Saint Mary's Magazine Winter 2003 - Saint Mary's University of ...

FROM ALUMNI THE CLASS EDITOR NOTES
1977
James Gavin, Mundelein, Ill.,
has joined Glen Ingram &
Company, LTD, as audit
supervisor.
Rock La Manna, St. Paul,
Minn., is owner of Advanced
Converting Technology.
1978
Father R. Paul Heiting,
Winona, Minn., completed a
license in canon law at St.
Thomas Aquinas University
(The Angelicum), Rome, in
June, 2002. He is currently
assigned as spiritual director at
Immaculate Heart of Mary
Seminary, Saint Mary’s
University and as adjunct
judicial vicar of the marriage
tribunal for the Diocese of
Winona.
W. Mark Shaw, Northfield,
Minn., was appointed director
of Rice County Social Services
in September, 2002.
1979
John Daley, Evergreen, Ill.,
secretary of the Moraine Valley
Community College Board of
Trustees, became president of
the Illinois Community College
Trustees Association on July 1,
2002.
Mexico is added to international
study abroad programs (1990)
70
Performance Center and lobby
frescoes completed (1987)
69
Filmmaker’s interest
in military aircraft
leads to White House
Shooting a seven-minute short film on Marine
One, the presidential helicopter, took producer Mark
McCarville ’80 for quite a ride.
Not only did McCarville get an up-close look at
the U.S. Marine Base in Quantico, Va. — not to
mention the Washington Monument, Lincoln
Memorial and the White House — but he also got to
travel to Kennebunkport for an interview with former
President Bush.
“I’ve always been interested in military aircraft,
but working on this project was surreal at times,” said
McCarville. Last March he started his own film
company, FIDO Films, and began the process of
bringing the story of Marine One to the screen. “Our
first day of shooting (in May in Washington, D.C.)
started out with sunrise near the reflecting pool at the
Lincoln Memorial. We went from there to the South
Lawn of the White House. We flew around D.C. in a
CH-46, filming two of the White House helicopters
flying around, then we actually flew in a VH-3 and
landed at the White House.
“I have very good memories of the time I was
able to spend with former
President Bush,” continued
McCarville, noting that he
also interviewed former
President Clinton for the
piece. “I never pictured
myself being in that type
of situation — face-to-face
with two former presidents
of the United States. There
were times during the production that I had to step
back and marvel at what I was doing. On any given
day, I was talking to the White House, the Pentagon,
offices of former presidents and the Marine squadron
that we were filming.
“It truly was amazing.”
McCarville and director AnnaLisa Lunn weren’t
allowed much time alone during their work at the
White House. In fact, wherever the two were in a
secure area, armed Secret Service agents were close
behind.
Mark
McCarville ’80,
documentary
filmmaker
“It was a little unnerving at times,” admitted
McCarville, noting that most of his filming occurred
after the tragic events of Sept. 11. “You talk to the
Marines in front of the camera and everything is happy
and great, but you turn around and see the security
and you know that if you do something terribly
wrong, chances are you are in serious trouble. Every
place these helicopters go — even across the street to
be washed — they are surrounded by armed Marines
charged with the protection of the aircraft with orders
to shoot to kill if necessary.”
McCarville, who graduated from Saint Mary’s with
a bachelor degree in communication arts, was hoping
to produce an hour-long documentary on Marine One
to air on the Discovery or History Channels. When he
didn’t get the response he was hoping for, he
contacted Sikorsky Aircraft Company, the
manufacturer of the Marine One helicopters.
“It ended up working out just fine,” said
McCarville, noting that he is still continuing discussions
with the Discovery Channel regarding shooting a
longer version. “I have to admit that I came away with
an immense feeling of awe. There I was, sitting in the
same aircraft that the most powerful man in the free
world uses.
“That’s an indescribable feeling.”
34 SAINT MARY’S MAGAZINE WINTER 2003