In the commercialmaking industry, many know Henry Hagerty only as a sales rep at The Think Bank, New York, a firm he founded in 94.
Hagerty, though, also sings in the choir of Blessed Sacrament, a Catholic church in New York. In June 97, Edgar, a longtime member of the group, took his own life. Though only acquaintances, Hagerty said he had many conversations with Edgar, and knew that both his father and grandfather had died by suicide. He was very well-loved, said Hagerty, who had sung with the fellow baritone for three years.
Because of the loss, Hagerty ventured into films-turning out the five-minute piece Easter Clearing. Hagerty said the film is taken almost in its entirety from a dream he had in late 97, immediately after saying a prayer to Edgar. Besides serving as director and producer on the film, Hagerty also stars as main character Francis, a farmer based on the late choir mate.
Easter Clearing opens with Francis sitting on the only log in an expansive field, and holding a shotgun. He puts the barrel in his mouth, then takes it out again, obviously trying to muster the strength to pull the trigger. In the midst of his attempt at suicide, a pick-up truck dashes into the field and stops. Out of it come two men who stole the vehicle, not realizing a baby was in the backseat. The thieves are about to abandon the baby in the field. Appalled, Francis scares the kidnapping thieves away with gunshots, and then tenderly picks up the crying baby. Lets go find your mama, he says, comforting the newborn. In a few moments, the baby is fully smiling and laughing. Holding the baby, Francis then walks off in the distance to a road.
In playing Francis, Hagerty commented, Getting into the state of mind of someone who is able to shoot himself was one of the toughest things Ive ever done. Im glad Ill never go back there.
A year after its completion in January 99, Easter Clearing last month was picked up by bicoastal/international AtomFilms for distribution in the U.S. and abroad. Im glad that now anyone can click on the Web site and see it, said Hagerty. You dont do these
things because you want to look cool-its to share your vision. AtomFilms director of acquisitions Jannet Gargi first saw Easter Clearing during a pre-Oscar screening last year in Los Angeles. Hagerty said that hes glad the film will now have a greater opportunity to be a healing tool for families affected by suicide, or to those contemplating the act. Prior to his agreement with AtomFilms, Hagerty had donated 400 copies of Easter Clearing to the Alexandria, Va.-based National Mental Health Association, which has been showing the film during community forums. There was a sense of calling [among those involved in the film] that was above any of our individual egos, Hagerty said. We wanted to do the film so it could do some good.
Before Easter Clearing, Hagertys last filmmaking stint was in 84: a PSA for the Greater Los Angeles Council on Deafness (GLAD). In 80, after a brief attempt at a career as a doctor, Hagerty also directed, produced and created clay animation for another short film, About Leaving Med School. The film outlines the reasons he left such institutions. Im usually moved by one cause or another, said Hagerty of his filmwork. Though open to future helming offers, Hagerty said he is not pursuing film or spot directing as a career.
Among the companies that provided support to Hagerty were Panavision New York, which lent on gratis the 35mm camera used for the shoot, as well as lighting and production services; Duart Laboratories, New York, also contributed discounted film processing and optical, title and print services; and Eastman Kodak, Rochester, N.Y., which provided film, also at lesser cost. [Without assistance] Easter Clearing would have easily cost seventy thousand dollars-I did it for seven [thousand], said Hagerty. He added that the equipment and services used in the short were of the same quality of that used in feature films.
Hagerty also secured support from producer Sarah Taggart and her husband DP John Taggart, who head up Production 920, New York, a company that regularly produces and DPs segments of The Rosie ODonnell Show, as well as various MTV and VH1 programs, including MTV News and Behind the Music.
Composer/singer Jennifer Knipe provided the musical piece, Change Into Blue, for the film. Sound design and mixing was completed by Ted Spaniol out of Chris Bell Music & Sound Design, West Los Angeles; recording services by Mitch Osias and Tony Shimkin at Lmnop, New York. The piece was edited by David Gioiella of Northern Lights Post, New York.
Additional cast included Bruno Gioiello and Oz Phillips as the car thieves; and Ethan Zieja (Sarah Taggarts nephew) played the baby. Of Zieja, Hagerty recalled, I spent a day a week [before the shoot] babysitting him so he would get to know me. Easter Clearing was shot over two days on a New Jersey farm, west of Newark.
At his day job at The Think Bank, Hagerty reps animation companies Kleiser-Walczak, bicoastal and North Adams, Mass.; MTV Commercials, New York; Red Rover, Toronto; Kurtz & Friends, Burbank, Calif.; and Heck Yes!, Seattle.
