The Quoddy Tides speaks with Kryszak, students about ‘When the Chevy Breaks’ documentary

UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Friday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

May 15, 2019 Arts, UMaine in the News

The Quoddy Tides interviewed Alan Kryszak, an interdisciplinary fine arts faculty member at the University of Maine at Machias, and UMaine Machias students, about their documentary film “When the Chevy Breaks (How Small Towns Fix Big Problems).” The film was produced by students in Kryszak’s Downeast Documentary course, and is the third in a series, the article states. “Questions were deliberately not scripted,” said Kryszak about the filmmaking process. “The opening question, ‘Can you talk about a problem you have solved, or how are problems dealt with in Down East Maine?’ launches a unique, interesting and organic story as the students listen [and capture].” The assignment from day one of the class was to “capture people, light and any story that relays how someone solves a problem, living in remote areas where outside help is not always there,” according to Kryszak. “The theme got my brain going. It was a tool,” said UMM student Sophie Squire. “[Krysak] was technical, but also very adamant about the art behind it, and he described a lot of the technical nuances of how you can portray your creativity in film,” said UMM Early College student Alexis Morrill. “The biggest thing was when you were interviewing people — that whole scenario — there’s a camera, there’s people around this one person, and this person’s kind of putting their heart out, and putting it out on film, and everyone’s going to watch it. It’s a lot,” said UMM student Christopher Palmiotto. Other student filmmakers this year included Alex Blackie, Kayla Cater, Eric Darby, Jesse Gray, Brooke Hachey, Lucas Logan, Abdalla Mostafa, Holly Preston, Will Rittenhouse, Miranda Sutton and Trevor Tanski, The Quoddy Tides reported. County Wide Free Press also previewed the April 24 UMM premiere of the film.