Last Christmas marked the 15th anniversary of our relocation to Virginia. Over the years, despite the frequent travel required to fulfill commissions elsewhere, we have remained committed to documenting stories that reflect the essence of Charlottesville's community. This commitment has been driven by a deliberate effort to bring the arts and sciences into the documentary forum, resulting in what we now call A Charlottesville Collection—a body of work within the broader spectrum of titles in our catalogue.
The journey began with Julian Bond: Reflections from the Frontlines of the Civil Rights Movement, the first-ever biographical essay on the civil rights leader. This was followed by Rita Dove: An American Poet, an intimate portrayal of the poet's roots and creative journey. From there, the collection grew to include Monroe Hill, which explored the historic site that laid the foundation for the University of Virginia, as well as James Monroe’s life in Paris during the French Revolution.
Our work also engaged with the university's complex history, collaborating with Dr. Marcus Martin and the President’s Commission on Slavery and the University to produce a documentary about the legacy of slavery in and around the Academic Village. Beyond historical narratives, we ventured into the local arts scene, documenting the work and vision of artists like Lincoln Perry and John Borden Evans, as well as scientists, architects, astronomers, historians and engineers.
To date, we have produced nearly fifty titles, many of which have been distributed through Public Television and are accessible in public and academic libraries across the country and abroad. One particularly rewarding aspect of this work has been the creation of the Eduardo Montes-Bradley Photograph and Film Collection. Through this donation to the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, I’ve been able to share still portraits and films with a wider audience. This unique collection is available through the interlibrary network at the University of Virginia and beyond.
The last fifteen years have been an extraordinary journey of building bridges between the Heritage Film Project, myself, and the academic and scientific community. Looking ahead, we plan to dedicate the next five years to producing a series of documentaries on local artists, musicians, painters, and sculptors. These films will serve as a visual archive of Charlottesville at the turn of the 21st century.
Currently under development is Edward Thomas, a film narrated by Richard Crozier. For updates on this project and others in the pipeline, we invite you to sign up for our blog and stay connected with our work.
This milestone reflects not just the passage of time but the shared stories and collaborations that have made this community a cornerstone of our creative journey. Thank you for being part of it.
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