ON SCREEN:‘Historic Griggstown’ film wins award; Rocky Hill filmmaker focuses on autism

    It was a memorable moment for the Griggstown Historical Society when its documentary film, “Historic Griggstown: Then and Now” (Visionary Video), won a prestigious 2008 Telly Award for a nonbroadcast historical documentary.
    Fred Frintrup of Visionary Video Studios, Milltown, produced and directed the film with a grant from the Griggstown Historical Society. Members of the society, local historians and authors wrote and narrated the script. The society remains especially grateful to Pulitzer Prize- winning poet Paul Muldoon, a Griggstown resident, for his contribution and heartfelt reading of “Summer Coal,” a poem from his collection, “Moy Sand and Gravel.”
    The Telly Awards honor video and film productions as well as outstanding local, regional, and cable television commercials and programs. Since 1978, the Telly’s mission has been to strengthen the visual arts community by inspiring, promoting, and supporting creativity and excellence in productions.
    The 29th Annual Telly Awards received more than 14,000 entries from all 50 states and countries on five continents. The Griggstown documentary competed with films from both national and international producers.
    Visionary Video Studios is now completing “The Griggstown Schoolhouse Restoration,” which will premiere at the Somerset County History Weekend on Oct. 12, and is in production for historical documentaries on Rockingham and the Twin Lights at Sandy Hook.
    The Griggstown Schoolhouse, located at 1065 Canal Road, Franklin Township, will be open to the public both days of the History Weekend (Oct. 11 and 12). On Sunday, Oct. 12, at 2 p.m., the Griggstown Historical Society will host a special dedication of the restored schoolhouse, with the new documentary receiving its premiere afterward.
    Also to be shown throughout the day will be “Historic Griggstown: Then and Now” and “The D&R Canal Story.”
    To contact the Historical Society, call John Allen, president, at 908-359-3589. To contact Visionary Video Studios, call 732-828-9086 or visit www.visionaryvideostudios.com.
Rocky Hill filmmaker focuses on autism
When John and Robin Kirton first married, they knew they wanted to have a large family — but like many couples, they had no idea what they were in for. Today, the Kirtons are the parents of six children — each of whom has been diagnosed with autism.
    Discovery Health presents an intimate view of life with multiple autistic children in “AUTISM x 6,” an hour-long special premiering Wednesday at 8 p.m.
    The producer, writer and director of the show is Monica Lange, a resident of Rocky Hill for 24 years. She is probably best known for her work with Bill Moyers, including “America’s First River: Stories from the Hudson”; “A Rendezvous With History: The Roosevelts of Hyde Park,” an interpretive film for the FDR Presidential Library in Hyde Part, N.Y., coproduced with Tom Spain, plus a host of PBS programs.
    “Autism x 6” has been a year- long effort, with Ms. Lange living on and off with the Kirton family while filming their struggle to maintain some small sense of normalcy. It is the first of a two-part series. The second part — “Unlocking Autism” — will air later on this year.
    To say the Kirtons live modestly would be an understatement. The entire eight-member Kirton family resides in 1,100-square-foot house with a single bathroom located outside of Salt Lake City. Caring for the children’s special needs requires round-the-clock supervision, making it impossible for either parent to have a permanent full-time job, and causing financial resources to be scarce.
    Considered to be a spectrum disorder, autism ranges from severe to mild—and the Kirton children span the entire spectrum.
    Viewers will meet Mary, 3, diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder – not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), the least severe form of autism; Ammon, 4, diagnosed with classic autism — the most severe end of the spectrum; Sarah, 6, diagnosed with classic autism; Nephi, 9, diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome — a high-functioning form of autism; Emma, 10, diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, and Bobby, 14, diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome.
    “AUTISM x 6” is the portrait of a resilient family coping with the struggles of each day by rolling with the punches and maintaining their sense of humor. The documentary also serves as a profile of the unconditional love that parents feel for their children.
    “We did not choose to have autistic children, but they are here,” said John. “We love them, and we want to do the best we can for them. That’s the right thing to do.”
    Online at discoveryhealth.com, visitors can learn more about the Kirton family as well as access a variety of resources for more information on autism.
    “AUTISM x 6” is produced for Discovery Health by Figure 8 Films.