The Last Boat Out
About the Documentary
Documentary Summary
The Chesapeake Bay, once brimming with life and commerce, slowly dying. It is taking with it a way of life for the thousands of watermen whose families have made their living on the bay for generations.
It’s not too late to save them both.
The Last Boat Out documentary weaves two tales: The inspiring story of a family of watermen tirelessly trying to preserve their life working the waters of the bay. It is also the story of a bay battered by development and pollution yet struggling to stay alive.
It is a story of neglect, mistakes, diminishing harvests, and development run amok, but it is also a story of hope and human determination.
About The Production Team
Sam Waterston, an Academy-award winning actor and activist, is the Narrator of The Last Boat Out. Waterston is perhaps best known for his portrayal of District Attorney Jack McCoy on the long-running NBC television series Law & Order, as well as for his Academy-award nominated portrayal of New York Times journalist Sydney Schanberg in "The Killing Fields".
Laura Seltzer-Duny is the Producer, Director and Writer of The Last Boat Out, which aired on PBS stations throughout the country from 2010 through 2017. The film tells the story of a family of watermen who are trying to continue harvesting the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Their livelihoods are threatened by diminishing harvests and relentless development.
As a native of Newport News, Virginia, Seltzer was inspired to give voice to the few remaining working watermen in her hometown.
Laura Seltzer-Duny has been producing, directing and managing the production of award-winning documentaries and educational programs for almost 20 years. She founded Seltzer Film & Video for the purpose of producing social action videos that inspire change.
Bob Kanner is the Editor of The Last Boat Out. He has been producing and editing projects for domestic and international clients for over twenty-five years. He has extensive experience editing in all formats including documentary, series and feature films.
Kanner co-produces and edits award-winning programs for several documentary and entertainment clients. Kanner’s recent projects include Made in Spain for PBS, American Occupation for the History Channel, Eco Hotspots for the Voom Network and Animal Rescues: Hurricane Katrina for Animal Planet.
Kanner has received five Emmy Awards and numerous TELLY Awards for excellence in programming. His work has been recognized by NATAS and he edited the national Emmy Award-winning special Life On Mars for Cronkite Ward Television.
Documentary Credit List
Produced, Directed & Written by:
Laura Seltzer-Duny
Narrated by:
Sam Waterston
Cinematographer:
Laura Seltzer-Duny
Editor:
Bob Kanner
Associate Producers:
Melissa Nix
Ashley Kent
Jimmy Cooney
Researcher:
David Kenneth Waldman
Colorist:
Joey D’Anna
Audio Mixer:
Jeff Mullen
Graphic Designer:
Kristine Carney at Yellow Dog Design
Production Assistance:
John Atkinson
Kat Moon
Javier Pierrend
Rebecca Sheetz
Script Editor:
Melissa Nix
Helicopter Pilot for Aerials:
Neil S. Kaye, MD
Music:
“When the Watermen Are Gone” by Selma Peterson
“Downeaster Alexa” by Billy Joel
Fiscal Sponsoring Organization:
Video Action Fund
Additional footage courtesy of:
Martha Ann Ashberry
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Family of Snooks and Bill Burroughs
Maryland Public Television
The Nature Conservancy
Newport News Television
Stark Jette
The following have contributed to the making of this film:
Bonnie M. Atkins
Dudley Biddlecomb
J. Calvin Boyd
Victoria Bruce
Larry Chowning
Charles Davis
John M. DeMaria
Ruth Melzer DeMaria
David Duny
Walter Gotlieb, Final Cut Productions
Elliot Harkavy
Karin Hayes
David Heller
Amy Insley
Roy Insley
Sonny Insley
Phil Lerman
Toby Morewitz
Leon Nicosia
Eddie Oliver
Lee Parker
William P. Parker
Dennis Parker
Ines Perez
Sally M. Seltzer
Steven Seltzer, DPM
Scott West
Patsy Jenkins
Allison West
Ernest West
Marian West
Tom Walker
Harvey Withrow
Darnet Withrow
Jim Withrow
Bubba Withrow
Wendy Withrow
Billy E. Withrow, Jr.
Ruth Withrow