SeaTacNoise.Info receives 4Culture grant for documentary

For Immediate Release

SeaTacNoise.Info (STNI) is pleased to announce that it has been chosen by 4Culture.Org to receive funding to help complete a documentary film called “Under The Flight Path: A Community History of Sea-Tac Airport”.

STNI maintains a library of over 300,000 documents concerning the history of Sea-Tac Airport. 4Culture.Org is the cultural funding agency for King County, Washington.

According to STNI spokesperson JC Harris, the film will be the first film of its kind available anywhere.

“Traditional history tends to be written from the point of view of the winners. It is hard to overstate the impact commercial aviation has had on this region over the past 75 years. Few places have been so tied to a major industry as our airport communities. Aviation is to our region what automobiles were to Detroit. Given that identity as ‘Jet City’, there is no shortage of very optimistic books concerning Boeing, the Port of Seattle and of course Sea-Tac Airport.

But this version of history leaves little space for the vast majority of events and people who actually live near Sea-Tac Airport–an area under continuous and dramatic change since its founding in 1949. In truth that story bears a striking similarity to the “move fast and break things” culture now being called into question writ large.

Even the best news coverage here has always catered to audiences elsewhere. What little specific journalism has been done about our airport communities, was usually done by reporters dropping in like war correspondents for the quick story. Over time many ongoing myths developed as to how and why such an unlikely location became the eighth largest airport in North America–and what that means for people who live here.

In creating this documentary we wanted to provide accurate information and a more balanced view from the vantage point of 75 years. We hope this will give all stakeholders, but particularly the people living here now, tools to make better-informed choices for the next seventy five. Because unlike other businesses, which naturally level off as they mature, the growth rate of Sea-Tac Airport seems poised only to accelerate.

We’re particularly grateful to be one of only three recipients chosen in District 5, the portion of King County containing the majority of airport community residents. But we also think that people living near other airports will find something of value here for their communities.”