What began as a look back at Hurricane Katrina through the eyes of the Salvation Army on the 15th anniversary of the monster storm this month quickly turned into something else when filming began in July.
Instead, it turned into a heartfelt story about the people behind the shield, those who serve the Salvation Army Gulf Coast Command.
The 20-minute program airs at 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. each day in August exclusively on BTV: Biloxi Television. It also airs at 1:30 each afternoon. BTV, the city’s municipal TV channel, Â is available in Biloxi on Sparklight 56 and Uverse 99 and worldwide at biloxi.ms.us/btv.
Three other programs also make their monthly BTV debut on Saturday, too, before finding their way to YouTube next week: The story of the Biloxi murals series, a storm-prep video from Biloxi Emergency Manager Nick Geiser, and a new video about how you can help protect the city’s new drainage systems and local waterways. Of course, council meeting replays, an infrastructure update and other programming remain in the daily schedule.
“The People Behind the Shield” was a revealing production for lensman Renny Sherman.
“I’ve been involved in video production and marketing since the early ’80s and every now and then a project becomes more than just the work I put into it,” said Sherman, who films and edits most of the programming on BTV and the videos on the city’s social media pages.
“We lived through Katrina and saw that the Salvation Army seemed to be everywhere after the storm,” Sherman said. “Looking at it through these stories from the Salvation Army staff, I now realize that while they were doing everything they could to help us, they were personally experiencing the same loss, fear and uncertainty.
“These people really are heroes. They have a passion for what they do. They are champions of faith and the human spirit.”
Most of the half dozen staffers in the program were helped by the Salvation Army in the days and weeks after Katrina before joining the Army.
“Salvation Army: The People Behind the Shield” is a City of Biloxi production, guided by Morgan Shiyou, the Army’s local communications guru. It was filmed and edited by Renny Sherman.
The murals of Biloxi: The story behind the story
For August Taconi, it’s a chore that could not be derailed by COVID-19.
Taconi, who has captured on camera dozens of Biloxi events over the years, has for months been working on a film to tell the story of the Main Street mural program.
It’s a dozen brightly crafted murals that now shine on the exterior walls of buildings throughout downtown and as far east as Point Cadet.
Taconi’s 25-minute program, with the catchy title “The Biloxi Main Street Public Art Project: The murals,” airs at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily on BTV in August. You can also see it at 12:30 each day.
BTV News & Notes: Camille, stormwater and more
Camille: See “A Lady Called Camille,” the 27-minute documentary about the original monster storm, daily on BTV in August. It airs at 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., as well as 1 in the afternoon. It’s Wade Guice at his best.
Stormwater management: The feds and Community Development types call it “stormwater management.” We call it common sense. See the things you need to know about how to protect our new drainage systems in Biloxi and our local waterways. “Stormwater management: Common sense info” airs at 8:30 a.m., 8:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. The 12-minute program was assembled by Renny Sherman and narrated by William Sackett, the host of the former “City Desk” podcast and the voice of BTV.
Council TV: You can see a replay of Biloxi City Council meetings each day at 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. on BTV. August also will include a host of budget workshops. Meetings also are streamed live online. Click on the LIVE button at the right of every page on the city website.
See the BTV schedule for August
See BTV online now
