Author Archives: David Wittkower

‘TEAM 28’ Documentary Shines Spotlight on Open-wheeled Modified Car Racing

Open-wheeled modified racing is the beating heart of grassroots motorsports, short track racing

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Feb. 26, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Multi-award-winning filmmaker David Wittkower is in the final lap of completing “TEAM 28,” a high-octane documentary that takes audiences deep into the world of short track racing. The film follows the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of a dedicated grassroots team. “We are starting the editing process now,” Wittkower said, “but we’re looking to raise funds to finish the film.”

Image caption: Team 28 car, driven by Buddy Charette is the subject of the new documentary about open-wheeled modified racing. Photo Credit: Andrew Wittkower.

The project is being developed as both a one-hour documentary and a potential series for a major motorsports network. While a GoFundMe page has helped fund the filming, additional financial support is needed to complete post-production.

Open-wheeled modified racing is the beating heart of grassroots motorsports. Unlike the sprawling superspeedways seen in NASCAR’s top series, these cars are typically on a half mile, making for intense, door-to-door action, quick laps, and high drama. This is where many of today’s professional drivers got their start, cutting their teeth on local asphalt and dirt ovals, battling for trophies, bragging rights, and a shot at the next level.

David Wittkower is a renowned documentary filmmaker with a passion for telling real, compelling human stories. Over the course of his career, he has captured the raw emotion, resilience, and spirit of his subjects. His past work has explored topics ranging from the Coast Guard, Wildland Firefighters to rodeo legends such as Lane Frost and Joe Beaver. His films have been seen on PBS, Discovery, Outdoor and History Channels to name a few.

“This is more than just a racing documentary – it’s a story about passion, perseverance, and the love of the game,” said Stacey Russell, one of the Producers of the film, car owner for Team 28, and lifelong racing fan.

“Short track racing is the backbone of motorsports, and ‘TEAM 28’ captures the grit, determination, and camaraderie that make this sport so special,” Russell adds. “We’re excited to bring this story to the fans who live and breathe racing just like we do, and bring to those who know nothing of the sport.”

For more information, see the promo video or to support the film, visit the GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-to-help-finish-a-documentary-project

NEWS SOURCE: David Wittkower

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (David Wittkower), who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. Image, if any, was provided by the news source and not this website or the wire service. Information is believed accurate, as provided by the news source, but is not guaranteed.

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/team-28-documentary-shines-spotlight-on-open-wheeled-modified-car-racing/

Documentary on Plight of Ground Fishermen to be Screened in Maine Towns

KITTERY, Maine /ScoopCloud/ -- aine residents will have an opportunity soon to witness the devastating impacts of federal regulations on the lives of New England ground fishermen, as seen through the eyes of a documentary filmmaker with a long record of acclaimed work. David Wittkower's "Dead in the Water" will be shown at four Maine community theaters in April.

It will be shown at Kittery, Star Theater, Waterville's Railroad Square, Boothbay Harbor's The Harbor Theater and Belfast's The Colonial Theater. The 7 p.m. screenings will be followed by a question period and panel discussion featuring local, New England commercial fishermen and the film makers.

Dates and Times (Schedule):
* Kittery Community Center - 04/06/18 - 120 Rogers Road, Kittery, ME 03904.
* Railroad Square Theater - 04/08/18 - 17 Railroad Square, Waterville, ME 04901.
* Harbor Theater - 04/09/18 - 185 Townsend Ave, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538.
* The Colonial Theater - 04/10/18 - 163 High Street, Belfast, ME 04915.

* At each screening, a Q&A will follow immediately after the film, with the filmmaker and fishermen.

The film was shot in New England coastal towns. It features scenes and interviews with area fishermen, their spouses and other family members, advocates for fishermen, elected officials, and community activists.

"This film opens the doors for the world to see how difficult and dangerous the life of a fisherman is," said John Bell, a former mayor of Gloucester, Massachusetts who advised Wittkower during the project. "On top of that, the impact of misguided federal regulations on fishermen has never been presented as powerfully as it is in 'Dead in the Water.' This film packs a real punch. It stays with you long after you've seen it."

On March 18, 2018, "Dead in the Water" received an award for Excellence in Cinematography for a Documentary at the Depth of Field International Film Festival competition. The film also features Grammy Award winning singer, Paula Cole.

Wittkower said he's hoping now that the film will show the audience what is really happening in this very complicated issue. "What we would like to see out of all this is to have people support commercial fishermen. I'd like to see people demand more fish is caught off of U.S. waters than to get it from Vietnam, Norway and New Zealand, and don't eat Tilapia."

Tickets to the April screenings are available by contacting the theaters or at their doors.

View the film trailer: https://youtu.be/RNGXvzBaamk

More information can be seen on the website: https://www.deadinthewater.info/.

Maine residents will have an opportunity soon to witness the devastating impacts of federal regulations on the lives of New England ground fishermen, as seen through the eyes of a documentary filmmaker with a long record of acclaimed work. David Wittkower's "Dead in the Water" will be shown at four Maine community theaters in April.

Related link: https://www.deadinthewater.info/

Premiere Set for ‘Dead in the Water,’ a Film on the ‘Relentless Destruction’ of Ground Fishing Industry

ROCKPORT, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- A documentary film dealing with the devastating impacts of federal regulations on the lives of New England ground fishermen, "Dead in the Water," produced and directed by Rockport native and professional filmmaker David Wittkower, will be screened for the first time in public in Rockport, Massachusetts on Nov. 18.

"Dead in the Water" was two-and-a-half years in the making and is Wittkower's fifteenth documentary film.

The film was shot in different coastal towns and it features scenes and interviews with area fishermen, their spouses and other family members; advocates for fishermen; elected officials; and community activists.

"This film opens the doors for the world to see how difficult and dangerous the life of a fisherman is," said John Bell, a former three-term mayor of Gloucester (2002-08). "On top of that, the impact of misguided federal regulations on fishermen has never been presented as powerfully as it is in 'Dead in the Water.' This film packs a real punch. It stays with you long after you've seen it."

Wittkower, a graduate of the American Film Institute as a cinematographer, who's been living and working in Los Angeles since 1981, describes "Dead in the Water" as an examination of "the relentless destruction of the New England ground fishing industry through government regulations, bad science, and the growing, but mistaken, belief that everything has been overfished and there aren't any fish left in the oceans."

The idea for the film came from a casual conversation he had on a sidewalk in Gloucester three years ago. "I was back in Rockport on a visit and I drove into Gloucester and noticed there were very few fishing boats in the harbor," Wittkower said. "I asked someone, 'Where's the fleet?' and he said, 'What fleet? The fleet's been dwindling for years, and this is what's left.'"

He started asking more questions about the plight of the town's fishermen and was soon directed to Angela Sanfilippo, the longtime president of the Gloucester Fishermen's Wives Association. Sanfilippo encouraged him when he raised the possibility of telling the story of the vanishing fleet of ground fishing boats and their crews on film.

"I could see that David was sincerely interested in this topic," said Sanfilippo, "and I quickly figured out he had the skills and track record to make a serious documentary on it, a film that could generate a lot of interest, here and elsewhere."

The Gloucester Fishermen's Wives Association decided to help and support Wittkower as much as possible. "The first time I saw the rough cut of 'Dead in the Water,' I knew we had done the right thing," said Sanfilippo. "This is something special."

One of the many friends and professional colleagues of Sanfilippo who appears in "Dead in the Water" is J.J. Bartlett, President of Fishing Partnership Support Services. He notes that physicians who have studied the physical and emotional effects upon ground fishermen of the changes in the industry "have concluded that 87 percent of them are suffering from symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)."

Bartlett said, "When you watch 'Dead in the Water,' you'll understand why that's so. And you'll leave the theater wanting to tell your friends, 'You have to see this film.'"

The film also includes the song, "Gloucester Harbor Shore" by Grammy(R) Award winner, Paula Cole.

Following the premiere in Rockport on Nov. 18, Wittkower is planning a tour where he will show the film in multiple locations and to a variety of audiences. That tour will begin in Massachusetts, with subsequent showings likely in Boston and New Bedford, and will extend to Maine and other coastal states. Simultaneously, he will be trying for a nationwide showing by getting the film on HBO, Netflix or Amazon.

"Dead in the Water" is Wittkower's fifteenth documentary film. He has won many awards for his work, including one from the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum for a film he did on Lane Frost, a famous rodeo bull rider who was accidentally killed at a riding event. He's hoping now that "something better than an award" will come from his latest project.

Said Wittkower, "I'm hoping to increase public support for U.S. fishermen. I want to help keep fishing jobs in this country. If 'Dead in the Water' can do that, I'd be pretty happy."

The film was recently accepted as Official Selections into the Depth of Field International Film Festival competition under three categories: Documentary, Direction and Cinematography.

A trailer of the film can be seen at: https://youtu.be/RNGXvzBaamk

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Dead-in-the-Water-The-Documentary-268307836700878/

*PHOTO for Media: Send2Press.com/300dpi/17-1114s2p-deadinwater-300dpi.jpg
*Photo Caption: Movie poster for "Dead in the Water" produced and directed by Rockport native and professional filmmaker David Wittkower.

A documentary film dealing with the devastating impacts of federal regulations on the lives of New England ground fishermen, "Dead in the Water," produced and directed by Rockport native and professional filmmaker David Wittkower, will be screened for the first time in public in Rockport, Massachusetts on Nov. 18.