Canine-Handling Father Inspires Young Filmmaker
News & Happenings
November 29, 2007
- Click here to watch how a young filmmaker focuses on bomb dog handlers. (wmv, 20mb streaming)
This month 14-year-old filmmaker Blake Pruitt's documentary "Canines" about "a day in the life of an explosives detection canine handler" debuted at Baltimore's "End of the World as We Know It" film festival.
Blake Pruitt is no stranger to canine teams, though. His father Tom Pruitt and dog Dora work as a TSA certified explosives detection canine team for the Maryland Transit Authority (MTA) Police Department.
"I'm proud that my father protects people as a canine handler," said Pruitt. "Canine teams were an interesting subject for my first documentary and I look forward to creating many more films."
Young Filmmaker Video
Watch how a young filmmaker
focuses on canine teams.
(wmv, 20mb streaming)
Pruitt spent weeks filming MTA canine teams and interviewing handlers and leaders at MTA and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)'s National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program. He filmed and edited the documentary, using skills gained at a summer workshop for young filmmakers.
TSA's program prepares dogs and handlers to serve as an important layer of security in its effort to protect transportation systems. These effective, mobile teams can quickly locate and identify explosive materials that may present a threat to transportation systems.
Law enforcement officers from all over the country travel to the Explosives Detection Canine Handler Course at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. TSA provides dog and handler training and partial funding for handler salaries, feeding of the canines and veterinary and other costs associated with the dog once the teams return to their hometowns.
Pruitt is a ninth-grader at The Park School in Baltimore. He aspires to be a professional director and is well on his way with his "Canines" debut.
For more info on TSA canine teams click here.
