Maryland Public Television debuts new documentary by Communication and Cinema professor

Associate Professor of Communication and Cinema Robert Lemieux has been working since 2023 on a documentary exploring Maryland's champion trees that will premiere on Maryland Public Television (MPT) on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 8 p.m.

Titled "Growing into Greatness: Maryland’s Champion Trees,” the film combines new interviews and footage, with archival material from the Maryland State Archives.

Lemieux wrote, directed, and edited the film, honoring Maryland's Big Tree Program, which is celebrating its centennial. The first State Forester Fred W. Besley founded the program in 1925 and currently there are 137 species of trees registered in Maryland that are defined as being the largest trees of their species. The documentary highlights six of these national champion trees.

In addition to McDaniel and MPT, other supporters of the project include the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Carroll County Arts Council, and Carroll County Chamber of Commerce.

How did you get the idea for this documentary?

A master gardener who lived in my neighborhood was fascinated with my yard and would often provide gardening advice. One day, she suggested measuring my redbud tree to determine if it was a state or county champion. She described Maryland’s Big Tree Program, and I learned that Maryland has 12 national champion trees, which are the largest of their species in the U.S. I became intrigued about the possibility of creating a documentary. That was 2015, and it took 10 years for the project to materialize.

What surprised you the most working on this documentary?

The sense of pride the homeowners have regarding their trees. The film evolved into a story about not only champion trees but also people. Everyone was accommodating and eager to help, and I feel like I made a lot of new friends. That surprised me, and it made the film more relatable and heartfelt. 

You’re known for curating major exhibitions at McDaniel — most recently, “Romancing the Novel.” How did your background working on those projects assist you with this documentary?

If you created a Venn diagram of curating and filmmaking, you would definitely see an overlap of shared attributes. At their core, both involve storytelling and visual presentation. Although they use different approaches, an exhibit is like a film — what’s the story you are trying to tell and how are you telling it? The art and artifacts of an exhibit represent the “scenes,” and the text panels represent the “dialogue.” Curators and filmmakers create a reality that is designed to entertain an audience.

One of the trees in the film is on campus at McDaniel. Is this tree registered with the Big Tree Program?

McDaniel has an assortment of trees [on campus], and many of them have been measured by the Maryland Big Tree Program. In the film, we address the process of how trees are measured to determine champion status. We filmed the measurement of an American elm, which is located near Ward Memorial Arch. The Arch added a nice visual element, as it essentially frames the tree. Much to our surprise, the tree turned out to be a Carroll County champion.

Was anyone else from McDaniel involved in the film (students, alumni, etc.)?

One of those measuring the American elm located on campus was Patrick Nash-Mercado. Pat is a current McDaniel student (junior, Environmental Studies major) and was interning at the Carroll County Forestry Board. Additionally, alum Steve Allgeier '83, chair of the Westminster Tree Commission, was instrumental in connecting me to tree experts and an entomologist.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

When you stand next to a national champion tree, it’s hard not to be impressed. Symbolic of nature’s beauty and resilience, they are testaments to the fabric of life.