During 2006 Outpost had the opportunity to collaborate with director Chuck Cranston, of Telemark Pictures, and Washburn University on the period film Through Martha’s Eyes.
Through Martha’s Eyes is based in part on historical events and tells the story of Martha, a young African American woman sold into slavery in 1856 to work and live at an Indian Mission School in what is now Kansas. Thinking Kansas Territory was the land of freedom, and that she would soon be set free, Martha travels from Missouri to her new home at the Mission. She soon finds out things are much different than she thought. While trying to manage as a seamstress Martha is forced to help change cultural beliefs among Indian children, and is witness to the early skirmishes that lead to Civil War. Breathtaking vistas, romance, friendship and defiance all come together in a dramatic conclusion to this powerful story from the American frontier.
Outpost Worldwide provided technical support, crew, and some funding to Through Martha’s Eyes which has also enjoyed festival success. Festivals the film has screened at are: Winner, Best Western, Trail Dance Film Festival (Duncan, Oklahoma); and Official Selections of: 14th Annual Diaspora Film Festival (Toronto, Ontario); Calling All Drums Film Festival; Langston Hughes African American Film Festival (Seattle, Washington).
Through Martha’s Eyes was picked up in 2007 by PBS national and has been broadcast in over 25 markets. Telemark Pictures self-distributes the DVD and more can be learned about the film at telemarkpictures.com . Also, in 2008 a new promo has been shot and script is in development called Dogs of Eden.
Dogs of Eden is the story of the turbulent years preceding the Civil War and the land of mixed culture and righteous people. Drawn together by the promise of freedom and prosperity they struggle to survive in this land they call Eden. Living in this untamed territory are men like John Brown who became the leader of anti-slavery guerrillas and fought a pro-slavery attack against the anti-slavery town of Lawrence, and the Reverend Thomas Johnson who was determined to uphold slavery within the confines of his mission school in Kansas. Both of these men, their families, enslaved people and Indian tribes are intertwined on both sides of what became the Civil War. Along the way there is hatred, faith, disillusionment, corruption, friendship, and love. The lives of these families overlap with, the educated, and the ruffians who came to the Territory in 1856.
To view the promo, go to: outpostworldwide.com or telemarkpictures.com.