Alexandra Pelosi first heard about Port Arthur, Texas after she read an article in The New York Times about Mayor Derrick Freeman and residents dealing with Tropical Storm Harvey.

The renowned documentary filmmaker and daughter of the former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, decided to see things for herself. She traveled from New York City to Port Arthur on Christmas Eve to meet with Freeman and to see the town.

Freeman took her to the Port Arthur City Hall and El Vista Village, where she filmed and did interviews with residents. She also attended the candlelight service at Triumph Church in Nederland and ate with Freeman at his mother’s house.

“We were impressed,” he said. “She came here with a different thought. She said while in New York they’re in a bubble and hear Texas folks are barefooted with no teeth, but she changed her mind and now she’s open to Southeast Texas.

“She knows we’re real people. She’s really interested in Port Arthur. I think she may come back one day.”

Freeman said he feels the documentary will bring some exposure to Port Arthur and put residents’ needs into the spotlight.

“This will put Port Arthur in a great light,” Freeman said. “I was really impressed and honored. This is an award-winning film director. She makes annual documentaries and Port Arthur is a part of it.”

Pelosi has filmed, produced and directed 11 HBO documentary films.

She started off her career at NBC News, where she served for a decade as a field producer. In 2000, she was assigned to cover the Bush campaign, which led to her first Emmy award-winning HBO documentary, “Journeys with George,” following future President George W. Bush on the campaign trail.

Since then, she has spent the last 16 years as an HBO documentary filmmaker, making 10 films including: “Diary of a Political Tourist” (following the 2004 presidential hopefuls); “Friends of God” (documenting the growing influence of evangelicals in America); “The Trials of Ted Haggard” (following disgraced former Pastor Ted Haggard); “Right America: Feeling Wronged,” (documenting the birth of the Tea Party movement); “Homeless: Motel Kids of Orange County” (documenting the lives of homeless children); “Citizen USA: A 50 State Road Trip” (attending naturalization ceremonies to meet new citizens to find out why they chose America as their home); “Fall To Grace” (about disgraced former governor Jim McGreevey); “San Francisco 2.0” (about the tech invasion of her hometown); and “Meet the Donors” (about billionaires bankrolling our democracy).

Her last film, “The Words That Built America,” narrated by historian David McCullough, premieres on HBO July 4th.

Pelosi also authored two books: “Sneaking into the Flying Circus: How the media turn our elections in a freak show” and “Citizen USA: A 50 State Road trip.”

She lives in Greenwich Village with her husband, Dutch TV correspondent Michiel Vos, and their sons Paul and Thomas.

The documentary about Port Arthur’s Tropical Storm Harvey recovery will air on HBO at the end of 2018.