Foley's Film Documents Fight For Buffalo River
By Zane Myers
Lemke Ledger Staff
Prof. Larry Foley has been honored by the Broadcast Education Association for his most recent documentary, “The Buffalo Flows.”
The Buffalo River had been scheduled to be dammed, much to the dismay of many native Arkansans. A protest ensued and it was determined that the river would be allowed to continue flow freely.
“The Buffalo Flows” is about the efforts to save the river's history.
“It is the first national river, a significant battleground' it’s beautiful,” Foley said. “I floated it, fished it, photographed it and camped along its banks.”
The hour-long documentary took two years to complete and won the Broadcast Education Association's Festival of Arts Award, which was presented in Las Vegas this spring.
Alongside Foley in the filmmaking process was Prof. Dale Carpenter, who served as the film editor. The film features the narration of Academy Award winner Ray McKinnon. Foley said obtaining aerial footage was among the biggest challenges, but very important to the finished product.
Foley has three documentaries in progress: “John McDonnell: The Greatest Coach — Ever!,” “Sacred Spaces — The Architecture of Fay Jones” and “Bridge To War Eagle.”
Foley, a UA journalism graduate, is a two-time Emmy-winning filmmaker. He started working as a news reporter in 1977. As a reporter, Foley found himself working in sports. When he put together his first news special, Foley said, he really found his niche. It was a one-hour news special titled, “College Football: Arkansas Style.” This led Foley to work on his first documentary, titled, “1983, The Razorbacks Then and Now.”
“I liked having more time to work, develop and tell the story,” Foley said.
Foley returned to the UA to teach in 1993 and was inducted into the Lemke Journalism Society Hall of Honor in 2003. For more information about “The Buffalo Flows," visit www.thebuffaloflows.com.