“The Heart of Camden — The Story of Father Michael Doyle,” a documentary focusing on the Irish priest whose tireless joy and faith transformed his South Camden parish has been selected to be a part of the Garden State Film Festival, to take place later this month as a hybrid virtual and live event.
The 44-minute film was produced and directed by Douglas Clayton in association with ArtC and sponsored by the Heart of Camden, an non-profit housing and community organization started by Msgr. Doyle.
Through interviews with Msgr. Doyle and family, friends and faithful, the film traces the priest’s journey from rural Ireland to urban Camden, and the hope he infused into his new city through his ministry at Sacred Heart School and parish, and through expansion of the arts locally. As well, the documentary includes his protest of the Vietnam War as one of the “Camden 28” who went on trial in 1973 for attempting to destroy draft records.
Clayton, a native of Collingswood, recalls first being “impressed by the energy” of Msgr. Doyle when the priest did an interview with “60 Minutes” in the early 1980s.
In the process of making the film, which began shooting in late February 2019 and finished production a year ago, Clayton further found Msgr. Doyle “a very special human being —selfless, humble, wise. He radiates love.”
The documentary also includes an innovative and heartfelt remix of the Irish standard “Wild Mountain Thyme” with Barbara Dever, Sacred Heart cantor and mezzo soprano, with the Sacred Heart School Choir; and excerpts from Msgr. Doyle’s poetry, essays and weekly letters to his parishioners.
The actor Martin Sheen, most well known for the acclaimed television series “The West Wing,” narrates the film.
Clayton’s movie is currently making the film festival rounds across the country, garnering acclaim for his portrait of the priest.
“I hope people come away from this film inspired to do their bit and make a difference in their community,” Clayton says. He thanked his team of collaborators — co-producer Bill Horin, photographer/editor Frank Weiss, writer Sterling Brown, and Heart of Camden’s Carlos Morales — for their expertise.
Since 2002, the Garden State Film Festival has been a showcase of feature-length and short films, videos, documentaries, comedies, children’s, thrillers, student films and homegrown films shot in New Jersey.
“The Heart of Camden — The Story of Father Michael Doyle” will be livestreamed on March 27 from 5-7 p.m.
For tickets and more information, visit www.gsff.com.
For more information on Douglas Clayton, go to his website, index (thefilmdoc.com), or on his Facebook page: Douglas N. Clayton | Facebook
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