Posts tagged documentary

Posted 3 months ago

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Getting Closer to Launch! Lots of updates, links and news

The past couple months have been a whirlwind of long hours and exciting payoffs for everyone on the Hollowteam. Here are a couple updates! 

  • Hollow featured in Tribeca Film Institute’s TFI Sandbox: Check out the site which features a project homepage, an interview with me about Hollow, an interview with Jeff Soyk and I about the Tribeca/Zeega Hackathon, and many other resources and information about interactive documentary.
  • Hollow featured in “New Digital Storytelling” series in Filmmaker Magazine: The fine folks at the MIT Open Doc Lab asked us to contribute to the series and we’re super excited about the final piece. The series will continue throughout the year!
  • “Beautiful McDowell County” photo exhibit has moved from Charleston to Bramwell, West Virginia: The exhibit, which features photography by Betty Rivard and myself, will open on March 18 at the Coal Heritage Interpretive Center in the Bramwell Depot. The exhibit will be on display through May 11.Tomorrow (Tues. 3/19), an artist reception with Betty Rivard will be held from 5:30-7:30 PM at the depot. 
  • 2013 WVU Short Film Fest: This past weekend I traveled to Morgantown to screen two short pieces fromHollow and take part in a panel discussion about Appalachian identity. It was great to meet Martha Stephens, a talented Appalachian filmmaker and writer/director of Pilgrim Song.
  • Tribeca Film Fest: In late April, we will be attending the Tribeca Film Festival to represent Hollow. I will provide more details closer to the date!
  • SXSW Interactive and Film Festival: Last week, I had the pleasure to serve as a digital media and film mentor at the SXSW film festival in Austin, Texas. The trip was an amazing experience and I was so surprised to meet people who already knew about Hollow. It was also great to be able to meet several of our Kickstarter backers in Austin, including Mike Andrick and Dan Mistich.

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Posted 5 months ago

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Elaine McMillion on "Hollow," stereotypes and the future of West Virginia.

Interview by Patrick Felton

Elaine McMilion, director of HOLLOW, was interviewed by Patrick Felton in Charleston, West Virginia for his podcast, “That Conversation.”

Full audio interview: “That Conversation” by Patrick Felton

Soundcloud link

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Posted 7 months ago

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McDowell County is a very patriotic community and tomorrow they will continue their tradition of holding one of the country’s longest ongoing Veterans Day parades in the country.

And in honor of Veterans Day, we are releasing three short stories from residents in McDowell County. We interviewed over 50 individuals this summer, many of which shared stories of war and returning home after. Today we would like to share three of those from Ellis Ray Williams, Ed Shepard and Bill Bolt. 

Ellis Ray Williams shares his experience as an African American soldier in WWII. 

Ed Shepard talks about his time as a sniper in the Marine Corps and his return home to Welch.

Bill Bolt talks about returning to Coalwood from three years in the Navy, meeting the love of his life and watching his community change.

The stories can all be experienced on Cowbird!

Please watch and share with your friends as we pay respect to our Veterans! 

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Posted 8 months ago

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Clouds Over Cuba

On the 50th anniversary of the crisis, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum has released an interactive documentary called Clouds Over Cuba. Narrated by actor Matthew Modine, the film vividly explains the events before, during and after the historic crisis. As the story unfolds, the documentary prompts viewers to access an impressive amount of historical documents (photos, documents, audio recordings, etc.) that add real texture to the story. Clouds Over Cuba iseducational. It’s impressively put together.

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Posted 9 months ago

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Hollow participants share their hopes and dreams for the future of their communities.

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Posted 9 months ago

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Our Kickstarter backers who chose the postcard reward can look forward to receiving one within the next few weeks! We just got the shipment in today :) Next Wednesday, I am wrapping up production here in McDowell. Then I’m making the hike back up to Boston for post-production with the team! We’re very excited to move onto the next phase of production for “Hollow” but saying goodbye (for now) to this awesome community is very hard. We know that just because “production” is ending doesn’t mean our connections with the community will end. This past week I have been training the five community video coordinators who will be in charge of distributing cameras and training new residents while we are away. We have spread the cameras all across the county to insure that the tools are accessible to everyone.  Thanks for your continued support! Elaine P.S. The deadline for our SXSW panel picker has been extended to September 3. If you haven’t already, please take the time to vote and feel free to share your thoughts on why you support this participatory documentary with the judges! We have had great response already thanks to the residents here in McDowell.

Our Kickstarter backers who chose the postcard reward can look forward to receiving one within the next few weeks! We just got the shipment in today :)

Next Wednesday, I am wrapping up production here in McDowell. Then I’m making the hike back up to Boston for post-production with the team!

We’re very excited to move onto the next phase of production for “Hollow” but saying goodbye (for now) to this awesome community is very hard. We know that just because “production” is ending doesn’t mean our connections with the community will end. This past week I have been training the five community video coordinators who will be in charge of distributing cameras and training new residents while we are away. We have spread the cameras all across the county to insure that the tools are accessible to everyone. 

Thanks for your continued support!

Elaine

P.S. The deadline for our SXSW panel picker has been extended to September 3. If you haven’t already, please take the time to vote and feel free to share your thoughts on why you support this participatory documentary with the judges! We have had great response already thanks to the residents here in McDowell.

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Posted 9 months ago

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Mary McKinney’s drawings of her “future McDowell.” Really inspiring documents here, folks. This is just a few examples of ideas for Keystone and Landgraff out of a whole package she gave me. I dare anyone to tell me the people of McDowell don’t have ideas for improving their communities. It’s time we take these ideas to those in power and make things happen in the coalfields.

Mary McKinney’s drawings of her “future McDowell.” Really inspiring documents here, folks. This is just a few examples of ideas for Keystone and Landgraff out of a whole package she gave me. I dare anyone to tell me the people of McDowell don’t have ideas for improving their communities. It’s time we take these ideas to those in power and make things happen in the coalfields.

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Posted 10 months ago

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@hollowthefilm’s mascot -The Keez- celebrating our recent support by @TribecaFilmIns in Welch, West Virginia! Read about the New Media fund on TFI, IndieWire, Variety and RealScreen.

@hollowthefilm’s mascot -The Keez- celebrating our recent support by @TribecaFilmIns in Welch, West Virginia!

Read about the New Media fund on TFI, IndieWire, Variety and RealScreen.

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Posted 10 months ago

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Workshop 3 participants! These folks are working toward a more positive future for McDowell County. (Left to Right back row) Shawn Penwarden, Tom Acosta, Brenda Goodson, Ron Serino, Mary McKinney, Gilbert Nash, Alan Johnston, Linda McKinney. (Left to Right front row) Michelle Miller, Matthew Goodson, Megan Bowers, Patricia Blevins, Renee Bolden, Elaine McMillion.

Workshop 3 participants! These folks are working toward a more positive future for McDowell County.

(Left to Right back row) Shawn Penwarden, Tom Acosta, Brenda Goodson, Ron Serino, Mary McKinney, Gilbert Nash, Alan Johnston, Linda McKinney. (Left to Right front row) Michelle Miller, Matthew Goodson, Megan Bowers, Patricia Blevins, Renee Bolden, Elaine McMillion.

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Posted 10 months ago

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Hollow documenting McDowell County's story

Washington Times

By Lisa King

“On the day I visited, the documentary makers were holding a story telling seminar to better enable the community participants to reflect on their lives in a way that would convey their experiences in McDowell County through its many ups and downs.

Present was a wonderful mix of all ethnicities, including Irish, Italian, Indian, German, and African American that reflected the impressive array of people that came to McDowell County in the past seeking their fortunes.

From ages 13 to 80, the participants all gathered in hopes of learning how they could convey their pride in their community and how to tell that in a format that would be available for all to enjoy.

The more I talked to the people the more I realized they were all community minded, each holding at least one position in their community, if not more, that was directly responsible for insuring and bettering the welfare of the rest of the community.

Participants were from law enforcement, health care, teaching, county government, and the local food bank, just to name a few. More importantly, they shared a real enthusiasm for the project that was obvious in their words and actions.

As work on “Hollow” continues, I am left with this thought; they say one person can change the world. If this is true, we definitely have not heard the last of McDowell County West Virginia, because I recently met a room full of earth shakers there.”

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Posted 10 months ago

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Help HOLLOW get to SXSW Interactive 2013

We need everyone’s vote! West Virginia University (my alma mater) has submitted a panel featuring HOLLOW and 18 Days in Egypt for SXSW 2013 in Austin titled, “The People’s Voice: Story Through Their Lens.” We need everyone to sign up for the website (it’s simple) and cast your vote!

Our submission: http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/156

Voting closes August 31 ; Programming announced October 15 (first round)

Please vote, share and help HOLLOW make it to SXSW :)

Thanks for your support!

Elaine & the HOLLOW team

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Posted 10 months ago

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Today I interviewed the very talented banjo picker, Nessie Hunt of Premier Mountain. I have filmed Hunt at several performances throughout the summer and was very excited to sit down with her to chat and film her with her little boy, Jesse. Hunt’s husband, Ronnie, is a guitar player and roof bolter at a coal mine locally. The couple bonded over their love for music and continue to play as part of Blue Rockin Grass band and Alan Johnston’s South 52.

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Posted 10 months ago

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The Power of Storytelling: Youth in McDowell Express the Meaning of Home via video #WV #documentary  I went into HOLLOW without any background on how to teach a community to tell their own story and long story short, I have learned alot. The fact is I don’t need to have experience in teaching storytelling. The people of McDowell County know their story and they know how to tell it better than anyone else. Beyond some basic skills I have taught about interviewing, framing, audio and lighting, the youth here have truly embraced the chance to use the tools of video to communicate their story of home, hope and change.  One thing I have noticed is that kids older than 14 or 15 show less interest and confidence in filming. Those 10 to 13 years old seem to be drawn to the idea of HOLLOW and have been producing thoughtful and beautiful content without getting hung up on the quality. As I sit here this evening, I am literally in tears over video a 12-year-old Coalwood resident shot yesterday. Tyler (pictured above) is the grandson of Reba and Bill Bolt and took one of the cameras up to Homer Hickam’s launch site yesterday. Below is an excerpt from the conversation Tyler and his friend Nick filmed.  NICK: Well here we are again. We are at the launch site in Coalwood, West Virginia in McDowell County. So Tyler, how do you like Coalwood buddy? TYLER: It’s alright. Nice place to live, pretty view. If you’re from the cities you can’t live over here. Ya know you got to get used to these roads and it’s wild…there’s lot of wild animals running around through here and it’s just a good place to live. NICK: I heard that we used to have stores, barbershops, everything. We used to have a clubhouse, well we still have it, and it’s still standing now it’s just not in shape enough to open it back up. They said it might have to take $1.6 million to fix it back. We got a pool, we got a park, and we got a store still. It’s called Country Corner, its good food down there, real good food. But usually we have to go to Welch to get other food like groceries and other stuff.  So Tyler what’s it like to be in Coalwood? TYLER: It’s a miracle. NICK: Do you think we will ever get all the stores back? TYLER: We might. I mean it’s going to take a lot of money. If I ever hit the lottery I would probably fix this place up. Do some other stuff to it. I love living down here. NICK: Do you? TYLER: Yeah NICK: I do too but it’s just…the environment these days is not too good.  This conversation is just a small insight into the footage youth is creating for HOLLOW. I am so grateful that so many people-both young and old-have taken ownership of this project and started to create content about places that are meaningful to them. Elaine

The Power of Storytelling: Youth in McDowell Express the Meaning of Home via video #WV #documentary 

I went into HOLLOW without any background on how to teach a community to tell their own story and long story short, I have learned alot. The fact is I don’t need to have experience in teaching storytelling. The people of McDowell County know their story and they know how to tell it better than anyone else. Beyond some basic skills I have taught about interviewing, framing, audio and lighting, the youth here have truly embraced the chance to use the tools of video to communicate their story of home, hope and change. 

One thing I have noticed is that kids older than 14 or 15 show less interest and confidence in filming. Those 10 to 13 years old seem to be drawn to the idea of HOLLOW and have been producing thoughtful and beautiful content without getting hung up on the quality.

As I sit here this evening, I am literally in tears over video a 12-year-old Coalwood resident shot yesterday. Tyler (pictured above) is the grandson of Reba and Bill Bolt and took one of the cameras up to Homer Hickam’s launch site yesterday. Below is an excerpt from the conversation Tyler and his friend Nick filmed. 

NICK: Well here we are again. We are at the launch site in Coalwood, West Virginia in McDowell County. So Tyler, how do you like Coalwood buddy?

TYLER: It’s alright. Nice place to live, pretty view. If you’re from the cities you can’t live over here. Ya know you got to get used to these roads and it’s wild…there’s lot of wild animals running around through here and it’s just a good place to live.

NICK: I heard that we used to have stores, barbershops, everything. We used to have a clubhouse, well we still have it, and it’s still standing now it’s just not in shape enough to open it back up. They said it might have to take $1.6 million to fix it back. We got a pool, we got a park, and we got a store still. It’s called Country Corner, its good food down there, real good food. But usually we have to go to Welch to get other food like groceries and other stuff.  So Tyler what’s it like to be in Coalwood?

TYLER: It’s a miracle.

NICK: Do you think we will ever get all the stores back?

TYLER: We might. I mean it’s going to take a lot of money. If I ever hit the lottery I would probably fix this place up. Do some other stuff to it. I love living down here.

NICK: Do you?

TYLER: Yeah

NICK: I do too but it’s just…the environment these days is not too good. 


This conversation is just a small insight into the footage youth is creating for HOLLOW. I am so grateful that so many people-both young and old-have taken ownership of this project and started to create content about places that are meaningful to them.

Elaine

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Posted 11 months ago

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Filmmakers discuss community-driven media

The Daily Athenaeum published an article yesterday about mine and Jigar Mehta’s presentations about interactive storytelling at West Virginia University. 

Although I look quite silly in this picture, the article is worth reading :)

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Posted 11 months ago

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Community Workshop 1 Recap

by Michelle Miller, HOLLOW’s workshop coordinator

Saturday we hosted the first of three Community Workshops for HOLLOW. There were about 15 participants, as well as volunteers and team members from around the state.

This workshop provided a chance to discuss the various roles community members could take in the project and provide feedback to the team on what has been shot so far. In part one, we talked about the ways McDowell County has been portrayed by other filmmakers and journalists, listing the negative or frustrating words we’ve all heard.

Words that describe how McDowell County residents are portrayed on the left and words that they feel identify their community on the right. (from @hollowthefilm workshop #1)

There wasn’t a single community member who talked about these negative words without immediately providing the counterbalance—words like pride, warmth, diversity and resilience. With those concepts in mind, we reviewed the first clips of footage and talked about what to shoot next. They were happy to see a visual montage of themselves that no one had created before—images of everyday life in restaurants, fishing holes, church Sundays and fairs.

Many people talked about how they wish their others from the community, specifically local leaders, would have joined them for the workshop and agreed to take responsibility for turning them out in July.  

In the afternoon, HOLLOW team member Eric Lovell explained balloon mapping. He showed some test images he’d taken of Linkous Park, talked about his plan to bring young people into the project through balloon mapping and asked for feedback about places to map.



We closed the workshop with some video camera training, reflection on the experience and discussion of what to do for our next workshop. Community member and volunteer fire fighter, Ron Serino, took a camera home with him that day to start shooting and everyone committed to bringing three others along with them for our July meeting.

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