Documentary Film -- Película Documental

[Luis Argeo]

Hola a todos.
Mi nombre es Luis Argeo, soy un periodista asturiano, de Piedras Blancas, y desde hace unas semanas estoy recopilando información para realizar un documental en vídeo sobre la historia de la Mina de Arnao (Castrillón), la “güela” de las minas asturianas.
Para este documental me gustaría contar con testimonios de cuantos tengan mayor o menor relación con esta mina, desde familiares de trabajadores y vecinos de Arnao hasta historiadores, periodistas, directivos de AZSA, políticos.

El cierre de la mina y los emigrantes a Virginia Occidental tienen también importancia en el documental.
Mi intención pasa por realizar un viaje a EE.UU. para entrevistar a todos los familiares de los asturianos que emigraron desde Arnao hacia las minas de WV.

Con este mensaje estoy pidiendo la colaboración de todos aquellos que puedan aportar algún testimonio sobre la mina, su cierre, la emigración y otras consecuencias.

El patrimonio industrial de Arnao, así como el de Virginia Occidental, merece un respeto histórico y cultural, igual que sus trabajadores.
Muchas gracias,

Luis

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Hello, everybody.
My name is Luis Argeo. I am a journalist from Piedras Blancas (Asturias), and some weeks ago I have started to compile information concerning the history of Arnao coal mine (Castrillón). My intention is to make a documentary film about this mine, the “grandma” of the asturian mines.
For this documentary film, I would like to make use of testimonies from all people who have any kind of relationship with this mine, from workers’ relatives, the community of Arnao, to historians, journalists, AZSA managers, politicians.

The lockout and the shutdown of the mine, and all this workers who emigrated to West Virginia also will have special significancy in the film.
I want to make a trip around USA (WV, principally) and interview all these relatives of the asturian people who emigrated from Arnao towards the WV mines.

With this post, I am asking for the help of all those who could contribute with any testimony of the mine, the shutdown, emigration or any other consequences.

The industrial heritage in Arnao, as in West Virginia, deserves an historical and cultural respect, the same as its workers.

Thank you very much

Luis

[Art]

Hello, Luis,

I have done a quick search to see who has written about Arnao on the forum. I've written to Ron González, Xosé Vallina, Manuel A Gonzalez, Bob Vasquez, Manuel Lavin, Juan Leon, Sonia Garcia Mandzok, and Bob Martínez to see if they have any stories.

It's possible that some of these people or their family members will have stories for you. I know, for example, that Bob Martínez's dad has a fantastic memory and was aware of Arnao.

I'm guessing that all of the generation that immigrated to the US are long gone. The second generation is your best hope because those of us in the third generation usually know very little about our Asturian past. Well, there are exceptions, as you'll see with members of the forum.

You may want to read these two posts. Chemapu may be a good source.
http://www.asturianus.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=784#784
http://www.asturianus.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=786#786

If you search on arnao and arnau, you'll find others.

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¡Hola, Luis!

He hecho una búsqueda breve para ver quienes han escrito sobre Arnao en el foro. He escrito a Ron González, Xosé Vallina, Manuel González, Bob Vasquez, Manuel Lavin, Juan León, Sonia García Mandzok, y Bob Martínez para ver si tienen cualquier historias.

Es posible que algunos de estos o miembros de sus familias tengan historias para ti. Sé, por ejemplo, que el padre de Bob Martínez tiene una memoria fantástica y es consciente de Arnao.

Adivino que toda la generación que inmigró a EE.UU. ya hace mucho tiempo sea muerto. La segunda generación sea la posibilidad mejor porque nosotros en la tercera generación por lo general sabemos muy poco sobre nuestro patrimonio asturiano. Bueno, hay exceptiones como ves con algunos miembros del foro.

Quizás quieras leer estos dos mensajes. Chemapu puede ser una fuente muy buena.
http://www.asturianus.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=784#784
http://www.asturianus.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=786#786

Si buscas sobre arnao y arnau, encontrarás otros.

[Bob]

Hola Luís,

I talked to my father a few minutes ago, and he would be happy to talk with you about Arnau, Castrillón, West Virginia (where is was born and grew up), etc. He is very fluent in castellano and asturianu, and has a wonderful memory. My grandparents were from Samartín de Laspra and Salinas, and came to the US in 1913.

Send me a private message or an email and I will reply with his phone number.

Bob Martinez

[Luis Argeo]

Art, Bob, thank you very much.
I will try to inform about my work every day. As a matter of fact, I have to contact with María Jesús Rossell (president of Asociación de Vecinos de Santa María del Mar), Victor Muñiz Cires and other people from Castrillón who have given me their support. I am begining the film next month in Arnao.
I will try to cross the ocean before Xmas.
Luis Argeo
jccabrera@arquired.es

[Luis Argeo]

Hello, everybody
As I told you, my name is Luis Argeo, I am a Asturian journalist, and I am working in a documentary film about Asturias, where I was born, the mine and zinc factory in Castrillón, the people who worked there (Arnao, Salinas, San Martín, Piedras Blancas), the people who emigrated to West Virginia a century ago, their actual relatives.
The WV Public Broadcasting is helping and supporting the project. Next month of December I would like to travel to West Virginia to interview the
relatives of Asturian workers, to record interviews and industrial landscapes in the region of Clacksburg and Spelter, its factories, etc.
I am looking for people who live in West Virginia and conserve relation
with Asturias.
Could you help me to find that people?
Would you like to participate in this project?
Thank you very much. I wait for your answer. Have a good day

Luis Argeo
jccabrera@arquired.es

[Art]

I am taking the liberty of posting an most of an email from Luis Argeo so that everyone will know about what's happening and will have a chance to participate. Let Luis or Ron know if you're interested!
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Hi Ron,

...I would like to meet people at their home, maybe have a walk around some interesting places (old casino, nowadays church, old houses, old zinc plants), I do not how is the weather like on december. I also would like to meet with you and some people from Spelter, Clarksburg, Anmoore [maybe] all at one time, so you all can remember the old times together....

...I [would like to hear] all you talking about memories, about Asturias, about your parents, about their life, about the ancient West Virginia, about your feelings, mid asturianos, mid americans... about whatever..., sometimes in group, sometimes by yourselves alone.

The ideal situation would be:

Dec the 6th in Clarksburg and Anmoore: The TV crew, you and me visit some people ... at their homes, and we go around to record some "old Spanish" places. I will bring with me a couple of cider bottles, so we can drink in asturian way. They had to conserve old pictures, letters, old souvenirs from Asturias or their grandparents... It would be nice if they can show them to me for the film. Pinnick Kinnick Hill?

Dec the 7th in Clarksburg and Spelter: do the same, visit the cemetery, and some other places (I have seen two signs in asturianus.org: Spelter Town Sign, Spelter Zinc Sign, the Post Office, the Zinc Factory...)....

Dec the 8th in Moundsville and Donora (PA): do the same in Moundsville (I do not have any contact here) and in Donora (PA), where Mrs Carol Kowall says she would like to be part of this project (I would like to have more people from Donora. I have heard that there is a Spanish-Asturian social center...)

Ron, I know that I am abusing, going too far with your help. Thank you very much. Would you find these people in Clarksburg, Anmoore, Spelter, Moundsville, and tell them we want to meet with them just some hours, take a coffee at their homes seeing old pictures, remembering the old family histories. I know I have got you in Spelter, so I need some people in Clarksburg, in Anmoore and Moundsville....

....If you have any idea, I will take it with pleasure....

I am doing the same work in Asturias, Arnao, Piedras Blancas, San Martín. I want to collect the valuable testimonies and memories of your generation, the last ones (here and there) who still remember and can explain the hard life of your ancestors.

...Have a nice day, and thank you again. We are going to enjoy with this project.
Luis

[Luis Argeo]

Hola a todos los miembros de este foro.
Lo primero, quiero dar las gracias a todas las personas que me están ayudando a realizar este documental, y muy especialmente a algunos miembros de esta comunidad.
Ron, Carol, Art, sin vuestra colaboración, nunca hubiera podido realizar el trabajo que hicimos durante esos días en Harrison County y en Donora (PA). De momento, sólo espero que la segunda parte del trabajo, la que haré en Asturias, salga tan bien como la americana. Seguro que sí.
Aún revivo los momentos estelares de nuestro encuentro: Ron haciendo de guía por Annmoore, Pinnick Kinnick Hill, Spelter, Shinnston... la tortilla a la paisana de Norma... Xose escanciando sidra... el encuentro con una treintena de asturians... esa manera de hablar de los güelos y las güelas... la agradable charla con las mujeres de Donora, madre, hija y nieta incluidas...
De verdad, mi semana en West Virginia (incluyendo la incursión en Pensilvania) ha sido una de las mejores experiencias de mi vida. Ya sabéis, a partir de ahora, que en Piedras Blancas tenéis un admirador, un amigo y un anfitrión.
Un saludo,
Luis Argeo

Pd. Sigo creyendo que los Pepperoni Rolls que tenéis en la región son Bollos Preñaos, originales de Asturias. Seguro que algún panadero italiano se apropió de la idea hace años de alguno de vuestros abuelos.

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Hello to all the members of this forum.
First of all, I want to thank to all the people who are helping me to make this documentary film, and very specially to some of the members of this community.
Ron, Carol, Art, without your help, it had never been able to make the work that we did during those days in Harrison County and Donora (PA). At present, I only hope that the second part of the work, the one that I will do in Asturias, come out as well as the American. Surely that yes.
I still remind the highlights of our encounter: Ron working as a guide around Annmoore, Pinnick Kinnick Hill, Spelter, Shinnston... Norma’s omelette (a la paisana)... Xose pouring asturian cider... the meeting with some thirty asturians... that way to speak of the güelos and güelas... the pleasant chat with the women in Donora, including mother, daughter and granddaughter...
Beleive me, my week in West Virginia (also the incursion in Pensilvania) has been one of the best experiences of my life. You all already know, from now on, you have an admirer, a friend and a host in Piedras Blancas,
Luis Argeo

PS. I still think that these Pepperoni Rolls you have in the region are Bollos Preñaos, original from Asturias. Surely that some Italian baker took the idea years ago by one of your grandparents.

[Art]

There is more discussion of the filming here:
http://www.asturianus.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1161

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Hay más charla sobre la filmación aquí:
http://www.asturianus.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1161