Underwood native writes for cable food show

By Trisha Marczak (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Wade Barry was a 13-year-old Underwood farm boy when he saved up enough cash to purchase his first film camera.

Now Barry is working in the big-leagues, undertaking duties as a writer for the Food Network’s hit factual TV show, “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives,” featuring Guy Fieri.

The nature of his position allows Barry to live in the Minneapolis area, working out of an office in Plymouth. The actual show itself is shot “off the cuff,” allowing Fieri’s ideas to run loose.

It’s Barry’s job to fine-tune the program, taking a look at extra-long segments and tailoring each one to fit the allotted time slot, while still representing the key elements of the program.

Barry’s position is something new for the artist, who has spent the past 20 years developing, writing and producing a variety of films and documentaries.

The list of his accomplishments include a PBS documentary illustrating the origins of the traditional Christmas tree; a screenplay — “Mo Mushi” — depicting typical small town living with a humorous edge, a number of television shows on HGTV, TLC, Travel Channel, Food Network and PBS, and the co-creation of a non-profit film organization, to name a few.

Barry’s varied experience stems from his passion for creating dramatic and entertaining narrative films, whatever the genre.

Barry’s thirst for storytelling began at a young age after hours spent listening to his grandfather’s tales of life during the great depression.

The audio Barry recorded of his grandfather expressing hardships endured throughout his life is still with Barry to this day.

He also attributes his passion to time spent with uncles and extended family members, whose tales never fell short of entertaining — and still don’t.

Barry’s growing desire to pursue his career led him to the Twin Cities when he was 20-years-old.

There, he attended film school and, when completed, set off to work in television and successfully landed work as a producer for a number of popular home renovation television shows.

Although Barry’s career has led him to remote villages in China, and locations throughout the country, he has his sights set on Otter Tail County as his future home.

“You can choose to just have that town be the world to you or you can decide to look beyond it,” Barry says, “I admire people who can do both of those things.”

With technology reaching new levels, Barry is optimistic that his plans may one day become a reality, allowing him to conduct his work from a part-time home close to his rural roots.

Aside from creating a life with Otter Tail in mind, Barry aspires to create a full-time career through personal productions.

“I really have a strong need to create something that I am proud of at the end of my life,” he said, “and say, ‘ya know, I was able to contribute to this change.’”