Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 22, 1993 TAG: 9304220179
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: ROBERT FREIS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
\ You won't find "BLACKSBURG" spelled out in large block letters on Brushy Mountain. Our equivalent of the MGM lion would be a mooing cow. We call people who write their names in wet concrete vandals instead of movie stars.
But, hey, Tinseltown's got nothing on us. This town's having a Hollywood-style premiere of its own, in honor of the Oscar-winning film shot here.
People have been clamoring to see "Educating Peter" since it was named best short documentary at the Academy Award ceremony last month.
The film, "starring" 11-year-old Peter Gwazdauskas, is about his inclusion in a third-grade class at Gilbert Linkous Elementary School.
Peter has Down syndrome and until last year attended special education classes with other students with disabilities.
"Educating Peter" recounts his experiences and those of his classmates and teacher, Martha Ann Stallings.
It's an inspiring story of ups, downs, trials and achievements. Thus far, however, it's only been viewed by a few people.
The suspense will end next month. First, a special screening and dinner will be held May 6 to honor Peter and his co-stars, Martha Ann Stallings' class.
Sponsored by HBO and Blacksburg Cable Television, the screening will be a gala affair, featuring Gerardine Wurzburg, the film's producer, and the real, honest-to-god Oscar earned by "Educating Peter."
A week later, on May 12, HBO has approved a request by Blacksburg Cable Television to air "Educating Peter" on the system's public access channel, which means even cable subscribers who don't have HBO can see the film.
Perhaps then Principal Ray Van Dyke and the other folks at Gilbert Linkous Elementary School can get back to a normal routine.
Ever since Wurzburg, from the dais at the ceremony and on national prime-time television, said hello and thanks to the school, fame's found Gilbert Linkous.
Van Dyke said he's received phone calls from across America about "Educating Peter." Another film company has inquired about shooting a film at the school.
Sesame Street Magazine carried an article about the film, USA Today might have one soon, and Variety had a full-page ad congratulating Peter and his classmates.
"It's been exciting," Van Dyke said.
Likewise, Jim Corrin, general manager of Blacksburg Cable Television, said his office has received a slew of calls from viewers wanting to know when they can see "Educating Peter."
The arrangement to show the film via public access means that "Educating Peter" can be seen by about 12,000 cable subscribers, most of whom live in Blacksburg, Corrin said.
"Educating Peter" is scheduled to be shown five times nationally on HBO between May 11 and 23.
The screening and dinner at Custom Catering in Blacksburg on May 6 is by invitation, Corrin said. He expects about 200 people to attend, including faculty, staff, students and parents of Gilbert Linkous Elementary School and various other community bigwigs.
Blacksburg Cable Television and HBO are absorbing the costs of that bash as a community service, Corrin said.
Van Dyke, who already has seen "Educating Peter," says he's eager for others to see the film and consider its message.
Wurzburg, in her acceptance remarks, underscored the film's theme by advocating "full inclusion for people with disabilities in our society."
"Educating Peter" can be tough to watch, Van Dyke said, particularly during the episodes early in the school year when Peter and his classmates were new to one another and struggling to adjust.
The progress they made is the film's triumph - a process that didn't cease when the director said, "Cut!"
Peter's mother, Judy Gwazdauskas, said his life changed for the better when Montgomery County schools' special education staff said they would place Peter in a regular classroom.
"We wish people could see Peter now," Van Dyke said. "And what a completely different child he is."
by CNB