photo by Kyle Spears
WTIU’s Spirit of Brown County ~by Bill Weaver
M
arch blooms early this year as WTIU Public Television broadcasts Jim Krause’s muchanticipated documentary Spirit of Brown County on Sunday March 3 at 8 p.m. How did he manage to cram all that is Brown County—the art, history, and culture—into a single hour? “Brown County is so rich,” he says, still enthusiastic after working on the project for the better part of 13 months. “All the subjects—whether it’s the music, the history, the beauty, the state park, the characters—you would need a whole series of documentaries to do them justice. I had to make a balance and not stay focused on one particular thing too long. I stuck to my original treatment but there were some really good surprises.” Surprises like being introduced to Tom Adler, a leading authority of bluegrass and the Bean Blossom festivals; or joining the White Lightning Boys for a jam at Uncle Otis’s garage. Krause visited with gold prospectors at Gatesville, rode the train through Helmsberg and Trevlac, and joined Brown County
32 Our Brown County • March/April 2013
Sheriff’s Deputy Chad Williams while making his daily rounds. “It was more fun hanging with people than even making the documentary,” he remembers. “There’s a rich sense of community and friendship; something spiritual.” At the end of 13 months and 21 interviews, he would do it again. “I never met anyone that I didn’t want to hang out with,” he laughs. “I got to meet so many interesting people, nice people, generous people. I’m very humbled by the opportunity. It was a wonderful experience for me.” The television premiere of Spirit of Brown County is Sunday, March 3 at 8 p.m. Additional airings include Thursday, March 7 at 9 p.m.; Sunday, March 10 at 3:30 p.m.; Tuesday, March 12 at 1 p.m.; and Saturday, March 16 at 10:30 a.m. Viewers in Nashville can watch WTIU on New Wave Communication channel 101, DirecTV and DISH TV channel 30. More information about Spirit of Brown County can be found at <http:// indianapublicmedia.org/Spirit/> where the complete video will be available from March 4–31.