It is with great sadness that I write this today: Larry Bernard Buskey, a Fieldston legend and student favorite, is retiring after thirteen years leading the Film Department.
Affectionately known as “Buskey” to his students, he has been a teacher and mentor to hundreds of students over the years. As someone who entered Fieldston in freshman year, film was the first arts class I ever experienced at the school. It only took one short semester for Buskey to sell me on film, not just as an art but as a passion. Buskey sparks something in all of his students – all it takes is a trek across campus to the film room.
Buskey, working with Emma Kudelka, was also crucial in helping to launch and shape the new podcast features on The Fieldston News.
Each year without fail Buskey puts together recordings of assemblies and Fieldston productions, oversees the live streaming of the fashion show and inspires his students to create films, which are showcased at the end-of-year Fieldston Film Festival. This year, Fieldston film majors won eight awards at the New York Alliance Film Festival, the most out of any school in the competition. We could not have done it without Buskey.
“Buskey doesn’t show a lot of emotion during the editing process,” said Film Major Rachel Shames (Form V). “He’s a harsh critic but it’s one of his greatest qualities – getting a simple fist bump or a smile from Buskey can make your day. I can forever attribute my love for movies and filmmaking to Buskey.”
Zoe Williams, Class of 2024, shared similar gratitude for Buskey. “I think Mr. Buskey is and will forever be the most influential teacher I ever had. I am so grateful that he introduced me to my passion and opened my eyes to the world of film. He always created a fun and supportive environment for our group to learn and create and I honestly do not think there is any teacher like him. He is an inspiration to us students and I can’t wait to see what he does beyond Fieldston. Thank you for always pushing us to be the best we could be Mr. Buskey. I will miss you so much.”
Buskey may be leaving Fieldston, but he’ll always have a special place in his heart for his students. He shared, “One thing I will certainly do will be to continue keeping an eye out for what my current and past students might be doing down the road. Some may decide to become successful doctors or lawyers, while many will have wonderfully loving families while conquering new worlds in business or even sports. Some may even answer the call to become dedicated and inspiring educators. But I’ll keep my hopes up that someday, one or more of them will climb up onto an award show stage and shout out Fieldston as the place where it all began for them. That, I believe, would be a very good day indeed.”
A talented documentary filmmaker, Buskey recently completed a superb and nuanced film about the student takeover of Fieldston in the 1970s. The film has not yet been released to a Fieldston audience. That will happen in the Fall of 2024.
Watch any Fieldston student’s film to the end, and the final credits are all variations of the same five words, “Special thanks to Larry Buskey.” Buskey’s classes have taught us to appreciate the oddities in filmmaking, to focus on the technicalities and above all to love what you make.
And so we say goodbye, and as always, special thanks to Larry Buskey.
