CLOSE TO HOME: THE TAMMY BOCCOMINO STORY (TV)
Summary
This Peabody Award-winning documentary looks at the world of Tammy Boccomino, a young Michigan housewife with AIDS. In interviews Boccomino describes learning that she had AIDS after giving birth to her son Michael, who is HIV-positive, and her subsequent discovery that she was infected by her first husband, an intravenous drug user. Neighbors Christine and Danielle May and Judy Legree discuss the positive learning process they have undergone since Tammy went public with her condition. Michael's pre-school director Alice Johnson and teacher Aileen Dombrowski discuss their personal reactions to learning about Tammy and Michael, as well as their professional approach to a student with HIV. Tammy's brother Robert Boccomino, a teacher, discusses learning of Tammy's illness and what it has taught him about life, rather than death. Tammy's sister Lisa, a manicurist, talks about the AIDS stigma, noting that some of her own clients stopped seeing her when they learned her sister was infected; but says that Tammy's disease has made her grow up faster and has led her to volunteer at a nearby children's hopsital with HIV-infected children Finally, Brian Volante, Boccomino's present husband, explains how his life has turned around since learning of his wife's and son's disease. Once a self-absorbed alcoholic who spent little time at home, Brian says he now spends his time caring for and enjoying time with his family. Also includes an interview with local parent Judy Stevens and an introduction by Frank Newman, the president of F & M Distributors, underwriter of this program.
Details
- NETWORK: WKBD-TV
- DATE: December 7, 1992
- RUNNING TIME: 0:26:54
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:29439
- GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: AIDS (Disease)
- SERIES RUN: WKBD (Detroit, MI) - 1992
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Harvey Ovshinsky … Producer, Director
- Shannon McNamara Verklan … Associate Producer
- Joseph LoDuca … Music by
- Lisa Boccomino
- Robert Boccomino
- Tammy Boccomino
- Aileen Dombrowski
- Alice Johnson
- Judy Legree
- Christine May
- Danielle May
- Frank Newman
- Judy Stevens
- Brian Volante
- Michael Volante
- Tony Volante