Thursday, June 16


Thursday, June 16
Welcome to Thursday night of the Johnstown Film Festival! Tonight we highlight documentaries and mockumentaries. This evening will take place at the Johnstown Flood Museum at 7:00 pm; tickets are $5 at the door.
WTF Presents Track Down: The Mothman (17:30) -- by Ruschelle Dillon and Scott Cunningham of Johnstown. "There's big. Then there's Mothman big!" This mockumentary follows the cryptozoological creature, The Mothman, through a series of interviews and first-hand accounts from those who have witnessed, shacked up with and partied with the legendary beast. Filmmaker Ruschelle Dillon participated in the 2010 festival with "Don't Punch the Corpse."
Stan Vs. Squirrel (22:00) -- by Lilly Ann Boruszkowski of Union, NJ. What's a man to do when he wants to feed the birds, but the squirrels keep stealing their food? This documentary follows Stan as he engineers a variety of Rube Goldberg contraptions to foil his furry opponents. Filmmaker Lilly Ann Boruszkowski is an independent filmmaker who teaches film production.
El Oso (7:19) -- by Jarryd Meyer and Sam Soso of Los Angeles. A mockumentary from Pittsburgh natives Jarryd Meyer and Sam Soso about the greatest male hooker of our time, Jared "El Oso" Meyer. Filmmakers Meyer and Soso are alumni of Temple University and Pittsburgh Filmmakers, and have had their work screened at film festivals around the world.
The Ohio River Watershed Celebration: Bringing People Together (7:36) -- by Andy McAllister of Ligonier. This documentary short explores the Ohio River's importance to commerce, its dirty past, and the positive environmental changes that have occurred in recent years. Filmmaker Andy McAllister is a biologist working in the mine reclamation field got bitten by the filmmaking bug while directing his previous documentary, "Out of the Ground."
Barnball: A Slice of Americana -- (30:00) by Max Fedore of Johnstown. This documentary takes a look at a basketball tournament played in the unconventional setting of a barn. But the real story is of the families who created the event, and their dedication to this form of entertainment. Filmmaker Max Fedore won the Youth Award in 2008.
Man of Steel (9:10) -- by Ryan Pristow of Pittsburgh. This documentary takes a brief look into how the steel industry shaped Johnstown, from the point of view of retired steelworker Hank Pristow. Filmmaker Ryan Pristow made this film while taking a class at Pittsburgh Filmmakers.
Abandoned Mine Relics for Recreation (8:50) - by Anne Daymut of Greensburg. Decades of unregulated coal mining practices in our nation's past left our region with a legacy of polluted waterways, scarred landscapes, and health and safety hazards. However, the relics left behind offer many recreational possibilities.