOR HOSTING US TODAY.

AND PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US AND PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US AGAIN EVERY WEEK RIGHT HERE FOR AGAIN EVERY WEEK RIGHT HERE FOR MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITY, MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND TAKE THANKS FOR WATCHING AND TAKE CARE.

CARE.

>> Announcer: SUPPORT FOR >> Announcer: SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" PROVIDED "CONNECTING POINT" PROVIDED BY -- OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.