'The Giving Town,' a documentary of Sturgis history, premieres Aug. 5
Because philanthropy has played a major role in Sturgis history, Mike Mort created a documentary, “The Giving Town: 150 Years of Generosity in Sturgis, Michigan.”
The premiere of the film is 7 p.m. Aug. 5 at Sturges-Young Center for the Arts. Tickets are $10 if purchased in advance at various downtown locations, including Willer’s Shoes, Open Door Art Gallery, Sturgis Historical Museum; or $12 at sturgisboxoffice.com.
When planning for the film, Mort said the essence of a community "must ultimately be measured, not by the number of its amenities, but rather by the size of its heart.”
Then, Mort set out to learn how big that heart is.
“The hardest thing about making ‘The Giving Town’ was figuring out what not to include, because moments of kindness kept pouring onto the screen,” Mort said.
“The rewards for tracking down all those moments made me very proud," Mort added. "It is truly with a sense of gratitude and pride that I bring to our community my latest film.”
Along with the film, the audience also will experience historical re-enactment — local residents telling the story of some Sturgis benefactors.
The event also is a celebration of 60 years of Sturgis Area Community Foundation. Participants will be welcomed to keep the benevolence flowing through the foundation to the community.
A sellout crowd is expected, said Jackie Persing at Sturgis Historical Society, so purchasing tickets in advance may be a wise choice.
All of Mort’s films are available for purchase at Sturgis Historical Museum.
This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: 'The Giving Town' a documentary of Sturgis history coming Aug. 5
