Filmmaker providing backstage pass to Ribfest

A Naperville filmmaker is giving people a backstage pass to Ribfest.

Stuart Meyer is creating a documentary about the Naperville Exchange Club's annual Fourth of July weekend bash in hopes of raising awareness of how it comes together and the nonprofit groups that benefit.

"It's a herculean effort to put this festival on and the film itself is going to amaze people the depth and lengths people go to," Meyer said.

The Exchange Club's annual event in Knoch Park draws thousands each year for its ribs, music and family activities. It expanded this year to the south side of the park, increasing its capacity to about 60,000 - roughly 20,000 more than last year.

Proceeds from the event go to groups that fight child abuse and domestic violence. Last year's celebration raised $773,000. Of that, $550,000 went to nonprofit groups through grants and $110,000 went to Project HELP, the club's program that provides parent mentoring services.

Meyer, who runs media production company Social Frequency Media Communications and publishes the "World of Naperville" blog, started his Ribfest documentary filming with a steering committee meeting in mid-June. Shooting the festival itself, he said, was "four days in complete dehydration racing around Knoch Park" but a rewarding experience.

He compiled 30 hours of footage as he followed key Exchange Club members coordinating volunteers, entertainment, vendors and sponsors. He got a glimpse of rib vendors' perfecting their prizewinning meat, interviewed members of headliner Tonic and will profile nonprofit groups that put the proceeds to good use.

Meyer doesn't know exactly how long the film will wind up but estimates 11/2 hours. He is ready to start editing his footage and hopes to have most of that work done this fall.

In the winter, he will film the annual luncheon at which the Exchange Club distributes grant money. After adding that footage, he plans to have the documentary ready in late winter or early spring.

Once complete, Meyer and the Exchange Club plan to enter it in contests, show it to other groups sponsoring festivals and likely post it on the Ribfest website. Meyer also plans to pitch it to WTTW Channel 11.

He hopes the documentary will bring Ribfest national attention and help the Exchange Club raise more awareness and money for its cause.

Meyer said 80 percent of the production budget will be an in-kind contribution. The club will pitch in the remaining $2,000.