Worcester State Grad Films Baseball Documentary for NESN Series

Saturday, March 07, 2015

Patrick Sargent, GoLocal Worcester Contributor

Andrew O'Connor

Worcester State University graduate Andrew O'Connor is hoping to become the next NESN producer. O'Connor's documentary "The Death and Rebirth of Baseball in Worcester," is a finalist in NESN's "Next Producer" series which is set to air after the Boston Red Sox post game report on NESN April 6.

O'Connor graduated from Worcester his past December. He heard about NESN's film contest from his professor Dr. Julie Frechette.

"I was interning for the Worcester Bravehearts over the summer and thought this would be an awesome idea for the film contest especially if they end up winning. Which of course they did. I went in and did interviews with the owner (John Creedon, Jr.) and General Manager (Dave Peterson) since I knew them and started to branch out from there. They let me film while working the games and I got great footage.," said O'Connor.

"The Death and Rebirth of Baseball in Worcester" focuses on the history of baseball in the city of Worcester, the demise of the Worcester Tornadoes and the return of baseball to the city in 2014 with the Bravehearts. The film concludes with the Bravehearts celebrating on the field following their Future's Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL) Championship.

In the film, O'Connor interviews Creedon, Peterson, Mayor Joe Petty, Bravehearts Stadium Operations Technician Cole Jaskoviak, and Bravehearts pitcher David Montiverdi. O'Connor worked with Worcester State senior Matt Collamer in editing the film.

O'Connor grew up in Worcester for the first 13 years of his life. He moved to Florida and then Cape Cod before coming back to the city for college. "Baseball is my favorite sport and I'm a big Red Sox fan. I studied abroad in Rome last spring, came back interned for the Bravehearts and the Sharks. I'm currently working as an Inside Sales Rep for the Sharks," said O'Connor. "I was a Communication major in college with a concentration in Media Broadcasting. This film captures my dream of film making with my passion for sports, especially baseball."

To watch and vote for O'Connor's "The Death and Rebirth of Baseball in Worcester," click here: NESN Next Producer.

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