Jim Sharkey
JsharkeyS@netscape.net

1. How did you come up with the idea for the film?

I had just completed a documentary on Seagrove potter, Sid Luck, called Crawdad Slip. I was visiting Sid one day and told him I was thinking about doing another documentary. So, I asked him what potter he thought would be good to do. He said "You ought to go over to Sanford to Neolia and Celia Cole, they've been making pots all their lives." I said "How far is it to Sanford?" He told me. I went down to visit them the next week.

2. How long did the production process take?

It took about six months from start to finish. Probably about a few days pre-production; five weeks production; and the rest post-production.

3. What challenges did you experience in the creation of the film?

Having enough old photographs and old pottery to tell the story of Neolia and Celia's early days in pottery and the work of their father A.R. Cole who started the business in Sanford.

4. What is your favorite memory from creating the film?

My favorite memory is Neolia heating up lunch on the kiln top every day. Eating that lunch and sitting around talking and laughing. We sure straightened out a bunch of the world's problems during lunchtime those few weeks. Pity no one was around to hear us and I can't remember our solutions now!

5. When someone has finished watching the film, what do you hope they take away from the experience?

I would just like them to enjoy it. I don't really care what specifically a person takes away after viewing the film as long as it serves to make them remember it for a short while, or say "That was nice, I liked that."

6. What type of reaction has your film received from viewers?

People who see it say they like it a lot. Neolia tells me from time to time how people get back to her and tell her they especially liked certain parts. A person told me it was like a Hallmark production/story, which is nice to hear. I'm glad people like it because I know that the story is good and the people are interesting and all it means is that I was able to get that across. I would feel bad otherwise because I would feel like I didn't do my job.

7. What advice would you give to aspiring young filmmakers?

I'm in need of a lot of advice myself! But, I suppose one thing is to just go out, find something that interests you and start shooting. Don't think too much about it. With digital equipment costs making things more affordable you really can get things rolling on a modest budget.

8. Please tell us about the next film you plan to work on?

I am working on a documentary on the McCanless family in Seagrove, NC. They are a great family of musicians and potters. I hope to start editing soon and to have it finished around October of this year.

9. What are your thoughts on the film industry in NC?

I don't have any thoughts on it really. I like the Carolina Film and Video Festival that UNC Greensboro holds each year, and the Doubletake Documentary film festival at Duke. It's great to have festivals like these to be able to show your work and to meet other filmmakers. And it's great to have outlets like UNC-TV that will show independent films/videos to the general public. Because that's the hardest part, for me, is getting the film out. So, when it is shown at places like these it makes you feel not so lonesome!