The Charleston Film

The Citadel Regimental Band and Pipes

Finally got the music and footage to the opening of the documentary posted.  This will be the version that we edit to but not the final score you’ll hear during the film.  I’ll record a multi-track version for the final music possibly this winter. My thanks go out to the cadets from the Regimental  Band and Pipes, Band Director Mike Alverson, Pipe Director Jim Dillahey and Charlene Gunnells at The Citadel for being such a great assist on getting this done.  Also my thanks go out to Robert Harleston for editing and Leonard Gibbs for sound engineering.  Click to see and listen to the recording http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLtxambMlV0

 In August, The Citadel Regimental Band and Pipes will be the only U.S. band, at the 2010 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Edinburgh, Scotland. To learn more about that very special event visit http://www.citadel.edu/band/

Install completed and filmed for "The Virtue of Patience" at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Charleston, SC

March 5th was the final phase of filming the construction work at St. Johns for “The Virtue of Patience”. Unfortunately Hightower Construction was unable to get me on the roof where I had planned a two camera shot.  The  scaffolding that lead to the roof  had been removed and the only way up was in a 2-3 man crane lift cage. Luckily we were able to get what I needed although I would have loved to have filmed the crew catching and setting the archway and steeple upclose. I brought Michelle Vestal to work with me on the shoot.

To date I’ve shot about seven hours worth of footage and still have the interviews to film as well as  portions of the film that covers the church’s history. My goal is to do the final edit around June or July.  I’ve yet to decide exactly how this film will start or look.  Most often thoughts and concepts just float around in my head and it comes to me out of the blue.   Over the next few weeks I’ll shoot some interior footage which is a the perfect place to figure it all out.

On a rainy February 26th we recorded the opening music for the Charleston documentary at The Citadel with

Sound Engineer Leonard Gibbs recording the opening music for the documentary

Leonard Gibbs as sound engineer.  I asked Robert Haleston to shoot the recording process for placement on our website and other video sites so I could focus on the music.  

Progress on The Virtue of Patience and the Opening Music

Sharon Dean Walker

Continued the tour at the Cathedral of St. John on Broad yesterday with Sharon Dean Walker.  Last time we had to cut it short due to the weather.  Sharon is so passionate and articulate about the church’s history I made the decision to invite her to do the on-camera commentary at the start of the film covering the church’s history.  Lucky for me she agreed.  Although we didn’t finish the entire tour we did cover the Crypt Chapel which is the resting place of the first 5 bishops of Charleston.  I wanted to take a photo but decided against it.  I’ll try to get permission next time.  

 Besides have a good handle on the church’s history for “The Virtue of Patience” Sharon’s tour has been extremely helpful on how I storyboard this portion of the story.  Without it I would have missed some  important but tucked away images.  Those being invited to comment throughout the film are Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone, Reverend Father Gregory B. Wilson, John Caputo, Edward Furey,  Hightower Construction, Architect Glenn Keyes, Engineer John Moore and some long time church members.

Randy Jarvis filming on the roof of the cathedral of St. Johns.

Tuesday I visited Leonard Gibbs  at his studio in West Ashley.  I’ve asked Leonard to handle the recording at the Citadel of the film’s opening music.  I met Leonard a while back when he was recording a concert for the Charleston Spiritual Choir.  He’s a big personality with a great love for the work and I think he will do a wonderful job.

Gilding the Cross

Wednesday I stopped by Frank X. McCann’s office, a local attorney to pick up a short documentary entitled “Raising the Charleston Bar.”  I think this was produced by the Charleston Bar Association for young attorney’s to listen to their older contemporaries about what it was like to practice law in the city years ago. Narrated by Randel Stoney, included on camera were Senator Ernest Fritz Hollings,  Morris D. Rosen,, Joseph H. McGhee, Ruth Cupp, B. Allston Moore, T. Allan Legare, Jr,  Sol Blatt,  George Campsen,  Jack Brickman, William Regan, Richard Fields. 

 I’m in the middle of scheduling the recording of the music for the film’s opening at The Citadel.  What started out with just the bag pipe and drums has now grown to the college’s full band.  I’m making some adjustments on the arrangements — how it opens and the length.  The recording should be completed by March 3.  From that point it will give me the opportunity to storyboard everything in the first 3 minutes of the film.  So now I have this fabulous orchestra, a glorious soundtrack and a bag piper high atop the steeple of St. Michaels to work with.

Stopped by Hightower’s Busy Park location to film some of the gilding of the spire yesterday that will be mounted on the Cathedral of St. Johns.  I missed the

Riverstreet Quartet singing “Amazing Grace” in Savannah, Georgia

gilding process which was ok.  Here you can see it completed and when I picture it atop the church it should be quite a sight. I don’t believe there is anything in the downtown skyline gilded in gold as I’ve seen in other cities.  Combined with the design and lighting it should all add up to spectacular sight at night easily seen and admired from across the harbor.

 I wanted to tell you about a particular song that you’ll find on the film’s website on the Patron’s Circle Page.  I was visiting Savannah to meet

 with Walt Frazer about the possiblity of using his book “Charleston Charleston” within the film.  After the meeting I stopped off at the Riverfront to get something to eat and take a walk.  From a distance I heard this beautiful A cappella version of Amazing Grace. The trio was made up of a father and his two sons.   I asked if they would record the song for me to use for the film’s website and a few weeks later they sent it.   Hopefully I can find a place in the film for it.   So much of the films music will from so many talented individuals and groups from within the city and beyond which  makes this journey so exciting.

Patty Byrne, Mayor Riley, Myself

Lunch with the Mayor
Got a chance to visit with Mayor Riley again which came about in a unique way.   In the past two visits I’ve been limited to 15 minutes each time.  At the Darkness to Light event held in December down at Marion Square Patty Byrne bid on lunch with the Mayor and won.  Finally I would get to sit down and talk about the film a bit more in detail and also ask for some help on a few things.

We  brought the film’s trailer with us and asked the restaurant’s manager to let us eat in the private room upstairs.  At lunch I covered the most important aspects of the film and then showed the trailer.    Throughout the piece the Mayor kept saying “wonderful” and “fabulous” so I took that to be a good sign. We talked about the impact this film would have both in the school systems throughout South Carolina but also within the community and nationally. He made notes and I told him we would send a letter reviewing the things we needed the assistance on.  We dropped that off on January 29th and hopefully we’ll hear back soon.

Citadel Regimental Band

Bagpipes and Drums
Visited again with the Citadel’s Regimental Band and Pipes on January 22. The band is one of the two all-student college pipe bands in the country lead by Captain Jim Dillahey.  As I’ve mentioned I’ll be using the group to do the film’s opening track.  I’d love to share with you what was picked but I’d rather keep it under wraps for the time being.  One reason is I just recently decided the music would also need an orchestra to back up the Citadel would  make the version of this song that more powerful.  Most likely the symphony would charge way too much so I came up with the idea of going to the College of Charleston.   They did Elijah Rock for the film so maybe I’ll have more good luck.

The Virtue of Patience
On January 4th ran over to Hightower’s Bushy Park plant to pick up some footage for The Virtue of Patience.  The copper work on the cross that will sit atop the Spire is now completed and looks stunning.  The spire is just about completed and February 1st I’ll be back at the plant to do some more filming.  The final installation is slated for mid March and my plans are to film from both the ground and air.  I’ll decide on whether do  the aerial in the next few weeks.

The Spire

Yesterday morning Hightower’s crew erected the spire above the copper arches and will then install the lighting but only temporarily to make sure everything fits perfectly before the final install. Filmed for a few hours and decided against coming back this evening to see the lighting since I’ll get that footage during the final install process.  In the next few weeks I’ll start storyboarding the film with a goal of keeping it to 30 minutes.  I’m thrilled with the footage gotten to date.  Next week I’ll be back at the plant to film the gilding of the cross by Erno Ovari who has executed all the copper work flawlessly.  Visit http://www.historicalrestorationmasters.com/ to learn more about the restoration, design and building process.

The John Rutledge House Presentation
Did a presentation of the film the week of the 18th which went reasonably well considering I do my best work behind a camera and not so much explaining a film in front of a large group. Having such passion for the work makes talking about it fairly easy. Everyone seemed to enjoy learning about the documentary and experiencing the trailer.

Carolopolis Award

Preservation Society
Attended the Preservation Society of Charleston’s Carolopolis Awards ceremony at the Historic Riviera Theatre on King St.   When your walking the streets of downtown you’ll see the Carolopolis plaque on certain buildings that have been preserved or restored.  You’ll also see the plaque on buildings and homes throughout Charleston County.

Towards the end of the ceremony I was moved by incoming PSC’s president Eugene Corrigan’s closing comments about the dwindling support and efforts in the area of preservation.  I could understand this happening as the old guard slows down it’s participation after so many years  fighting the good fight of preservation and the lack of young activists to replace them.  Hopefully the coverage the film  gives the Society and it’s impact on the city will interest more people within the community to become involved.  I look forward to meeting Mr. Corrigan.

It was nice taking a break over the holidays and not thinking about the films for a week.

During December I spent some time at Hightower Construction’s Bushy Park plant to film portions of the copper work on the Cathedral of St. John’s Steeple. Tomorrow I film the coppersmiths working on the cross that tops the steeple. Still left is the copper application on the steeple itself. The Installation date is slated for March and we’ll film that from the roof as well as from a helicopter for the “Virtue of Patience.”

Before Christmas Sharon Walker took me on a personal tour of the Cathedral. The original architect, Irish born Patrick Charles Keely, also designed the stain glass. What a talented man this was. In the nave are 14 large two-light windows, representing the life of Christ from the Nativity to the Ascension. Sharon shared the story of each window also letting me in on the hidden secrets one would hardly notice without someone pointing them out. We ended up cutting the tour short due to the heavy rains so we’ll finished up in the next week or so.

Myself, Patty Byrne, Lee Pringle

Patty Byrne and I got together with Lee Pringle before the holidays to discuss including the Charleston Spiritual Choir participating in the August Edwin McCain concert we’re planning to have at the Charleston Music Center as a fundraiser. I think they’d be perfect to open the show and also back up a few of Edwin’s songs such as Holy City.

Next week I’ll visit again with the Citadel’s Regimental Band and Pipes. In February we shoot the opening and I’ve yet to decide on a particular piece of music I want to use from the group. I need to make that decision quickly and coordinate the shooting schedule with St. Michaels and the Post Office.

January 13th we have lunch with Mayor Riley over at Virginia’s on King Street. We ran over to see if they had some private space so we’d have his full attention. Luckily they did and we have the upstairs to ourselves. In my last two meetings I only had 15 minutes each time and to have an entire hour to talk about the film is a blessing. I need the city’s assistance in a few areas and who better to ask but Mayor Riley.

John Rutledge House

On January 21st I’ll be doing a presentation of the film production at the John Rutledge House from 12 -1:00 pm. The ballroom, with a seating for about 18, is the perfect setting to talk about the documentary. We wanted to keep the group small to have adequte time to answer questions and also get to know some of the invitees who’s families have been here for generations. If all goes well we’ll do one every 3 weeks.

I’ve finally decided on the format and look of the documentary. I wanted to stray away from the new technologies when shooting this film and have always had an interest in a production style known as film noire. Since the advent of color motion picture technology, shooting a documentary or any film in color has grown to become the modern industry standard. It’s rare to see a black & white film grace the modern day screen. It is more common to find black & white within experimental, independent, or student films. Ironically, it is those groups who seem to lack from the experience or technical knowledge to shoot superior black & white images. Most filmmakers today, were born decades after color film took its seat as the dominant medium so the craft and tricks to shooting black & white image remain largely within the veterans of cinematography… those who are left.

I find that colors can be terribly distracting in some images and can take the focus away from your subject. Taking the color out of an image lets the subject speak for themselves. Its raw, it’s stripped back, it’s honest and it allows you to show the true person or event that occurred. I want to capture and deliver to the audience the passion of the on camera interviews, the stark contrasts of the architecture, the sorrow and horror of wars, calamity, slavery and economic challenges. I’m giving consideration to adding muted colors as we move towards the late 60’s and then into a portion of the Riley administration.

A majority of the film will be shot with handheld cameras I believe giving the film a spontaneity and an edge. I’m going to dispense with the typical crane, the Steadicam and the zoom lenses hopefully giving a timeless sense to production. Lighting is going to be a key ingredient so that sets and scenes are darker or lighter than the people in the scene.

Much has happen since I last gave some updates so I’ll write this as efficiently as possible

About 6 months ago I learned about the restoration work being done on Broad Street at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Part of the project included the building and installation of a steeple and bell tower. In October I decided to do a short film for the documentary’s dvd on this project entitled “The Virtue of Patience.” I needed to take that on like I needed whiplash but my intuition told me to move on the filming and see if I had made the right decision down the road. Last week that answer was a definitive yes thankfully. Why after some 120 plus years and at great expense
($7 million which also includes restoring the Cathedral’s Connecticut Brownstone facade) would the church decide to add the steeple and bells? What about the challenges the architect and Hightower Construction faced in the design of this enormous addition that would change the pennisula’s skyline and add another call to pray to those of us downtown certainly in need of it. What about the individuals that took on the heady roles responsible for raising the funds. Combined with portions of the church’s history I think this short film of inspiration will be enjoyed for many years to come.

This month I attended the re-enactment of the Battle Of Secessionville at Boone Hall Plantation. In the past I’ve also experienced the Battle of Charleston and some battles at Chickamauga National Miliary Park in Georgia. I’ve had little interest in using re-enactments within the film. My experience is they appear too staged which lessens the captivation factor. Combined with poor camera work they just fall flat. To make this work for the documentary I’ll need 4-5 cameras as well as a great soundman in the thick of the battle feet away from the combatants and cannons. I’ll also use an editing process to recreate the Daguerreotype look so prevalent in civil war photography and should deliver vivid and realistic footage.

Permission was granted from Atlantic Records for the use of the song “Lay em Down” by the band Need to Breath. It took me 4-5 months to get Edwin McCain’s “Holy City” and I expected the same to get this beautiful song. Luckily it took less then a few weeks. You can hear the ong and see the video on the “About the Documentary” page.

I have been wanting to get with Mayor Riley again since my two previous meetings have only been for 15 minutes each. Patty Byrne, the production administrator for the film recently attended the Darkness to Light event and bid on a lunch with the Mayor at Virginia’s Restaurant on King. She called the other day with the news that she had won and we’d have the Mayor’s attention for an hour. I look forward to writing about the results. Below is me filming “The Virtue of Patience” atop the Cathedral of St. Johns on Broad Street.

Today I received a call and approval from St. Michael’s about using the steeple to shoot the opening of the documentary. What a victory that was not only for the storyboard I designed but also for the historic significance of the steeple’s birds eye view. The following is from ” The Politics of Taste in Antebellum Charleston” by Maurie D. McInnis

“Post antebellum visitors first saw Charleston from a ship in the city’s busy harbor – bustling with cargo vessels, passenger ships, and smaller local crafts – as seen in Samuel Bernard’s “View of Charleston from the Harbor.” Revolutionary Waq -era fortifications like Castle Pinckney ringed the harbor and reminded visitors of the city’s prominent role in the conflict. Newcomers were generally not dazzled by first impressions. The low-lying city presented an undistinguished skyline, punctuated only by church steeples. The only way to get a different perspective on the city was to ascend the steeple of St. Michael’s Church, which had been, since its completion in 1762, one of the first stops on a visitor’s itinerary. Because of its elevated vantage point in the center of the city, one could see not only the metropolis but also the surrounding Lowcountry, the marshy land from whence came Charleston’s enormous wealth from rice and Sea Island Cotton.”

How exciting to be on the walkabout of the Church’s steeple as so many did in those early years and to give that perspective in the film to a majority of Charlestonians that have never had that experience. Today is a good day.

Tomorrow we begin to finally mail out the letter inviting the participation of over 100 historians, scholars, authors and relatives of families who’s history goes back as far as the mid 1600’s. I’m expecting a good number to come on-board but we’ll have to wait and see. A few I’ll have to make a personal plea. That should be enjoyable.

Today I had to let one of the fundraiser go. She was a total disappointment but in the end I came to realize that she was better doing Junior League stuff then having anything to do with this film. The last thing I need in the making of this film is an Antebellum princess.

Last month I decided to drop the secondary film project “Charleston, SC Today.” I have not only the documentary film which would keep 10 people busy but also my other studio work from Pinnacle Real Estate Films. It’s unfortunate because Charleston would have been the only city in the nation to have such a powerful marketing piece designed to be accessible online in some 12 countries. To the business community this film would have had a wonderful long term impact on commerce. Maybe someday

Fund raising for the film has been slow. Our initial target were individuals that we thought would take a big interest in this film but that hasn’t been the case. Actually we’ve done pretty good but not the numbers I had hoped we would hit. There have been a combination of reasons such as the economy of course but also people are more accustomed to giving to non profits that cater to a disease or hunger or some social ill. Whatever the case my main focus was to be grants and foundations and I think we’ll do well in that area especially with the South Carolina Foundations. I also expect private fundraising to improve as we get closer to the end of the year and tax time.

I finally made it to The Citadel to listen to the Regimental Band and Pipes and what a wonderful event that was. Interesting how many people living in Charleston for years have never taken the time out to attend the Friday parade. I recommend that you do that on some Friday at 3:30. I meet the week before with Media Relations Coordinator Charlene Gunnells and Captain Jim Dillahey, the pipe band director. I’ll be using a single bagpipe and the individual drums for the opening of the film. Over the next few weeks I’ll spend some time on campus at their practices to better get a handle of exactly how I want the music to interact with the open.

Haven’t heard from St. Michaels Church about the use of the steeple and should know something next week. I wrote an additional email to the Bishop to hopefully help influence the church council. I do need to come up with an alternative plan in case they turn me down. Besides the stunning shot with the bagpipper on the steeple, the footage of the Peninsula would be priceless. It’s rare for anyone to see the city at that level overlooking the harbor and city and rare is what this film has to deliver in so much of it’s presentation.

Finally next week about 100 emails go out to the individuals and organizations we’re asking to participate in the film. Many are individuals that have written or lectured about some part of the city’s past or are considered authorities on specific topics on US History. I’m hoping for at least a 60% if not higher yes rate.

The website was redesigned and is about 90% completed. Much cleaner. The webmaster is out of town until next week and finally will get it done when he returns.

Originally the storyboard called for the open to be shot on Bull Island but a decision was made to move that filming to another timeframe and go with my new idea. I’ll give you just a bit to think about.

I want to place a member of the bagpipe corp from the Citadel on top of the second level of the steeple on Mt. Michaels Church and shoot that from the roof of the Post Office across the street. The challenge? Getting both the church and the Post Office to approve the use of the buildings and accessing them beforehand for planning to ensure I’m getting what I’ve invented in my head. I think the post office will be easier then the church but hopefully I”m wrong. I find with religious institutions everything has to go before a council and they’re such a mix of personalities. Because of that and the many unique locations we’ll be shooting from I’ve finally decided to ask Mayor Riley to provide me a letter asking these organization to be as helpful as possible due to the importance of this documentary as well as the future impact the film will have on the city’s commerce. I’ll get that to him Friday of next week.

I came across a beautiful book by way of Henry Ravenel entitled “Charleston – Historic and Romantic” by Harriette Kershaw Leiding. Written in 1932, I love how this women talks about the many chapters of the city’s past.

“Carolina and Charleston, the metropolis did not spring fully built from the English Crown as did Minerva from the brain of Jove. Carolina and Charleston evolved. We have become accustomed to thinking of Charleston (Charles Town until 1783) as though it were a growth indigenous to the soil, when in reality it was the focal point of a transplanted growth. The “Why” of Charleston can best be answered by realizing that while its population is a blend of many nationalities its beginnings were English and its genius manifests itself in the ceaseless, perpetual, subtle struggle of the Roundhead versus the Cavalier spirit. As each succeeding generation throws the tourch to the oncoming one, the drama, with new settings and new dramatic personages, repeats itself. Restraint versus self-expression, inhibitions that smack of inertia, have barred any liberty that boards on license. The struggle proceeds yet the soul of the city is the same – unconquerable except by itself. Invulnerable in spirit to alien influences we stand.”

The mention of “soul of the city” in her writings for obvious reasons puts me in good company. I wish I could say the same for Mrs. Leiding.