Film still from Happy Campers. Courtesy of Amy Nicholson, Myrtle & Olive
Documentary is happy to debut an exclusive clip from Amy Nicholson’s documentary Happy Campers, which is making its world premiere in the U.S. Competition at DOC NYC on November 14. This observational documentary follows the last summer many of the residents of Inlet View, a seasonal trailer park, vacationed there before out-of-town redevelopers took over.
Explaining the clip, which is from the end of the first act of the film, Nicholson said, “Happy Campers is designed as an opportunity to experience what it’s like to be part of a community like Inlet View, and act one begins with a tour of some of the courser and more eclectic aspects of campground life. After a busy day of bean can cannons, cabinet-raiding raccoons, raucous parties, and horseshoe competitions, the day has finally faded into night. Residents gather in intimate groups to soak in another stunning sunset and enjoy endless conversation around cozy campfires. This scene is crafted as an opportunity for the audience to get closer to the magic that the campers are desperate to hold on to, and serves as an emotional turning point in the story.”
Happy Campers was workshopped in 2022 as part of DCTV and IDA’s DocuClub NY works-in-progress screening series. Prior to Happy Campers, Nicholson directed a couple of documentary features and a short titled Pickle. After winning audience awards at multiple festivals, Pickle was nominated for an IDA Award and the Cinema Eye Honors, selected for the New York Times’ Op Docs, and featured on the Criterion Channel.