Documentary Project Begins In Springfield
By Roy Allmayl

Preservationists and restorers in the vintage Chevrolet community should be happy because a new video documentary project may prove to be a boost the community needs to inspire new participants in this aging hobby.

It started 6 months ago in a comfortable apartment in the East Village, Manhattan's aging bohemian neighborhood. Two young men, James Burnes of Shelbyville, a small town in Indiana, working in web development for a New York based national forensic consulting firm; and Jon Nigro, hailing from Cleveland, an editor for a film production agency, sit and discuss various interests. The latter's passion is putting life onto film; the former's passion is old cars and preserving them. Stemming from two different genres, these two have just melded their interests.

From idea to reality

Originally just a concept in Burnes' head, the discussion turned into specific goals to encourage individuals to participate in the old car hobby. Nigro's opinion that such a topic area proved to be excellent documentary material confirmed Burnes' belief. Several more discussions followed over the next two months on what goal the finished product would serve.

Plans were made to attend the 40th Anniversary Meet of the Vintage Chevrolet Club of America in Springfield, IL in July of 2001. The Meet would provide an excellent sampling of Chevrolet enthusiasts from across the country to interview in addition to Chevrolet cars seldom available to the public for video, still, and audio archiving. Burnes, who is a third-generation member of the club and Chairman of the Vintage Chevrolet Online Project, www.vintagechevrolet.org, had already made plans to attend the event and knew of its importance to getting the project on a 'fast track' for completion.

On to Illinois

Nigro, along with colleague Ryan O'Connell - an independent film producer and professional in the photography field - traveled from New York City to the event and arrived with video, audio, and photography equipment to make use of the week's valuable time. Burnes, who had recently moved back from the city to his hometown in Indiana traveled separately and made sure all arrangements for the week's production had been taken care of. The threesome met late on Sunday, July 1 to make final preparations before the first day's shooting.

An early start found sparkling chrome mixed with various hues of blues, reds, and greens as several VCCA members had already unloaded their cars. The initial goal was to record and collect video and still images of one car from every year 1914 thru 1930 (there were no cars registered from Chevrolet from 1911-1913).

A wide variety of cars had been making their way through the VCCA's inspection line. Choosing only cars whose owners were present and available to discuss the cars they had brought, the team carefully recorded video and audiofrom a variety of pre-war cars.

Each owner was asked to sign a permission form granting that the footage and images collected may be placed in the final documentary and on the Internet. While no owners of the cars will receive financial compensation for being in the film, the Indiana Region of the VCCA will receive a portion of the proceeds for their sponsorship and technical guidance. The rest of the proceeds will go to paying for the production of the film next page>>>