Public television viewers across the state get a chance to learn about a Kure Beach legend tonight, with the broadcast debut of The Fort Fisher Hermit. And filmmakers are hoping this could be a stepping-stone to an even wider audience.
By Megan V. Williams
Wilmington, NC – With nationwide ambitions, the makers of The Fort Fisher Hermit: The Life and Death of Robert E. Harrill are starting closer to home, with the documentary airing tonight at 10 on UNC-TV.
The film chronicles Harrill's decision, when he was 62, to live off the land on Pleasure Island, his life, and his unresolved death.
Producer Scott Davis says Harrill's unique existence attracted attention even during his life, briefly making him the second most popular tourist attraction in the state.
"People were attracted to this phenomena that was known as the Fort Fisher Hermit," Davis says, "He laughed [at the nickname] because he never thought of himself as a hermit, because he was a very social person. And during the summertime, there was people there 24 hours a day."
Davis says that if tonight's viewership is strong enough, the network could send the film to a larger distributor for public stations around the country to pick up. For now though, Davis says it's a rush just knowing their documentary is listed in TV Guide.
The filmmakers had pursued a slot on UNC-TV since 2004, when the network turned down an earlier cut of the documentary.
"A historical documentary like this," Davis said, "Public television is still, I think, the strongest venue for it. Because that really is where it will be embraced the most."
The film has already aired at several festivals and won best documentary at the 2004 Hollywood Digital Video Fest.
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