Abt Appliances and Electronics Store Documentary - ID# 90

Glenbrook South

Division: A

Documentary

Entry Description

Abt Appliances and Electronics is a store located in Glenview, Illinois. The store carries a wide variety of products, ranging from screen projectors to suitcases. Founded in 1936 by David and Jewel Abt, the store has remained family-run to this day and is under the direction of their grandchildren. This documentary explores that rich family history as well as the unique family-friendly environment that the store creates for its customers.

Recent Teacher Comments

• 4/24 8:57 pm - Tough to compete with human interest/social conscience pieces entered in this category. Technically great, but it's more of a commercial in the spirit of Walter E Smithe’s behind-the-scenes spots.
• 3/8 4:41 pm - Opening is dynamic, well shot, and well-paced. Good interviews and strong shooting. Impressive filming interviews with lights- makes all the difference. The music is constant, should fade down into nat sound on occasion. There is no narrative tension - what’s at stake? How is this profile-- not just a PR coup or commercial? That tension is what makes a documentary a film rather than a news package or infomercial.
• 3/5 4:05 pm - The is definitely a technically competent story, but it looks like a marketing video rather than a documentary film. What's missing is the story. When the current owner talked about his grand mother is when my curiosity peaked. Theirs is a unique story particularly in the context of the bland Home Depot culture - it's a piece of Americana and I wished you thought a little bit more about the "angle" for your story.

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