>> SHE IS A FEATURE FILM AND THEATER PRODUCER WHO HAS MADE POIGNANT DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT A AN UNSEEN AND UNHEARD SIDE OF VERMONT.

JOIP ME IN A CONVERSATION WITH BESS O'BRIEN NEXT O"PROFILE."

BESS WAS BORN IN NEW YORK BUT GREW UP IN MIDDLEBURY WHERE HER FATHER BECAME DEAN OF THE COLLEGE.

SHE GRADUATED FROM MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE AND DOVE INTO THE WORLD OF THEATER BY STARTING HER OWN NEW YORK CITY COMPANY AND WORKING ON BROADWAY.

IN 1985 SHE RETURNED TO MIDDLEBURY AND FOUNDED VERMONT ENSEMBLE THEATER BEFORE MEETING HER FUTURE HUSBAND JAY CRAVEN.

BY THE EARLY '90s THEY HAD CO-FOUNDED KINGDOM COUNTY PRODUCTIONS WHICH HAS PRODUCED THREE FEATURE FILMS AND FLEDGLING FILMS, AN INSTITUTE FOR YOUTH.

SHE HAS PRODUCED THREE POWERFUL AWARD WINNING DOCUMENT REGION ABOUT VERMONTERS DEALING WITH MURDER, HEROIN.

IT'S THOSE ARE HEAVY TOPICS YOU DEAL WITH.

>> THAT'S FOR SURE.

>> IN THE EARLY '80s YOU WENT TO WORK IN THEATER IN NEW YORK CITY.

YOU HAD YOUR OWN THEATER COMPANY.

YOU ALSO WORKED ON BODWAY BUT CAME BACK AND BEGAN A PROFESSIONAL THEATER COMPANY HERE Y.

CAN ROW LEAVE NEW YORK, A MEM MECCA OF THEATER?

>> BY THE TIME I ENDED COLLEGE I DECIDED IN PRODUCING THEATER.

THE ONLY PLACE I COULD IMAGINE WAS IN NEW YORK CITY.

THAT WAS JUST THE HUB OF WHERE EVERYTHING WAS HAPPENING.

I WENT TO NEW YORK CITY WITH A BUNCH OF MY FRIENDS.

I STARTED A COMPANY, WORKED OFF BROADWAY, ON BROADWAY PRODUCING THEATER AND WAS HAVING A GREAT TIME.

THE SCENE WITH ANY LARGE CITY, MY PLACE WHERE YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN IN A VERY COMPETITIVE WORLD IS YOU START TO THINK, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN I DO WHAT I REALLY FEEL IN MY GUT?

HOW REQUEST I MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

IT WAS THREE YEARS AFTER I HAD BEEN THERE, IT WAS 95, BOILING HOT, MUGGY, HORRIBLE.

I WAS GOING THROUGH THIS CATHARTIC THING, WHAT DO I WANT TO DO WITH THE REST OF MY LIFE.

WHAT DID THEATER REALLY MEAN TO ME AND A FRIEND GOT MARRIED IN VERMONT.

I CAME IN JULY AND IT WAS LIKE NIRVANA.

I WAS LIKE WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING IN MANHATTAN?

I GOT THIS BRAIN STORM TO SAY, WELL, WHY THE HELL CAN'T I JUST TAKE MY FRIENDS, BRING THEM TO VERMONT AND DO THEATER IN THE GREEN MOUNTAINS AND DO GREAT THEATER AND HAVE FUN DOING T. SO THAT'S WHAT I DID.

I SORT OF FOR ABOUT THREE OR FOUR YEARS I ACTUALLY HAD THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS.

I WAS LIVING IN MIDDLEBURY RUNNING VERMONT ENSEMBLE AUTHORITY, GOING BACK AND FORTH.

REMEMBER PEOPLE'S EPRESS WHERE YOU COULD GO BETWEEN HERE AND NORTH FOR $25.

I WAS HAVING PRODUCTION MEETINGS IN NEW YORK, LIVING HERE, BRINGING MY FRIENDS UP IN THE SUMMER.

IT WAS A WONDERFUL TIME.

>> SO MEMORABLE PRODUCTIONS.

>> MEMORABLE PRODUCTIONS.

YES.

>> OUR TOWN, YOU'RE MOVING THE AUDIENCE AROUND -- >> WE DID -- >> THIS DOESN'T SEEM TO HAPPEN ANY MORE.

>> WE REALLY WERE INTERESTED IN DOING WHAT WE CALLED ENVIRONMENTAL THEATER, WHICH WAS FIRST WE DID -- WE PERFORMED UNDER A TENT.

SO IT WAS OUTDOOR THEATER.

WE DID A LOT OF THE SHOWS OUTDOORS WITH THE AUDIENCE, MOVING AROUND FROM THE TENT TO FIELDS AND BACK AGAIN.

WE DID THIS TERRIFIC ADAPTATION OF WHERE THE LEAD ROLE IS ON HIS MOTORCYCLE AND HE DRIVES FROM PLACE TO PLACE AND THE AUDIENCE WOULD FOLLOW HIM AROUND.

IT WAS JUST WONDERFUL.

WE DID A PRODUCTION OF OUR TOWN IN THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBURY IN THREE DIFFERENT CHURCHES, HAVE THE AUDIENCE GO FROM CHURCH TO CHURCH.

IT WAS A TERRIFIC TIME.

REALLY BROUGHT ME BACK TO LOVING VERMONT AGAIN.

>> HOW DID YOU MEET ANOTHER EXTRAORDINARY ENTREPRENEUR AND RISK TAKER, JAY CRAVEN?

>> WELL, WHEN I CAME BACK IN THE MID '80s I SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE SOMEBODY TOLD ME ABOUT THIS GUY JAY CRAVEN IN THE NORTHEAST KINGDOM DOING PHENOMENAL STUFF.

DOING CHUCK BERRY IN THESE LITTLE TOWNS IN NOWHEREVILLE.

I WAS VERY FASCINATED BY THIS.

OF COURSE BEING IN MIDDLEBURY I NEVER GOT UP THERE BECAUSE IT SEEMED TOO FAR AWAY BUT I ALWAYS HEARD ABOUT HIM.

THEN A DEAR FRIEND OF MINE WAS TOURING IN THE SAN FRANCISCO MIME TROUPE THAT JAY HAD BROUGHT TO VERMONT.

I WENT TO SEE THAT PRODUCTION AT THE FLYNN THEATER AND SHE INTRODUCED ME TO JAY.

SHE SAYS SHE'S THE ONE THAT GOT US TOGETHER.

WE MET AND CORRESPONDED AND KNEW WHAT EACH OTHER WAS DOING.

THEN AFTER THREE YEARS OF VERMONT ENSEMBLE THEATER I WAS REEXAMINING WHAT I WANTED TO DO, MAYBE GO BACK TO THE CITY.

I WROTE HIM A LETTER AND SAID, YOU KNOW, IT WAS GREAT TO MEET YOU.

I'M THINKING OF POSSIBLY MOVING ON AND DOING SOMETHING ELSE BACK IN NEW YORK.

AND HE IMMEDIATELY WROTE ME A LETTER SAYING, OH, NO, NO, I WOULD LOVE TO CONSIDER HIRING YOU TO WORK FOR ME BECAUSE I'M ABOUT TO PRODUCE MY FIRST FILM AT CATAMOUNT ARTS AND I WOULD LOVE YOU TO HELP ME PRODUCE IT.

I HAD NEVER PRODUCED A FILM.

I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT FILM MAKING.

>> BUT I SAID YES.

>> I SAID YES.

I WENT UH UP THERE, HE INTERVIEWED ME, AND WE MADE HIGH WATER.

THE FILM THAT WE MADE TOGETHER.

>> YOU WENT ON TO CO-PRODUCE THE RIVERS FLOW NORTH, THE WAY THE RIVERS THROW NORTH, STRANGER IN THE KINGDOM.

THEY STARRED MICHAEL J.

FOX, MARTIN SHEEN.

HUGE UNDERTAKINGS AND A LEAP OF FAITH.

YOU HAVE TO RAISE MONEY.

YOU HAVE TO -- MARKETING, MANAGING THE SHOOT.

WHY TAKE ON THAT MUCH STRESS?

THESE ARE BOTH OF YOU ARE GREAT VISIONARIES BUT THIS IS HUGE.

>> WHY TAKE ON SO MUCH STRESS?

THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

PROBABLY BECAUSE BOTH JAY AND I ARE SOMEWHAT CRAZY, AND WE WERE IN LOVE.

WE WERE PASSIONATE AND I ALWAYS THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER MEET ANYBODY WHO WAS MORE DRIVEN THAN I UNTIL I MET MY HUSBAND.

SO I WAS DRIVEN AND HE WAS, LIKE, TEN FEET IN FRONT OF ME DRIVING THE CATTLE.

SO I WAS VERY TAKEN BY HIS VISION.

I BELIEVED IN IT, AND OF COURSE THE EXTRA STRESS WAS THAT WE WERE MARRIED -- WE GOT MARRIED IN 1991, WHICH WAS ABOUT FIVE MONTHS BEFORE WE STARTED SHOOTING THE MOVIE, AND WE SENT OUT OUR INVITATIONS SAYING DON'T SEND US ANY WEDDING PRESENTS, SEND MONEY FOR MAKING OUR MOVIE.

SO EVERYTHING WAS AROUND.

THAT OF COURSE I GOT PREGNANT.

I WAS EIGHT MONTHS PREGNANT BY THE TIME WE FINISHED SHOOTING THE FILM.

SO IT WAS -- YOU KNOW, IT WAS INTENSE.

I WAS WANDERING AROUND WITH MY STOMACH OUT TO HERE TRYING TO MAKE THIS MOVIE HAPPEN.

IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE ROLLER COASTER RIDE.

IT TOOK A LOT OF LEGAL FAITH, THAT'S FOR SURE.

>> YOU MORTGAGED YOUR HOUSE.

>> MORTGAGED OUR HOUSE.

JAY AND I AND LAUREN MOY ALL WORKED OUT OF OUR ESSENTIALLY ATTIC RAISING -- WE PUT TOGETHER $2 MILLION TO MAKE THAT MOVIE AND MOST OF IT FROM VERMONT THROUGH LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AND INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS.

SO IT WAS AN INTENSE TIME.

EXCITING.

>> WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT MAKING MAKINGMOVIES FOR YOU?

>> TO ME IT'S THE EXCITEMENT OF ALL THESE PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER WITH ALL THEIR INDIVIDUAL TALENTS TO MAKE THE MOMENT HAPPEN.

FROM ONE OF THE THE MOST EXCITING THINGS IN A FILM SET IS HAVING 50 PEOPLE STANDING AROUND, PRODUCTION DESIGNERS, LINE PRODUCERS, WHATEVER, ACTORS.

AND THEN WHEN EVERYBODY IS GETTING ALL THE SHOTS SET UP THEN THERE'S THAT MOMENT WHERE THEY SAY, QUIET ONSET AND EVERYTHING GOES -- CATHOLIC CHURCH HOOSH, TO THIS ONE MOMENT.

EVERYBODY IS QUIET.

ROLLING, ACTION.

IT'S A VERY EXCITING MOMENT WHEN YOU SEE ALL THOSE THINGS COMING TOGETHER AND ACTORS WORKING.

I JUST REMEMBER THE FIRST DAY THE CAMERA PACKAGE SHOWED UP FOR RIVER, OH, MY GOD, IT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING.

I LOVE THAT CREATIVE ENERGY.

I LOVE COLLABORATION, THE IDEA OF MAKING SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING.

AND DEFINITELY WORKING IN GRASS ROOTS THEATER, FILM, WHATEVER, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A HUGE LEAP OF FAITH BECAUSE FOR MOST OF THE TIME THE MONEY IS NOT THERE AT THE BEGINNING.

SOMETIMES IT'S NOT EVEN THERE AS YOU'RE DOING IT.

STRANGER, WE HAD ONLY RAISED HALF THE MONEY AND WE RAISED THE REST OF IT AS WE WERE SHOOTING THE MOVIE, SO THAT WAS EVEN MORE INTENSE.

BUT IT'S A SHOT OF ADRENALINE.

I'M CERTAINLY PROUD OF WHAT CAME OUT OF BOTH THOSE FILMS.

I THINK THEY ARE VERY STRONG FILMS.

>> IN THE MEANTIME YOU ARE ALSO PRODUCING DOCUMENTARIES.

>> YES.

>> ON VERY TOUGH SUBJECT NICK CARTER.

THE FIRST WAS JOURNEY INTO COURAGE, A THEATER PROJECT WITH SIX WOMEN WHO HAVE SURVIVED DOMESTIC AND VIOLENT ABUSE.

SEXUAL ABUSE.

WHY DID YOU MAKE THAT FILM?

>> WELL, I WAS WORKING AT CATAMOUNT ARTS.

WE WERE PRODUCING HIGH WATER.

GETTING READY TO DO NORTH.

THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ORGANIZATION UMBRELLA WAS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET AND I WAS FEELING LIKE I WAS IN THIS NEW TOWN, ST. JOHNSBURY.

I DIDN'T KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING TO CONNECT ME WITH THE COMMUNITY.

SO I JUST WENT OVER THERE ONE DAY AND SAID I WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER, BE AN ADVOCATE.

THEY SAID FINE.

I STARTED WORKING WITH WOMEN THERE AND PART WAY THROUGH THAT I SORT OF GOT THIS IDEA, SORT OF GOING BACK TO MY THEATER ROOTS, SAYING WOULDN'T IT BE NEAT TO START A SORT OF IMPROV WORKSHOP WITH WOMEN WHO WERE SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ABUSE, TALKING ABOUT THEIR ISSUES AND THEIR STORIES.

I ASKED IF I COULD RUN A THEATER CLASS OR IMPROV CLASS WITH SIX OR SEVEN WOMEN AND THEY SAID GREAT, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU DO THAT.

>> I STARTED TO DO.

THAT THE WOMEN AND I TOTALLY BONDED.

I LEARNED ABOUT THEY'RE STORIES AND IT OPENED ME UP TO THAT ISSUE BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AT THAT TIME.

I FOUND IT VERY COMPELLING.

AT ONE POINT I THOUGHT THIS WOULD MAKE AN INCREDIBLE THEATER PIECE TO HAVE THESE WOMEN TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE THINGS THAT THEY ARE TELLING ME, WHICH WERE VERY POWERFUL AND MOVING.

I BROACHED IT TO THEM ONE DAY.

WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN ACTUALLY DOING THIS IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE?

THEY SAID, YEAH.

WE WOULD.

SO THEN I TOOK THEM AND WORKED WITH THEM FOR THREE OOR FOUR MONTHS PUTTING THEIR STORIES TOGETHER.

WE THOUGHT WE WOULD DO IT THREE TIMES IN ST. JOHNSBURY AND THAT WOULD BE IT.

IT WAS PACKED HOUSES AND PEOPLE WERE VERY BLOWN AWAY BY THE POWER OF THE STORIES SO WE STARTED GETTING PHONE CALLS FROM PEOPLE OVER THE STATE BRING IT TO MY COMMUNITY.

THEN WE TOURED FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF ALL OVER VERMONT, NEW ENGLAND.

IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE.

>> YOU MADE THE FILM.

>> THE REASON I MADE THE FILM, OF COURSE I HAD NEVER MADE A DOCUMENTARY FILM BEFORE BUT I THOUGHT I HAVE GOT TO MAKE A FILM TALKING ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE BECAUSE THE MOST INCREDIBLE THING FOR ME WAS TO SEE HOW IN DOING THIS PLAY AND TOURING THE WOMEN MOVED FORWARD IN THEIR HEALING PROCESS AND I WANTED TO DOCUMENT THAT AND TALK ABOUT HOW THIS WAS SO POWERFUL FOR THEM IN SPEAKING OUT AND CONNECTING WITH AUDIENCES.

>> IT WAS AMAZING THESE WOMEN WERE ABLE TO BREAK THE SILENCE.

HOW DO YOU GAIN THEIR TRUST TO TAKE THEM SO FAR?

TO BE ON THE STAGE AND SCREEN?

>> WELL, I THINK, YOU KNOW, I THINK PEOPLE FIRST VAN DAM WHO OF ALL WHOHAVE GONE THROUGH TRAC SITUATIONS OR STRUGGLING WITH THINGS IN THEIR LIFE WHETHER IT'S A THERAPIST OR SOCIAL WORKER PEOPLE NEED TO BE LISTENED TO.

I GUESS WHAT I TRUE I TO DO IS REALLY LISTEN TO PEOPLE AND GIVE THEM A F FORUM WHERE THEY FEEL SAFE.

WHEN I BROUGHT UP THE IDEA SHALL WE TAKE IT TO THE NEXT STEP, TAKING YOUR STORIES OUT TO THE PUBLIC, I'M SURE THERE WAS SOME TREPIDATION, SOME NERVOUSNESS.

THERE WAS A RISK THERE.

BUT I THINK AT THAT POINT THE WOMEN WERE READY TO TAKE THAT RISK AND THE MINUTE THAT THEY GOT OUT THERE AND GOT THE FEEDBACK FROM THE AUDIENCE AND THE INCREDIBLE SUPPORT THEY GOT FROM THE AUDIENCE IT WAS A HIGH.

IT WAS JUST AN INCREDIBLE FEELING OF, YOU KNOW, RECOGNITION FOR WHAT THEY HAD SAID AND WHAT THEY WERE GOING THROUGH.

>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT A CLIP FROM L JOURNEY INTO COURAGE.

>> OKAY.

>> CAN YOU GIVE THE LIGHTS THE WAY THEY SHOULD BE, SHOW ME WHAT THE LIGHTS LOOK LIKE.

MAYBE BRING A LITTLE BIT OF LIGHT UP ON THE STAGE.

>> YEAH.

THAT'S GOOD.

THAT'S GOOD.

THAT'S PERFECT.

>> MY EX-HUSBAND THREATENED ME MANY, MANY, MANY TIMES ON MY WAY GOING TO A PLAY PRACTICE HE SHOVED ME OFF THE ROAD WITH HIS CAR, TRUCK, I MEAN.

I HAD NOTES PINNED ON THE DOOR NOT TO DO IT.

HE REALLY THREATENED ME.

>> STEPPING OUT AND SAYING THIS IS WHO I AM, AND WONDERING WHETHER THAT WITHDREW AFFECT MY ABILITY TO RELATE WITH PATIENTS IF PEOPLE WOULD TRUST ME ANY MORE OR IF THEY WOULD FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE COMING TO ME OR NOT.

>> IT WAS BETTER THAN THERAPY.

IT WAS QUITE EXTRAORDINARY TO LOOK AT MY LIFE AND TO LOOK AT THOSE EXPERIENCES AND THINK ABOUT HOW THEY COULD BE TURNED INTO ART.

IT WAS SUCH A DIFFERENT WAY AND IT WAS VERY OBJECTIVE.

QUESTIONS LIKE WHAT CLOTHING DID YOU HAVE ON?

WHAT KIND OF HOUSE WERE YOU LIVING IN, CREATED AND OBJECTIVITY THAT ALLOWED ME TO LOOK AT MY OWN EXPERIENCE IN A WAY I HADN'T DONE BEFORE.

THAT WAS WONDERFUL.

>> BY ACTUALLY DOING IT I REALLY DID MOVE FARTHER IN MY PROCESS OF HEALING.

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT SPEAKING THE TRUTH AND JUST -- FEELING THAT POWER AND HAVING PEOPLE BELIEVE YOU, YOU KNOW, THAT IS HEALING.

IT'S PROBABLY THE BASIC PART OF HEALING.

>> SO THIS FILM LEADS IN A WAY TO YOUR NEXT DOCUMENTARY, WHERE STEPHANI.

HOW DID THAT COME BE?

>> I HAD JUST FINISHED MAKING JOURNEY TO COURAGE.

I FINISHED TOURING IT, TOURING THE FILM AND I GOT THIS PHONE CALL OUT OF THE BLUE FROM THIS WOMAN GLORIA WHO SAID SHE HAD HEARD ABOUT MY WORK WITH THESE WOMEN AND JOURNEY TO COURAGE AND WAS VERY INTERESTED IN ME DOING A FILM ABOUT HER DAUGHTER STEPHANIE, WHO HAD BEEN MURDERED TWO YEARS AGO.

I GOT OFF THE PHONE I THOUGHT, OH, LORD, HAVE MERCI.

CAN I REALLY DO ANOTHER FILM ABOUT A GIRL WHO WAS MURDERED?

BUT I SAID I'LL COME AND TALK TO YOU.

I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE THE TIME.

I MET WITH GLORIA AND HER DAUGHTER APRIL AND WAS BLOWN AWAY BY THEIR STORY.

I WAS MORE INTERESTED IN ONCE AGAIN SORT OF HOW THEY WERE MOVING ON FROM THIS INCIDENT RATHER THAN THE ACTUAL MURDER ITSELF, WHICH WAS FAIRLY GRUESOME AND I FELT, WELL, UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THIS ON 60 MINUTES.

I'M NOT REALLY INTERESTED IN DOING THAT.

I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN SPENDING TIME WITH THIS FAMILY AND SEEING HOW THEY ARE MOVING ON AFTER THIS TRAGEDY.

>> I'M VERY MUCH INTERESTED IN HOW PEOPLE HEAL AND GET THEIR LIVES TOGETHER AND MOVE ON FROM THESE MAJOR -- THIS MAJOR PAIN IN THEIR LIFE.

I SAID I'LL DO THE FILM IF I CAN SPEND ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF WITH YOUR FAMILY AND SHE SAID FINE.

SO THE FILM IS IN TWO PART.

THE FIRST PART IS THE BACK STORY ON STEPHANIE, HER MISSING, HER MURDER, WHO MURDERED HER.

THEN IT GOES FORWARD ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF TO US FOLLOWING THE FAMILY AND HOW THEY ARE DOING AND HOW THEY ARE DEALING WITH HER DEATH.

STEPHANIE LEFT BEHIND HER SON PATRICK, WHO GLORIA IS TAKING CARE OF SO IT'S THAT WHOLE RELATIONSHIP OF THE NEW FAMILY AND -- >> UNEXPECTED THINGS HAPPEN.

>> UNEXPECTED THINGS HAPPEN.

IT WAS VERY MUCH OF A CINEMA VERITE KIND OF FILM.

MARY AND I SPENT LITERALLY ONCE A WEEK FOR A LONG TIME DRIVING DOWN TO RUT HUNDRED DOLLAR AND SPENDING TIME IN THEIR HOUSE, IN THEIR KITCHEN GOING TO THE DRUGSTORE WITH THEM, GOINGS TO THE CEMETERY TO VISIT STEPHANIE.

LIFE UNFOLDING BEFORE THE CAMERA.

>> IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY FILM.

JUST BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING TO THE END I WANT TO HEAR TODAY.

OVER THE PAST YEAR YOU HAVE BEEN TOURING EXTENSIVELY WITH THIS FILM ABOUT HEROIN ADDICTION, MAINLY IN ST. JOHNSBURY BUT IT REFLECTS ALL OF THE STATE.

AGAIN THIS IS ABOUT PEOPLE APPEARED THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS THAT THIS DRUG HAS ON THEM.

WHAT IMPACT HAS THE FILM HAD ON ADDICTS AND THEIR LOVED ONES?

>> WELL, THE FILM HAS HAD TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON THE PEOPLE IN THE MOVIE.

ONCE AGAIN I'M JUST REALLY -- TO ME ONE OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE THINGS ABOUT THESE FILMS AND THE THING THAT I TAKE AWAY THE MOST WITH ME IS JUST HOW THEY AFFECT THE PEOPLE IN THE MOVIES, THAT THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT GETTING UP THERE AND TELLING YOUR STORY AND SPEAKING OUT THAT MOVES YOU TO A DIFFERENT PLACE IN YOUR LIFE.

THE ENACT THEN BEYOND THAT YOU ARE TOURING TO THESE AUDIENCES AND THEN CONNECTING WITH THEM IS JUST ANOTHER INCREDIBLE WAY OF EXPRESSING YOURSELF AND GETTING SUPPORT FOR THAT.

WE TOURED THIS FILM -- WE SHOWED IT PROBABLY 65 TIMES LAST YEAR ALL OVER THE STATE, IN SCHOOLS, AT THE STATE HOUSE TWICE FOR THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE.

>> WITH SOME OF THE SUBJECTS.

>> OH, YEAH.

THAT'S THE THING.

WE TOURED THIS FILM AND WE WOULD SHOW THE FILM IN A SCHOOL IN A TOWN HALL AND THEN AFTER THE FILM THE PEOPLE WOULD WALK UP ON STAGE AND IT WAS JUST LIKE PEOPLE WERE LIKE THIS BECAUSE IT WAS SO POWERFUL AFTER SEEING THE FILM TO SEE THE PEOPLE COME UP AND ACTUALLY HAVE DIALOGUE WITH THEM.

I THINK IT MADE -- I MEAN I THINK IT'S MADE A BIG IMPACT ON LEGISLATION.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR HAS -- HE HAS SEEN THE FILM, BROUGHT IT TO THE STATE HOUSE.

I THINK IT'S AFFECTED LEGISLATORS, AFFECTED COMMUNITIES.

THIS FILM WAS REALLY ABOUT THE HUMAN FACE OF HEROIN, ABOUT SHOWING HOW THIS DRUG IS DEVASTATING TO FAMILIES AND TO INDIVIDUALS AND HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO GET OFF OF IT.

>> ALL SORTS OF FAMILIES.

THERE'S ACTUALLY A CLIP WE'RE ABOUT TO SHOW IS A MEMBER OF A MIDDLE CLASS FAMILY WHOSE SON IS IN JAIL.

LET'S LOOK AT THAT PIECE AND TALK MORE ABOUT IT.

>> OKAY.

>> I USED HEROIN FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS.

LIKE THEY SAID, IT'S PROGRESSIVELY FATAL.

I COULD SEE THE PROGRESSION.

I STARTED OFF USING A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME.

IT WAS CRAZY.

I STARTED USING IT EVERY DAY, I HAD TO WAKE UP EVERY DAY AS I WAS GETTING OUT OF BED.

>> I BEGAN FINDING SPOONS.

WE HAD NO SPOONS.

WE WOULD GO TO STIR A CUP OF COFFEE AND I COULDN'T FIND A TEASPOON ANYWHERE IN THE HOUSE.

GO TO ADAM'S ROOM AND THEY WERE ALL CHARRED.

FINDING THE EMPTY BAGS OF HEROIN AND I STUCK MYSELF WITH WOOFNT SYRINGES.

KNOWING FULL WELL THAT, YOU KNOW, HE COULD BE CARRYING ANY NUMBER OF DISEASES, THIS WAS A TOTAL ACCIDENT OF RUMMAGING THROUGH HIS STUFF SEARCHING HIS ROOM.

I STUCK MY FINGER.

IT REALLY BLEW MY MIND.

IT BLEW MY HUSBAND'S MIND.

MY HUSBAND WAS -- MY HUSBAND AT THAT POINT IN TIME I THINK COULD HAVE KILLED HIM.

>> I THINK THERE WAS A TIME I DID THROW HIM ACROSS THE ROOM.

ROOM.

I SAT HIM DOWN.

I WANTED TO TALK TO HIM.

>> YOU BROKE THE LAMP IN THE PROCESS.

>> YES, I DID.

>> I COULDN'T DEAL WITH IT.

I WAS -- >> THAT WAS IT.

THAT WAS IT.

THE ENGAGEMENT RING WAS GONE.

IT WAS LIKE IF YOU CAN DO THIS -- HOW LOW HAVE YOU SUNK IF YOU CAN RIP OFF YOUR MOM?

>> ADAM BECAME THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING.

YOU COULDN'T BEGIN A PHONE CALL WITH ONE OF THE OTHER KIDS WITHOUT SOMEBODY -- HOW IS ADAM?

HOW IS HE DOING?

WHERE IS HE?

IS HE OKAY?

IS HE SICK?

IS HE IN JAIL?

WHERE IS HE?

IT REALLY STRUCK ME ONE TIME THAT I FELT SORRY THAT I WAS MISSING A LOT WITH MY OTHER KIDS.

>> FOR A WHILE I WAS REALLY GRATEFUL MY LAST NAME WAS DIFFERENT THAN ADAM'S.

>> HE STILL HAS THE EX-NAME.

>> THINKING MAYBE PEOPLE DON'T REALLY KNOW THAT THAT'S MY SON.

FEELING GUILTY THAT I FELT THAT WAY ABOUT MY KID SO WE SOLD OUR HOUSE, I MOVED OUT OF THE TOWN THAT I GREW UP IN.

I HAD LIVED THERE ALL MY LIFE.

WE PACKED UP AND LEFT ADAM BEHIND.

THAT WAS SORT OF THE FIRST CONSCIOUS MOVE THAT I WAS GOING TO TAKE MY LIFE BACK.

>> NANCY AND ADAM, WHO YOU JUST SAW, WILL BE HERE ON A PANEL TOMORROW NIGHT IF YOU'RE SEEING THIS ON MONDAY.

HERE TODAY WE'LL AIR TUESDAY THE WHOLE THING OCTOBER 4th.

I BELIEVE 9:00 P.M.

CHECK YOUR LISTING.

THERE WILL BE A PANEL WITH ADAM, WHO HAS BEEN CLEAN FOR TWO YEARS NOW.

THIS FILM HAS REALLY HELPED BRING THAT FAMILY TOGETHER.

QUITE REMARKABLE SO TUNE IN FOR MORE.

SINCE WE ONLY HAVE A MINUTE I WANT TO KNOW WHAT WHAT'S GOING ON, NEW PROJECT, FUNDING IS ALREADY IN.

TAKES YOU BACK TO YOUR ROOTS IN THEATER.

>> I'M WORKING WITH TEENS OVER A YEAR AND A HALF TO CREATE AN ORIGINAL THEATER PRODUCTION WITH MUSIC.

THE IDEA IS TO PUT TOGETHER A DYNAMITE THEATER PIECE THAT IS BASED ON WHAT KIDS HAVE TO SAY TO US.

WHAT THEIR ISSUES ARE.

WHAT THEIR FEELINGS ARE, THEIR JOYS AND FRUSTRATIONS ARE APPEARED CULMINATING THAT INTO A THEATER PRODUCTION THAT WILL HAVE ORIGINAL MUSIC WRITTEN BY TEENS AND THEN WE'LL TOUR THROUGHOUT THE STATE IN THE SPRING OF 2005 ALL OVER VERMONT.

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO MAKE A C.D.

OF THE MUSIC AND JAY IS GOING TO SHOOT A FILM OF THE THEATER PIECE SO THERE WILL BE ACTUALLY A VIDEO TO BE USED IN SCHOOLS OR WHATEVER.

THE IDEA IS TO REALLY RAISE TEEN VOICES THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND DO THIS TERRIFIC PRODUCTION.

I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

WE'RE STARTING OFF NOW SPENDING TIME ALL OVER THE STATE TALKING TO TEENS, GETTING THEIR FEEDBACK ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT TO SAY.

>> FLEDGLING FILMS INSTITUTE FOR TEENS IS ALSO A WAY TO LET THEM BE HEARD.

>> YES.

>> WHAT ARE YOU HEARING?

WHAT ARE TEENS SAYING THAT NEEDS TO GET OUT THERE?

ARE YOU STILL IN THE PROCESS OF FINDING THOSE THINGS?

YOU HAVE A SON WHO IS ALMOST A TEENAGER.

>> RIGHT.

FROM ONE OF THE BIG THINGS IS THAT I HOPE THAT THIS PRODUCTION, THE VOICES PROJECT, WILL REALLY BREAK OPEN A LOT OF STEREOTYPES THAT WE HAVE AROUND TEENAGE TEENAGERS.

A LOT OF WHAT I'M INITIALLY HEARING IS THERE'S UNFORTUNATELY THIS SORT OF DISCONNECT BETWEEN ADULTS AND TEENS AND HOW WE MAKE THAT -- MAKE THOSE TWO PEOPLE COME TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT WE CAN TRUST EACH OTHER.

I THINK TEENS FEEL IN MANY WAYS THAT THEY ARE NOT REALLY WANTED IN SOCIETY.

WHETHER THEY DON'T HAVE A TEEN CENTER, THEY DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO HANG OUT, THEY ARE ALWAYS BEING TOLD TO GET OFF THE SIDEWALK.

WHERE DO THEY FIT INTO THEIR COMMUNITY.

>> WE'LL BE WATCHING.

TOMORROW YOU CAN SEE HERE TODAY, BESS O'BRIEN'S FILM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING TO MUCH TO OUR STATE AND OUR COMMUNITY.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON "PROFILE."