Wednesday, March 10, 2004

Wilmington, NC- Programming for the week of March 15, UNCW Community Link, an interactive public affairs television show speaks with local historians about Wilmington’s Orton Plantation. Also featured this week, Johnny Griffin, director of the Wilmington Regional Film Commission, gives insight to what the local film industry has in store.

Betty Ann Sanders speaks with John Taylor, Lawrence Sprunt, and Clarence Jones about the rich history of the Orton Plantation. Jones planted many of the flowers on the plantation which boasts 10,000 acres of nature at its finest. The plantation has been in Lawrence Sprunt’s family since the mid 1890’s. It is one of the original settlements on the Cape Fear. The Sprunt family first opened the gardens to the public when they wanted to raise money for an injured family member, it was such a success they never closed them. Of the beautiful gardens, Sprunt stated, "you can relax and go to any garden and then you feel rejuvenated."

This week H.E. “Hunter” Thompson, Jr. sits down with Johnny Griffin, the Director of the Wilmington Film Commission to discuss the growing film industry in New Hanover County. Wilmington is number three on the list of places in America to film, third only to film industry giants Los Angeles and New York City. Shows like Dawson’s Creek and One Tree Hill give Wilmington the publicity it needs to continue to stay on the forefront.

Some of the best assets that Wilmington offers is a prospective location scout, the beautiful landscape and our skilled citizens. Griffin said scouts know they can film here cheaply because we have local crew and the equipment. The city will find out if One Tree Hill has a second season by May.

This week’s Editorially Yours segment is provided by Eileen McConnville, regarding the YWCA Women of Achievement Awards.



UNCW Community Link reaches beyond the television studio to allow citizens to sound off on compelling issues facing Southeastern North Carolina. Hosts Sanders and Thompson engage and challenge the region’s newsmakers and opinion-shapers and then ask viewers to voice their opinions. Through collaboration with the Southeast Public Interest Network of North Carolina (www.SpinNC.org), citizens can use the latest Internet technologies to continue the dialog on show topics and community ideas. UNCW Community Link is brought to you in part by the following sponsors: Time Warner Cable, Wilmington Star-News and WHQR Public Radio.

For more information on this week’s show visit these web sites:

YWCA

http://www.ywca.org/B1.asp

Wilmington Regional Film Commission

http://www.wilmington-film.com/home.asp

Orton Plantation Gardens

http://www.ortongardens.com/index.html

Tune into UNCW Community Link:

Wilmington & Brunswick County can tune in on The Learning Network, Time Warner Ch 5 and Charter Communications Ch 12 at 7 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays

Pender County can tune in on Government Channel 8 at 7 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays

Carteret County/Havelock can tune in on Time Warner Channel 10 at 7 p.m. on Thursdays

Jacksonville can tune in on Time Warner Channel 10 at 7 p.m. on Thursdays