Oak Ridge Today

McDaniel completes Oak Ridge oral history project

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Keith McDaniel interviews Oak Ridge Historian Ray Smith at the Oak Ridge History Museum for the Center for Oak Ridge Oral History. (Submitted photo)

Filmmaker Keith McDaniel has completed a nine-year project to document the oral histories of about 400 current and former Oak Ridge residents, including those connected to the Manhattan Project during World War II.

The life stories were used to build a digital collection for the Oak Ridge Public Library’s Center for Oak Ridge Oral History, or COROH. McDaniel was part of the group that made plans for the COROH and, following the city’s receipt of an annual grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, took the contract for the documentary work.

“A lot of original Oak Ridgers were dying and getting older,” McDaniel said in a press release from Carson-Newman University. “We felt it was really important to collect their memories, to collect their stories.”

The one-on-one filmed interviews gave those connected to the Manhattan Project, and later to the city at large, the opportunity to share their life stories, the press release said.

[Read more…]

Letter: Asks voters to seriously consider Dodson, Hope

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To the Editor:

When Oak Ridgers go to the polls to elect members of the Oak Ridge City Council, they will find a number of excellent candidates from which to choose. However, I would like to encourage all voters to seriously consider two of the candidates.

First, I have known Jim Dodson for a number of years. Jim and I have worked together on numerous projects, and I have found Jim to be one of the most honest, dependable, and reasonable people I have ever known. Jim has served our city as an educator, volunteer, and community leader for more than 30 years and has made an indelible impact on the lives of many in our community.

I truly believe Jim will bring the same kind of enthusiasm, expertise, and creativity to the Oak Ridge City Council that he has brought to so many other organizations and projects. Jim is an asset to our city and will definitely be an asset to our City Council. [Read more…]

New film on former ORNL Director Weinberg has premiere on April 23

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Alvin Weinberg Poster

The world premiere of a new film on the life of former Oak Ridge National Laboratory Director Alvin Weinberg will be held on Thursday, April 23, at the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge. The film was written and directed by award-winning documentary filmmaker and Oak Ridge resident Keith McDaniel.

Although McDaniel has written and directed more than a dozen documentary films, he is generally best known for his films “Secret City: The Oak Ridge Story” and “The Clinton 12.”

According to McDaniel, the biographical documentary entitled “Alvin Weinberg” explores the life of the internationally renowned nuclear scientist.

“I didn’t know Dr. Weinberg very well although I did interview him a couple of years prior to his death,” McDaniel said. “His was a fascinating life. In making this film, I wanted to not only tell stories of his professional achievements but I also wanted to show what Dr. Weinberg was like as a person.” [Read more…]

Documentary film to feature ORHS band

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Keith McDaniel

Keith McDaniel

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Filming began this week on a documentary film that will feature the Oak Ridge High School Wildcat Band, ORHS Band Director Spence Milligan announced Monday.

The film, entitled “TRADITION: A Year in the Life of the Oak Ridge High School Wildcat Band,” is being produced by Oak Ridger and award-winning documentary filmmaker Keith McDaniel. [Read more…]

Documentary about Roane State honored

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Roane State Documentary Honored

The award-winning film “Roane State: 40 Years of Class” is available on Roane State campuses. (Submitted photo)

A documentary commemorating Roane State Community College’s 40th anniversary has received another honor.

Roane State alumnus Keith McDaniel of Secret City Films in Oak Ridge wrote and directed “Roane State: 40 Years of Class.” The documentary recently received a 2012 National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) District 2 Silver Medallion Award.

NCMPR District 2 includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, and The Bahamas.

The film had previously earned second-place honors in the 33rd annual Telly Awards and a third-place award from the Tennessee College Public Relations Association (TCPRA).

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Secret City Film Festival converting movies to digital format this year

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Keith McDaniel

Keith McDaniel (Submitted photo)

The Secret City Film Festival will make history this year by becoming the first in the nation to screen all of its movies in a format used by the film industry for new movies in digital theaters across the country, organizer Keith McDaniel said.

The format is called the Digital Cinema Package. It will be used at the 9th Annual Secret City Film Festival scheduled for Sept. 21-23 at Downtown West Cinema 8 in Knoxville, an all-digital theater.

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Roane State documentary honored

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Roane State Documentary

The award-winning film “Roane State: 40 Years of Class” is available on Roane State Community College campuses.

A documentary commemorating Roane State Community College’s 40th anniversary has received two prestigious honors.

Roane State alumnus Keith McDaniel of Secret City Films in Oak Ridge wrote and directed “Roane State: 40 Years of Class.” The documentary received second-place honors in the 33rd annual Telly Awards and a third-place award from the Tennessee College Public Relations Association.

The film was honored in the Telly Awards’ film/video category. The Telly Awards was founded in 1979 and is the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, video and film productions, and online commercials, video and films. The contest includes nearly 11,000 entries from across the country and outside the United States.

The documentary was also honored in the TCPRA’s college promotional video category. Roane State was the only community college to receive an award in the TCPRA contest.

[Read more…]