Leo Jodoin, Salem Now, and Again (2 of 3)

"Leo Jodoin, Salem Now, and Again" - A Documentary.
Written, Produced, & Directed by Paul K. Bisson

During its ten year run, "Salem Now" and its producer/host, Leo Jodoin had become a local television success. That success was due not only to the variety of issues tackled but also to Leo himself -- and the manner in which he hosted. Tough, assertive, and direct; Leo's on-camera persona had become as popular as the show itself. But what was he really like? How did "Salem Now" come to be? The community that tuned in each month knew little beyond what they saw on TV. As the show's 10th anniversary rolled around, it seemed like an ideal opportunity to find out.

I was eager to do a profile documentary for a long time but was having difficulty finding a subject. There needed to be a angle, a hook -- a reason for the piece beyond my own wants. About this same time, word that fellow producer; Leo Jodoin was gearing up for his 10th anniversary show. Ten years, I thought -- a milestone. What better angle than that? And then I thought about Leo himself. He's quite a character. But was it real -- or just an act? I decided to find out. The documentary became two-pronged: the man and the show.

There are all kinds of shows on public access -- not all of which resonate with the community. "Salem Now" established itself early on as a show "for the people." Its host and executive producer, Leo Jodoin, steadily rose to local personality status. But there's always more to learn about someone. And I knew that the community would enjoy and benefit from a documentary that went behind-the-scenes of both the show and the man.

©2007 Wigibot Media

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• leo
• jodoin
• salem
• now
• satv
• documentary
• bisson
• paul
• p.e.g.
• public
• access
• community
• underdog
• issues
• jail
• elderly
• interview
• yt:quality=high