A local writer and filmmaker is getting ready to release his and three other short films on DVD. All four projects are related to Denton’s Fry Street, the cultural district at the edge of the University of North Texas.

Bohemia Rising: The Story of Fry Street is a collection of films about the district, which has been embroiled in controversy ever since a Houston developer bought most of one block of Fry Street and demolished its historical buildings. The acquisition also raised hackles because the planned development would replace independent businesses with national retail.

Courtesy photo

A protester waves a peace flag on the sidewalk outside of The Tomato, a Fry Street hangout that burned after a developer gutted the building to make way for new construction.

Several activist groups formed and are still active in promoting preservation of the area. The groups have also documented the relocation of some of the businesses as well as the development. 

“We know this is something that midsize college communities are dealing with all over the country,” said Christopher Lar­gen, the writer and filmmaker coordinating the collection. “There’s a real conflict between what people want. Do they want local businesses, or do they want big corporate interests bringing in retailers? I say there’s a happy medium.”

Largen, who has lived in Den­ton for 15 years, directed “The Burning of Fry Street,” a short documentary about the arson fire that destroyed The Tomato, a favorite pizza place and hangout. The building had been closed and gutted when it was ablaze.

Largen’s film, which won jury prize for short documentary at the Thin Line Film Fest last fall, began as a chronicle of the razing. The Tomato arson turned it into something else.

The film features interviews with Fry Street business owners, anti-demolition activists and James Taylor Moseley, who was later arrested and charged with arson.

Largen had interviewed Mose­ley while he was chained to The Tomato’s second floor in protest, three days before the burning. But before he could work on the footage as a film project, it became evidence in the arson investigation.

The DVD also includes “The Evolution of Fry Street,” a short film that looks at the history of the district; “A Driving Peace,” a short about the quiet activism of Fry Street business owner Mike Sutton, who wrote the names of fallen U.S. soldiers in Iraq on his car; and a live music video of Brave Combo’s “The Denton Polka.”

The DVD will have bonus features including statements from the mayor and developer, United Equities, raw footage of The Tomato burning, “24 Hours in the Life of The Tomato,” “As­bes­tos Ignites: A Burning Ques­tion,” a live performance of the song “21” by Moseley and “A Walk Through Fry Street.”

Largen’s film, “The Burning of Fry Street,” debuted at the Thin Line Film Fest last fall in Den­ton. That’s about the time he started thinking about a DVD.

“I was tentative about it because I wasn’t sure if people were willing to buy a 20-minute film,” he said. “We did a test run of 50 copies, and within 10 days, people were buying. We heard about viewing parties, and a lot of people have seen it through friends who have copies.”

After the test run yielded sales, Largen decided to flesh out the project by adding the additional short films and bonus materials. A portion of the proceeds will go to Camp I-thonka-chi — Choc­taw for “a place that makes one strong or fearless, not afraid to face life” — a camp for young burn victims run by Dallas’ Parkland hospital.

Largen works with Texas Filmmakers Corp., an all-volunteer, Denton-based nonprofit organization promoting the film and video arts in the region and state. 

“We decided to flesh it out because Fry Street is about much more than the burning,” Largen said. “We wanted to get into the history of it, and some of the personalities down there who give it its flavor.”

As for the title of the release, Largen said it’s a tip of the hat to the European region and Den­ton, too.

“Bohemia was an actual place in Europe, the birthplace of polka, oddly enough,” he said. “Now it’s become this place in communities worldwide where people who are artists and writers and philosophers meet. People who really, you know, live hand to mouth and are OK with that.”

The disc will be available in January at Hastings Books, Music & Video, 2311 Colorado St. in Denton; Voyagers Dream, 1306 W. Hickory St.; Recycled Books Records CDs, 200 N. Locust St.; Strawberry Fields, 2310 W. Oak St.; and Payless Video, 801 Sunset St. Largen said it will also be available at Jupiter House, 106 N. Locust St.

“It’ll definitely be out in January,” Largen said.

The films on the release are not rated. There is strong language in the release.

Staff writer Greg Russell contributed to this story

LUCINDA BREEDING can be reached at 940-566-6877. Her e-mail address is cbreeding@dentonrc.com.

BOHEMIA RISING