By Gene Galin
Pittsboro, NC – In the world of high school sports, few stories captivate a community like the rise of a local star. I had a chance to sit down for a quick conversation with Pat Welter, a WRAL-TV sports journalist, at the ACC Football Kickoff. We delved a little into his documentary, “Prince of Pittsboro,” which follows the journey of Drake Powell, a standout basketball player from Northwood High School in Pittsboro. The film not only highlights Powell’s athletic prowess but also explores the dynamics of a community rallying around its young talent. With over 28,000 views, this documentary has resonated with audiences beyond just Chatham County.
The Genesis of a Documentary
A Local Star on the Rise: Discovering Drake Powell
Pat Welter’s journey to creating “Prince of Pittsboro” began with a simple curiosity. As a local TV sports journalist, he became aware of Drake Powell, a rare basketball talent from the Triangle area who had committed to playing for the University of North Carolina. “Basketball players of Drake’s caliber are pretty rare,” Welter notes. Powell’s decision to stay local, despite offers from prestigious prep schools, intrigued Pat.
Welter’s initial encounter with Powell was during a summer practice amidst the intense AAU Peach Jam circuit. “I was impressed by Drake just the way he handled himself,” Pat recalls. Despite the practice focusing predominantly on defense, Powell’s demeanor and skill on the court hinted at a promising story.”I was impressed by Drake’s demeanor and his defensive skills, even though I didn’t get to see him shoot at the first practice,” Pat recalled. This initial meeting laid the groundwork for a deeper exploration of Powell’s story.
From Short Clips to Full-Length Feature
Pat, accustomed to producing quick-hit sports segments, saw the potential for a longer narrative in Powell’s story. “I’ve done five-minute pieces before, but the internet allows for longer formats,” he explained. This flexibility inspired him to pitch a full-length documentary to his management and the Powell family. Despite initial reluctance from Drake, who shies away from the spotlight, the support from his parents and coach Matt Brown convinced him to participate.
Crafting the Narrative
Crafting the Documentary: A Labor of Love
Welter’s vision for the documentary expanded as he delved deeper into Powell’s world. His interactions with Drake, Northwood High’s coach Matt Brown, and Powell’s family revealed a tapestry of narratives waiting to be told. “I saw two pretty compelling people here; we’ve got a compelling story,” Pat states. The initial concept for a short news piece gradually evolved into a full-length documentary as he captured key moments of Powell’s senior year.
Balancing his regular responsibilities covering sports for WRAL with this ambitious project, Pat embarked on a journey that involved meticulous planning and constant coordination. Pat’s approach involved minimal intrusion, opting to film Powell’s practices and key games rather than shadowing him constantly. “My idea was like, hey, I’m not going to follow around 24/7. What if I go out there once a week, go to practice, key games on the schedule?” he explains. This approach allowed him to document significant events, including Powell being named a McDonald’s All-American and Northwood’s playoff games.
Behind the Title: “Prince of Pittsboro”
Choosing the title for the documentary was both strategic and symbolic. “Title’s like alliteration,” Pat says, reflecting on the decision. While “Prince of Pittsboro” was not a common moniker for Powell, it encapsulated his impact on the local community.
A Story Beyond Basketball
One of the documentary’s standout elements is its portrayal of Matt Brown, Powell’s coach at Northwood High School. Brown’s coaching philosophy, heavily influenced by his faith and family values, shaped Powell’s development both on and off the court. “Matt runs a high school program basically like it’s a college,” Pat observes.
Brown’s coaching style played a crucial role in keeping Powell at Northwood. “A lot of kids of Drake’s caliber go to high-end prep schools,” Welter noted. “But Matt’s program provided the necessary environment for Drake to thrive without leaving home.” The film delves into Brown’s background, including his shift from college coaching aspirations to high school coaching, influenced by his family’s needs.
The Dual Narrative: Powell and Brown
The documentary intricately weaves together the stories of Drake Powell and his coach, Matt Brown. Coach Brown, whose coaching career is rich with experiences from Indiana to Northwood, provides a foundational perspective on Powell’s journey. “Matt was essential in kind of filling in a lot of the gaps,” Pat says. Brown’s narrative, including his own dreams of coaching at higher levels and the profound personal stories of his family, adds depth to the documentary.
Editing and Storytelling: Building the Narrative
The documentary’s production process was a testament to Welter’s dedication to storytelling. Pat emphasized the importance of structure in storytelling. “Whether it’s a two-minute news piece or a documentary, an outline is crucial,” he said. For “Prince of Pittsboro,” this meant logging hours of footage and interviews, then weaving a coherent narrative around Powell’s senior season.
“For me, my process, whether it’s a two-minute news piece or a full-length documentary, involves logging everything with time codes,” he explains. This methodical approach enabled Pat to craft a coherent and engaging narrative from hours of footage. The story, framed by the pursuit of a state championship, also explored Powell’s family dynamics and the community’s response to his success.
Welter’s outline for the documentary was clear: the journey towards the state championship. This end goal provided a narrative backbone, with side stories of Powell’s family and Coach Brown woven seamlessly into the storyline. “We knew we were going to end with the state championship, and how we were going to get there along the way was the clear narrative,” Pat shares.
The Impact of “Prince of Pittsboro”
Resonating with the Community
The documentary’s release resonated deeply within the Pittsboro community and beyond. The documentary garnered significant attention, amassing over 28,000 views on YouTube. Local support and viewership numbers were a testament to the documentary’s impact. “The fact that people watched it is awesome,” Pat says.
It resonated not just with local fans but also with a broader audience, eager to learn more about a promising athlete heading to the storied basketball program at UNC. The film also highlighted the importance of local media in covering stories that might otherwise go unnoticed on a national scale.
For Powell and his family, the documentary was a significant milestone. Powell, known for his humility, initially reluctant about the spotlight, embraced the narrative that Pat Welter crafted.
A Look into the Future
Pat hopes that “Prince of Pittsboro” is just the beginning. He expressed a desire to continue creating in-depth sports documentaries, potentially even tackling a future ESPN 30 for 30 feature. “I have another project in mind, but I can’t share details yet,” he teased. His passion for storytelling, evident since his school days, drives him to explore more such narratives.
Looking Forward: Future Aspirations
The success of “Prince of Pittsboro” has inspired Welter to pursue more long-form storytelling projects. “I love working at WRAL and Raleigh,” Welter says, expressing his desire to continue creating impactful sports documentaries. His next project, though still under wraps, promises to explore another generational athlete from the Raleigh area.
Welter’s passion for storytelling extends beyond sports. Reflecting on his journey, he recalls, “Before I even knew I wanted to do sports, I always wanted to be in some sort of content creation.” This lifelong passion drives Welter to continue exploring new narratives and sharing them with a broader audience.
The Role of Local Journalism
In an era dominated by national media, Welter’s work underscores the value of local journalism. “Local media still matters. You’re not getting this kind of coverage anywhere else,” he emphasized. The documentary has not only brought attention to Drake Powell but also highlighted the work of local journalists who cover high school sports with dedication and insight.
A Community’s Pride
The “Prince of Pittsboro” sports documentary stands as a testament to the power of local journalism and storytelling. Through Pat Welter’s lens, viewers gain a more in-depth understanding of Drake Powell’s journey, the community that shaped him, and the coach who guided him. The documentary not only celebrates Powell’s athletic achievements but also underscores the importance of perseverance, community, and the pursuit of dreams. Pat’s film has captured the essence of a young athlete’s rise, a coach’s influence, and a town’s pride.
As Pat plans to continue to explore new stories, his work reminds us of the importance of celebrating local heroes and the journalists who bring their stories to light. Whether it’s in high school gym like Northwood’s or a large arena like UNC’s Dean Smith Center, the tales of perseverance, passion, and community appear to always find a receptive audience. And for Pat Welter, this documentary is just the beginning of what he hopes will be a promising journey in sports storytelling, with many more narratives waiting to be uncovered.
Watch on YouTube – WRAL’s Pat Welter talks about his “Prince of Pittsboro” documentary on Drake Powell – 7.25.24
00:17 Pat Welter created the ‘Prince of Pittsboro’ documentary on Drake Powell.
Pat Welter was inspired to create the documentary after learning about Drake Powell’s caliber as a basketball player in the triangle area of North Carolina.
The documentary showcases Drake Powell’s skills and features Matt Brown, highlighting their compelling story.
02:09 Pat Welter wanted to create a documentary about Drake Powell, with initial reluctance from Drake.
Pat convinced Drake, his parents, and the school to support the documentary project.
Pat managed to fit the project into his daily responsibilities by attending practices and key games.
03:41 Documentary title explained – ‘Prince of Pittsboro’
The title ‘Prince of Pittsboro’ chosen for the documentary due to alliteration and Drake Powell’s significance in the Pittsboro area.
Drake Powell, a humble guy, was considered royalty in his town and school, drawing huge crowds to games and garnering fame.
05:19 Drake’s documentary highlights his interaction with Matt Brown.
Matt and Drake’s interaction and how they built off each other were essential for telling Drake’s story.
The program run by Matt allowed Drake to stay at Northwood and play against high-end competition.
07:05 Documentary highlights Matt Brown’s dedication and personal milestones
This documentary showcases Matt Brown’s contentment with coaching at Northwood High School and his strong belief in fate.
Key moments include Brown sharing his family’s adoption story, the birth of his child coinciding with the documentary release, and the editing process to capture essential elements.
08:47 Creating a clear narrative for the documentary
The tedious process of logging and vlogging all the interviews and footage
Aspiring to create more similar content for WRAL Raleigh in the future
10:31 Passion for sports journalism and content creation
Discussing previous documentary projects on athletes
Exploring ideas for new documentary on a generational athlete in Raleigh
12:05 Pat Welter discusses the impact of ‘Prince of Pittsboro’ and local media on sports coverage
Pat Welter emphasizes the importance of local media in covering high school sports and its impact on fans and teams.
Pat Welter expresses gratitude for the support and viewership of ‘Prince of Pittsboro’ and hopes to create more documentaries in the future.