For about two weeks, I had the pleasure of tagging along with the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Buffalo Unscripted team. We wandered through grain elevators and had exclusive access to the otherwise off-limits Richardson Complex. Besides hosting really exciting urban adventures, the team also visited neighborhood coffee shops and hung around area parks, just talking to locals and capturing on video the Buffalo experience. All of those filmed conversations have been sorted and edited, and a final video series will debut later this month at a special viewing.

Buffalo Unscripted: A City Speaks premieres Oct. 21 at Market Arcade Film & Arts Centre. The free screening is described by its organizers as an “interactive project dedicated to the Queen City and the historic places that define it.” Because admittance is no charge, it’s best to arrive early. Doors open at 6 p.m., but the screening will occur at 7:30 p.m. We’ll be covering the event closely as the date approaches, but for now, we leave you with a few cuts from the hundreds of hours of video collected.

All participants in the Buffalo Unscripted filming process were asked to describe Buffalo in one word—yes, a single word. What word would you use to describe the Queen City?

Buffalo In One Word: Analogy Edition from PreservationNation on Vimeo.

Buffalo In One Word: Friendly from PreservationNation on Vimeo.

Photo courtesy of Buffalo Unscripted.