Race video wins Emmy

June 3, 2007

By Amie Pappas

and Mark Kelsey

Frontiersman

WASILLA - Iditarod Trail Productions won an Emmy Award on Saturday night for its documentary depicting last year's Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

&#8220Iditarod 2006: Mother Nature's Turn to Dance,” was nominated for an Emmy Award by the Regional Northwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in April.

The 95-minute documentary was the Iditarod Trail Committee's first attempt at documenting the entire race. The film won for program achievement in the best news special, long-form documentary category.

&#8220We need to give a lot of credit to the writer, editor and producer, Greg Heister,” Chas St. George, Iditarod public relations director, said. St. George also acted as executive in charge for the film. Terry Burge is also on the winner's list as producer and editor.

&#8220I'm very proud of the people who went out there and did a phenomenal job in telling this story,” St. George said after getting the victory phone call. &#8220When Alaskans go out and do a job, they do it well.”

The 44th annual Northwest Regional Emmy Awards nomination list represents the selections from television submissions in the northwest region of the United States (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and Montana).

The awards ceremony was held at the Jonas Jensen Fremont Studios and Theatre in Seattle.

The latest film produced by the committee is the 2007 documentary &#8220As Tough As They Come,” which aired for the first time before a Mat-Su audience on Friday night at the Machetanz Theater and again Saturday afternoon. The proceeds from the screening will help fund the borough's new animal shelter project.

The screening was attended by 2007 champion Lance Mackey and four-time champion Martin Buser. Both mushers expressed support for upgrading the borough animal shelter.

&#8220The shelter has an unbelievably important role to fill,” said Buser, a Big Lake resident, who noted that a good society takes good care of its elderly, children and animals. &#8220We all need to work on educating people to be responsible all the time.”

Mackey, who lives in the Fairbanks area, echoed Buser.

&#8220We're all here to support a new animal shelter,” he said. &#8220Those facilities are there for us, and I appreciate that.”

A packed house that included several local dignitaries and elected officials filled Machetanz Theatre, home of Valley Performing Arts, for the screening, which featured the unlikely victory of Mackey over an impressive field in the 2007 Iditarod. Mackey, who beat throat cancer a few years ago, has won the Yukon Quest for the last three years and is the only musher to win both the Quest and Iditarod in the same year.

After the screening, Mackey and Buser signed autographs and greeted well-wishers in the lobby. Mackey said he enjoyed the movie but is still uncomfortable with the notoriety that has attended his Iditarod championship.

&#8220I'm not used to people asking me for my autograph and recognizing me,” he said.

Buser, who has had a bit more practice in the limelight, took the crowd in stride. He said he enjoyed the movie.

&#8220I liked it because it showed some of the challenges of the terrain - the Alaska challenges - that people have a hard time understanding,” he said. &#8220This movie shows the smorgasbord of what can happen out there.”

The nearly two-hour movie was punctuated throughout by audience applause. But a line from a Buser interview after the race drew the biggest applause.

Discussing how winning the race forces a musher into a role model position, whether he wants it or not, Buser said, &#8220Winning the Iditarod will put you under a microscope. But what you do with that success will define you for the rest of your life.”

After the movie, Buser elaborated. He said years from now, no one will remember how many times he won the race.

&#8220People will remember what I did with the success,” he said. &#8220I have to live what I say.”

A Lance Mackey-autographed No. 1 bib was auctioned off during intermission. Valley attorney Richard Harren posted a top bid of $700, which also benefited the animal shelter.

&#8220The show was a success,” St. George said. &#8220Everyone just loved it.”

Both race videos are available for purchase through the Iditarod Web site, www. iditarod.com.

Contact Amie Pappas at

352-2284 or amie.pappas@

frontiersman.com.