Rendville Film Debut

Tecumseh Theater in Shawnee. “Rendville: Across the Color Line” is a new video documentary by Burr Beard, MFA student in Media Communication Arts at Ohio University. Under the tutelage of Professors Art Cromwell and Brian Plow.

The film debuted along with the film Millfield Mine Disaster 1930. Both films were shown at the Tecumseh Theater in Shawnee Ohio.

The Millfield Mine Disaster film was shown at the Chauncey Public Library and at the Glouster Public Library and at the Athens Public Library.

Admission was free.

 

“Rendville: Across the Color Line” looks at the racially integrated mining town in southern Perry County whose founder welcomed African American and white immigrants from some seven European countries based on their abilities to endure the work of late 19th Century coal-mining.

Rendville’s most illustrious miner, Richard L. Davis is chronicled though a new book by Dr. Frans Doppen, Richard L. Davis: The Color Line in Ohio Coal. The book provides the primary narrative source for the film, and Doppens is one of the primary participants interviewed on camera.

Members of the Rendville Historical Preservation Society who grew up in Rendville in the 1950’s and 60’s were interviewed, including Jerry Jackson, Janis Ivory and Harry Ivory.

Information from Ivan Tribe’s publication Little Cities of The Black Diamonds, Urban Development in the Hocking Valley Coalfields, 1870-1900, is visualized though information graphics thought the film. Professor John Grimwade was particularly helpful in this regard.

Beard completed the writing, editing and narration for the film, as well as directing and producing. Media Arts PhD student, Franklyn Charles was Director of Photography. Jan Hamilton and Devilish Merry provided the music.