12/15/05 Gee Whiz, a documentary

12/15/05 Gee Whiz, a documentary

Grady Auvil has long been noted as one of the pioneers of marketing and innovation in the tree fruit industry. Even the label of Auvil Fruit's product, "Gee Whiz", notes a sense of wonder and discovery. And after interviews with long time Auvil Fruit General Manager Paul King during the making of the "100 Years of the Hort" DVD documentary last year, film producer Jamie Howell also gathered that same excitement. HOWELL: It's a great story. I think people are excited to see it done. And so now I am in the process of raising the funds to make it happen and my goal is to have it completed in time for next year's convention. Howell has budgeted $104,000 dollars to complete the project. So far, a $5,000 seed grant and support from C and O Nursery has helped generate buzz. Howell says the film is not just for posterity, but exploring the lessons that can be learned from Auvil's open approach to business and education, and excitement about the industry. HOWELL: People who have that kind of presence are often complex people. And so it will certainly be a great way to preserve and honor the memory of Grady Auvil. But I also want to look at the difficult sides, the eccentric sides of Grady Auvil, present a picture, a portrait of a complete person. More information about the project, and ways to get involved, can be found at this website & www.auvildoc.org.
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