Overview: Local film scores Emmy nomination
PHHS alum Mark Krasner stated, “We were honored to be nominated for a regional Emmy, even though we did not win.” Not only did none of the other nominees know the judges, but they also had far more resources than we did.
The 51st annual Emmy Awards NATAS Pacific Southwest ceremony was recently held at the Westin Gaslamp San Diego, organized by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Pacific Southwest Chapter.
A regional nominee that focused on the early years at Patrick Henry High School, Give Me Liberty, was up for an Emmy.
There was plenty to be proud about, even though the movie and its local crew did not win.
The movie, which was first made in 2023, debuted in October 2023 at Patrick Henry’s PHAME theater and was shown on San Diego television in 2024. The movie was one of six long-form documentary nominees.
PHHS alum Mark Krasner stated, “We were honored to be nominated for a regional Emmy, even though we did not win.” Not only did none of the other nominees know the judges, but they also had far more resources than we did.
Scott Aveldson, an alumnus and operational/supervising producer, claims that Give Me Liberty documents Patrick Henry’s early years (1968–1973), when it was one of just seven schools in the country to take part in the Model Schools Program.
Patrick Henry’s creative use of modular scheduling turned into an experimental learning environment where students had unheard-of autonomy in determining their academic objectives.
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An project that promoted greater responsibility and independent thought among students included an open campus, flexible elective studies, improved tutoring, and innovative teaching methods in traditional core courses.
52 former students and faculty members who were present at the birth of Give Me Liberty are interviewed to tell its narrative.
Their firsthand reports are supplemented by previously unreleased film footage, new stories, archive photographs, and college memorabilia.
When combined, they create a compelling story that links the tumultuous sociopolitical events of the late 1960s and early 1970s to school origin stories.
According to Aveldson, Give Me Liberty is an immersive production that makes use of Patrick Henry students’ skills as location crew, camera/sound operators, and editors.
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Patrick Henry music students wrote and performed the original soundtrack to the movie. Alumni from Patrick Henry played a key role in obtaining old footage, interviewing subjects, and offering several other services that were necessary for the filming process.
Former NFL Films producer David Plaut, 71, a seven-time National Emmy winner, wrote and directed the film Give Me Liberty. PHHS Theater Teacher Mark Abbott (84), Aveldson (71), Leslie Peariso (71), Krasner (71), Kurt Kohnen, Willie O. Bryan, and the Patrick Henry High School Alumni Association, Inc. were among the other members of the production crew who were nominated.
