With more than 20 years of experience and two Emmy Awards from the Boston/New England Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, producer Andrea Melville has created myriad films and television programs: from shorter magazine-style segments, to public affairs programming, hour-long documentaries and a 30-part series. In 2008, she completed An Island Kingdom, a 90-minute documentary highlighting the 400-year history of the Isles of Shoals off the New Hampshire coast. An Island Kingdom features scholarly interviews, never-before-seen historic photographs, period music and breathtaking natural scenery, and it was also recently nominated for an Emmy Award.

Whether you are interested in artfully-made documentary films, or you are thinking of possible summer getaway destinations, read on.

Andrea, please tell us how An Island Kingdom came to be.

I am originally from the seacoast area of New Hampshire and had visited the Isles of Shoals in high school, but had not returned for many years. My family and I are now “mountain people” living in Vermont, and while vacationing at the NH coast in 2006, my husband suggested that we visit the Shoals for the day. We hopped on the early boat, spent a glorious, warm June day exploring the rocks and enjoying the historic setting on Star Island. Throughout that day, I kept thinking, “this would make a great documentary…but someone has probably already done it.” Later, I did some research and found that only short, specific-topic segments had been produced; there was nothing featuring the entire 400-year history of these remarkable islands.

What do you hope that people take away from this documentary?

I guess a few things… Many people do not realize that, yes, New Hampshire does, in fact, have a seacoast, albeit the smallest in the U.S. at 13 miles.

I’d love for people to realize what a rich and varied history these tiny islands have: they were mapped by John Smith in 1614, set the world market price for cod in the 1700s, and had a booming grand hotel era in the 1800s, during which time they were visited by some of the most famous painters and writers of the period. In the 1970s, the islands were at the center of a controversy when Aristotle Onassis tried to build an oil refinery at Durham Point and dock large supertankers at the Shoals. Fortunately, that never occurred… But most importantly, I’d like people to know that these islands are here and should be visited to experience their beauty, history and atmosphere.

Please describe any particular challenges that you faced when making the film, and how you overcame them.

I am a one-person production company so you can begin to imagine what that means! While I received funding from three sources (NH State Council on the Arts, NH Humanities Council, and ISHRA) for this project, I was not able to afford many “big ticket” budget items. So, I alone became the videographer, writer, editor and narrator, as well as being the producer and director. It all was good; intense and crazy at times, but a wonderful experience knowing that in the end, yes, I could do it.

What challenges have you had related to marketing and screening the film?

I had never done very much marketing before, so that was another part of the process to learn about. I am fortunate to know the programmers at New Hampshire Public Television and Vermont Public Television who, after seeing the completed program, agreed to air the entire 90-minute program with many repeats. Luckily, the Shoals can “sell” themselves, especially in the seacoast area. To many “Shoalers” around the country, the mere mention of a program about these islands sells a DVD! And I’m fortunate that many gift shops and museums throughout NH are interested in selling copies. Many specialized screenings have occurred and I contacted many organizations, libraries and schools in the area to stir up interest.

How do you define “success”? What has been your greatest success to date?

I think having the passion for producing beautiful work, really knowing what could be an excellent documentary topic and then making it happen, is a great personal success. It’s knowing that I have done the absolute best that I possible could, considering all the limitations. It can be something as simple as knowing you just had a great interview with a scholar, getting the most incredible sunset shot, or just realizing that “yeah, I can do that”… It really makes it all worthwhile.

Perhaps An Island Kingdom has been my greatest success to date, simply because I did it all on my own. To have the program recognized by my peers and to receive an Emmy nomination is a wonderful honor, but knowing in my heart that I did the best I possibly could is my greatest reward.

Who/what do you gain inspiration from, or have you been influenced by?

Ken Burns and Ric Burns, for their vision and beautiful story telling, and the extremely talented videographers I have worked with in the past, who have wonderful “eyes” for capturing an image.

What motivated you to become a member of Fractured Atlas?

Two years ago I needed a fiscal sponsor for a fast-approaching grant deadline for An Island Kingdom. I had no clue what “fiscal sponsorship” means, but fortunately I found the Fractured Atlas web site. Once I learned more about FA and the many wonderful things the organization offers, I was hooked. I like to think of myself as a creative person, and not one that enjoys dealing with tons of grant related paperwork! As an individual, I think that FA’s best feature is allowing me to receive, through fiscal sponsorship, just one, simple tax statement to file (a 1099), and not having to deal with the legal headaches that would come with forming my own 501(c)(3)!

How do you use your Fractured Atlas membership?

Mostly as a fiscal sponsor for my projects and having another “eye” that looks over my grants before they are sent. Lately I’ve enjoyed reading the FA blog and the profiles of fiscally sponsored projects to learn about all of the other creative organizations around the country who also use FA.

Also, the pre-written paperwork that’s available online to projects that are fiscally sponsored by Fractured Atlas provides helpful suggestions on many topics: writing cover letters, PR/marketing suggestions, and funding tips.

What’s next on your professional horizon?

I have begun writing grants for the one-hour documentary Brush and Pen: Artists and Writers of the White Mountains, 1800-1900. This program will feature both the famous and little-known male and female artists and writers who visited the White Mountains of New Hampshire during the 19th century. These were painters who formed the first American art school and style known as White Mountain Art, even before the Hudson River School. Their landscapes are regarded as some of the best examples of early American Art and their contemporaries in literature included Emerson, Thoreau, Whittier and Hawthorne.

How can we see “An Island Kingdom” and learn more about it?

An Island Kingdom will broadcast again on May 16th and 17th on the digital channel NHPTV Explore. Check our website, barkingspiderproductionsvt.org, for more updates, news and in-depth information about the making of the program. There you can also purchase a DVD, learn about reference material used for the program and link to the websites of organizations associated with An Island Kingdom. Many gift shops in the New Hampshire and southern Maine also sell the DVD.

Images by Andrea Melville.

Top: Third chapel built on Star Island, 1800.
Middle: White Island Lighthouse, 1820.
Bottom: Stone Village, Star Island.