Volunteers in the Spotlight:
Reel People

Deborah Appleby

Fritz Schranck

The beautiful thing about time is that it enables us to excel in what we choose to do in life. Deborah Appleby is a fine example of that. She has been a volunteer since the first Film Festival in 1998. She says she was “not a very good bartender” and was moved to taking tickets and showing people to their movie.

Clearly Deb has honed her abilities: for years now, she has been a terrific volunteer as one of the captains of Theater Management at the Festival.

“Managing theater crowds is a challenging task,” says Film Society Executive Director Sue Early, “Deb approaches this task with the goal of ensuring efficient, safe, and fair movement for all. She works long hours throughout the Festival. People would better appreciate her work if they just spent one hour in her shoes. The Film Society greatly appreciates her work as finding people with Deb's level of commitment is like discovering a jewel. She generously supports the Film Society both with her time and resources. She even offered her glass-blowing furnace-warmed studio as the winter meeting space for the Board of Directors for several winters.

One of Deb’s co-captains, Teri Dunbar, says “Deb is a totally delightful, organized, hardworking, and funny person to work with. There is always a sense that ‘things are gonna be all right’ when I see her 6 foot figure come strolling down the theater hallway greeting people and asking if they are enjoying themselves. Deb is ALWAYS problem-solving, finding new ways for Theater Management to be more efficient, and organizing our many tasks to make us look good! For me, it just wouldn’t be a festival without Deb and her unique ability to cater to the many needs of our independent theater fans.

Deb is also a past member of the Film Society Board of Directors, lending her leadership, organizational and creative talents to help guide the Society’s direction. As part of the Fundraising and Marketing committees, Deb could always be counted on for creative ideas and solutions.

When she is not doing something for the Film Society, you may find Deb at her studio. Deborah Appleby is a renowned glass designer and maker, who owns Studio on 24, just a few miles west of Route 1. Deb has been at her craft for 18 years, has studied widely and has clients in several countries in addition to those locally and across the U.S.

So while Deb has excelled over time at her glass-blowing craft, she has also excelled from mediocre beverage volunteer to Theater Management co-captain and outstanding Film Society Board Member. Thank you Deb for devoting so much time, energy and talent to the Film Society!

“You just never know how things are connected.” That is what long-time RBFS member, volunteer and past Board President Fritz Schranck said about his involvement with the Film Society and one of his careers, that of golf columnist for the Cape Gazette. Fritz chatted with Trish Vernon of the Gazette, while waiting to enter the Bottle and Cork to see John Waters at the first Film Festival. (Do you notice a recurring theme among many of our volunteers and supporters??? Hint: John Waters, 1998). Not long after, Fritz began writing his golf column for the Gazette. Networking at its finest!

Fritz lives in Rehoboth Beach and began volunteering with the Film Society in 2004. Since then he has performed many duties including captain of the Box Office at the Festival, and as a Board member and President, helping to set organizational policy, fundraising, and being the ambassador for the Society with government and businesses. As fun as all that sounds, Fritz can frequently be found on trash duty at the Festival, as well as helping with tent set-up, knock-down, and relieving staff and volunteers so they can take breaks. However, Fritz may be best known by Box Office volunteers for the fabulous cookies he bakes for them and distributes as soothing balm during the stressful pre-Festival ticket sales and throughout the Festival. Executive Director Sue Early says “During the Festival, Fritz devotes a marathon amount of time as a volunteer, frequently appearing at the Big Tent before my 7:30 am arrival.”

Fritz volunteers about 200 hours annually with the Film Society, 70 of those during the Festival Week. “I take vacation time for that week and sometimes for other Film Society volunteer work as needed throughout the year.” In his third incarnation, or “real job” as some may call it, Fritz is a deputy attorney general for the State of Delaware, and acts as a General Counsel for the Department of Transportation. “I just passed my 23rd year in that position.”

Fritz says what he most enjoys about the Festival is “the buzz….the little social world of independent film fans in the tent and in the theaters, speaking excitedly about what they saw, what someone else saw, what they plan to see, and so on. At the box office we also have fun with the re-selling of sold-out movie tickets, as folks rush up to take advantage of an opportunity they thought had disappeared.”

Outside of the Festival, Fritz says he has also enjoyed helping the Film Society with several organizational issues during six years on the Board — three as President — such as the purchase of the society’s office, reworking by-laws, and helping to negotiate agreements.

“I have had the opportunity to work with many Board members and Officers”, says Sue Early. “As President, Fritz brought a very stable leadership which guided the organization toward substantial achievements in a low-key manner. I will miss his regular presence at the RBFS office.”

Fritz says, “I really liked working with Board members, and of course all the volunteers, especially those at the Box Office. I look forward to continuing the Box Office volunteer work for the Society at upcoming Festivals.”

Fritz and his wife Sue also enjoy boating on the inland bays, travel, cooking, and music. “We also like the fact that our daughter Julia and daughter Carolyn Theim (and son-in-law Chris) also enjoy the Festival.”

Nothing like introducing younger generations to the joys of independent film. Fritz’s story is reason enough to become a Film Society member. From event attendee in 1998, to renowned golf columnist, Film Society Board President and baker extraordinaire in just a few years. Think of the possibilities! As Fritz says “You just never know how things are connected.”