It also takes viewers inside the homes, churches, and schools of Pontotoc County, where people credit prayer for their prosperity and happiness and blame Herdahl for unnecessarily shattering it. I was happy just to be nominated for a national Emmy Award, because independent producers rarely get to compete in the major leagues. Working on the documentary consumed five years of my life, and the film s success has kept me traveling and speaking through this year. Imagine having to repeat that pattern, with little advance notice, no outside financing, tenuous access to sources who were often suspicious of us, and little confidence that the film could even be completed. Looking back, it s miraculous that we achieved so much.
Crane teaches courses in journalism, documentary research, scriptwriting, and critical thinking.
He has written and produced works for radio, television, stage, and film. There were many memorable moments, but the highlights were probably the week-long screening on Broadway through the Film Society of Lincoln Center, an embassy dinner in my honor in Washington, D.C., after winning the Documentaries International prize, and of course, the Emmy. As to the future, new professional opportunities are beckoning, says Crane. I m nursing a couple of documentary ideas, as well as trying to develop a dramatic series for television. Teaching is my real calling, and now that School Prayer is finished, I m very grateful for the chance to spend more time in the classroom.