Private Project

Fore & Aft

For over 230 years, Lowell’s Boat Shop has perched over the Merrimack River in Massachusetts. It holds the distinction of being America's oldest continually operated wooden boat shop. Once an economic powerhouse, Lowell’s is now primarily a museum, National Historic Landmark, and vital hub for youth mentorship.

Graham McKay, the master boat builder, safeguards tradition and community at the shop. He imparts the nuances of boat building to apprentices, reanimating a dying craft. While Graham has mentored for years, he finds an uncommonly precocious pupil in William, a 16-year-old drawn to the water and the workshop.

The duo bond swiftly. William thrives at Lowell’s—nurturing his craft, mentoring peers, and racing to finish a boat for a crucial client. As William plans for college and beyond, he and Graham reflect on Lowell’s amidst a changing world, pondering their futures.

  • Gabe Gerzon
    Director
  • Timothy Bradley
    Producer
  • Gabe Gerzon
    Producer
  • Rhidian Pentz
    Producer
  • Samantha Brindisi
    Producer
  • Colin Davy
    Producer
  • Colby Todisco
    Director of Photography
  • Rhidian Pentz
    Editors
  • Oliver Round
    Editors
  • Sarah Delahunty
    Illustrations & Animations
  • Syd Vaughn
    Illustrations & Animations
  • Joey Sullivan
    Illustrations & Animations
  • Trent Toner
    Sound Mix
  • Graham McKay
    Key Cast
  • William Tymowski
    Key Cast
  • Misza Tymowski
    Key Cast
  • Cathy Tymowski
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    26 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    September 21, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • New Hampshire Film Festival
    Portsmouth, NH
    United States
    North America Premiere
  • Coast Film & Music Festival
Director Biography - Gabe Gerzon

Gabe Gerzon is an award-winning video agency veteran of Gusto, a Matter Company, with experience across the filmmaking spectrum. From brand and commercial work to short-form documentary work such as Fore & Aft, Gabe's creative compass is calibrated for creating work that's elegant, authentic and elevates our shared humanity.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Over a year and a half in the making, Fore & Aft represents a tremendous filmmaking accomplishment on the part of our video agency, Gusto, a Matter Company. Once we discovered the oldest continually operated wooden boat shop in all of America was in our back yard, we just knew we had to make a film about it. We found pockets of time in our busy professional and personal lives to uncover and document this powerful story of craftsmanship, community and mentorship.

Whoever you might be, I'm grateful to share our team's film with you. Thank you for watching.