July 13, 2021 How to be an Emmy Winner

The Liberty Gazette

July 31, 2021

Ely Air Lines

By Mike Ely and Linda Street-Ely

Linda: Let’s continue with last week’s introduction to Kara and Adam White and their aviation documentary company, Hemlock Films, through which they bring history to life in astounding cinematography. 

From the Imagery page of HemlockFilms.com

Well-told stories are mighty, and as Kara says, “When creating, we want the audience to feel something. If we’re not evoking emotion, we’re failing. I know the editing is done when I’m crying.” That is, when she can feel the story’s power. But with great power comes an awesome responsibility. Everything they write is sent to historians to fact-check.

“We want do it right, and to tell stories that haven’t been told. That there were other women pilots besides Amelia. That all of these women are amazing. Mostly, we’re honoring veterans and women who did something courageous. We’re keeping our history alive — the entire world shall know about them. If just one person is affected, then it’s worth all these years of work.”

Affected by airplanes? Not quite. 

On scene with Adam and Kara White, Hemlock Films

“People may think we’re talking about airplanes, but we’re not. We’re talking about the people around them. The airplanes are wood, metal, fabric. The people are people. They aren’t black and white photos. They are real people. It’s their stories we tell.”

I wondered if Kara could pick a favorite. She reflected on an interview in the film, “Rise Above: WASP,” that has deep meaning for her. 

“It’s the part where Alyse Rohrer recalls her family’s reaction to her choice to join the Air Corps. She says, ‘My mother was very unhappy when I started taking lessons. She said, Dear, tumbling around in an airplane, in pants, the way a man does, is just not lady-like, and I said, Too bad.’ I love that part. It sums up their spirit and the whole theme of the movie about not letting anyone discourage you.”

But there’s more about “Rise Above: WASP” that tops the list for Kara. “We worked on it for years. I put everything into it. I knew it was a huge responsibility to tell the WASP story. No one had told it the way we were, the whole point being educational, for children. The film has the ability to affect young girls everywhere, so it holds a very special place in my heart.”

She also loves the feedback she gets from “Beyond the Powder,” another high-quality production with a strong message. “I’ve learned that it has caused some women to learn to fly. That gives me so much joy to know that a project I’ve put my whole self into has changed the course of someone’s life, given them a new horizon.” PBS has continually renewed their contract and has been airing “Beyond the Powder” nationally for six years and counting.

The latest: “Why I Fly,” (whyiflyseries.com) on the web and social media. In this series, they are posting two- to three-minute clips of people from all parts of the aviation the industry, not just pilots. 

To be astounded by the many other award-winning creations by Hemlock Films, you simply must visit hemlockfilms.com. When you watch any of their movies, you’ll notice something satisfying in your soul. 

ElyAirLines.blogspot.com