The Freedom Lost: Restoration Blog

Big Changes To Freedom Lost: Restoration

2012-01-13T06:24:00.000-08:00

I recently edited an updated version of my Black History documentary about New Bern and James City and hope to release a new DVD by February 2012, Black History month. I removed the title: Memorial and just call it Freedom Lost: Restoration now which I think works better. If the project grows to a series of documentaries, then perhaps Memorial can be brought back again.

In the "Memorial" version, the aspect of breaking up the history was mentioned by others I asked to watch it as a disruption to the telling of the story. As I saw this common concern and critique, I determined to cut some of those scenes out and went with a straight telling of the history and ending on the memorial and slave quarters restoration. It was a hard decision to cut out the oral history scene, the walking tour, and the African Brigade Reenactors. As good as these scenes were, they were still disrupting the actual history of New Bern and James City and disrupting the story, which hurts a film rather than helps it most of the times. So I will be releasing those deleted scenes on a special edition DVD that is coming soon because I know these are scenes that need to be preserved and seen and I'm sure you all will want to see them still.

In the end, these changes gave me some room to restore a scene I originally cut out about the engraving on the memorial stone, which brings even better closure to the film. There are a couple of other minor changes of added music, an additional shot of slaves in the garden during the civil war scenes, and some added sound effects. I also spent more time doing another sound mix which is incredibly and painfully tedious as well as a time consuming procedure. I think these changes make the film much better and improve it greatly.

I also cut a new preview for the film which can be seen here. I also believe that is an improvement as well from the original previews:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gKH-cc9WpA

I'm currently working on having some screenings in New Bern. Let me know if you know of any church or organization that would like to have a screening of it during Black History month.

Thank you for all your help and support.

Blessings,

Tom Swift

Watch the 30 minute film online

2011-02-14T10:29:00.001-08:00

P R E S S R E L E A S E

For Immediate Release

NC Black History Film Premieres Online

NEW BERN, N.C. – February 2011 - Awaken Pictures, Inc, an emerging movie, television, and documentary production company recently released the first chapter: Memorial, a documentary from the compelling Black History Series "Freedom Lost: Restoration". The project consists of a series of documentary shorts and a feature film focusing on African Americans living in James City and New Bern, NC (the Colonial Capital of NC now celebrating its 300^th Anniversary). The first chapter: “Memorial” is a 30 minute documentary that can be viewed on Youtube. Tom Swift, co-executive producer and writer/director of “Memorial”, has been working on Freedom Lost: Restoration for 5 years. Swift says he began researching this subject in 2001 while working at the ABC news affiliate there as a videographer. He says this is an area rich with Black History but has been overlooked and deserves more national attention. “I discovered that an incredible piece of history was right in my backyard, and I knew it just had to be told.”

Swift says since New Bern has just celebrated its 300^th Anniversary that the release date is “very timely” especially in a day when people are very interested in African American history since the election of the first African American president in 2008. “Successful filmmaking is all about timing,” says Swift. “And I believe without a shadow of a doubt that this is the right time to release it. I've actually been trying to release it for years, but God didn't permit it until now. Everything is really in His time.”

James City traces its roots to a North Carolina settlement in the 1860s, which became a sanctuary for thousands of slaves, established by the Union army when they took the city of New Bern (known historically as a haven for Free Blacks) captive during the Civil War. After the war was over, the city became a self-sustaining community of former slaves. But growing hostility from a wounded and bitter South, and the loss of protection from the Union victors, allowed for the birth of Jim Crow laws, and other prejudices that forced this promising and thriving community to fight desperately to keep their freedom.

“Freedom Lost: Restoration” as a project explores how far this community has come after freed slaves lost their freedom by the dawn of the 20^th Century. The project is about sharing history to bring healing. Swift believes that many of the difficult racial issues of today are rooted in events of long ago, “long before many of us were born,” he says.

The First Chapter: “Memorial” showcases the lives of 3 African-Americans (Sharon Bryant, Bernard George, Ben Watford) who are making a positive impact in their community by bringing remembrance to the past. Sharon Bryant is the African-American Outreach Coordinator from Tryon Palace who conducts Black History tours in New Bern. Bernard George is an Eastern North Carolina Historian who has been working on preserving an Oral Black History in New Bern. Ben Watford, a historian from the James City Historical Society, oversees the Crocket Miller Slave Quarters and memorial in James City, NC. “Memorial” teaches us an important life lesson that “ in order to know where you're going, you have to know where you've come from”

The Historical and docu-Drama: “City of Refuge: The James City Story” is a narrative feature film that is still in development. The docudrama focuses on a slave (played by Scott Nunnally from the “Mothman Prophecies”) who flees to New Bern during the Civil War. The filmmakers hope that releasing “Memorial” will draw more attention to the feature film so it can finally be made. The docudrama is based on the book, “James City: A Black Community in North Carolina (1863-1900)” by Joe A. Mobley. Swift says he is also excited to have had the opportunity to work with the North Carolina Office of Archives and History, who gave permission to base the project on the book. “They have been very gracious to us and extremely helpful throughout the entire process.”

Scott Nunnally, who runs the film company Executor Arts Media in Pittsburgh, PA is also the Co-Executive Producer of Freedom Lost: Restoration. Bill Hand serves as the historical advisor and producer for the series along with Angela Swift and Dan O'Connell who serve as Co-Producers.

While the First Film: “Memorial” is streaming online, it is also available to schools, universities, churches, and other organizations to obtain an affordable license for public screenings. Swift is currently working on releasing it on DVD in the near future. For more information, visit the official website at www.awakenpictures.com/restoration.html where you can also find the link to watch the documentary. Visit the Freedom Lost blog at www.freedomlostproject.blogspot.com. For more information about Awaken Pictures, Inc. visit the website at www.awakenpictures.com

Webisode 4 Premieres November 1st

2010-10-29T12:12:00.000-07:00

WEBISODE 4: "CITY OF REFUGE" premieres Monday November 1st. One of the most inspirational and exciting times of African American History in New Bern is chronicled in Webisode 4: City of Refuge. In 1862, during the Civil War, the City of New Bern is taken by force and occupied by the Union Army. This event draws an influx of slaves who flee from their plantations seeking refuge. A settlement is soon established which will eventually become a community called James City.

Go to www.awakenpictures.com to watch webisode 4 and please come back here and leave a comment about this inspiring webisode.

The illustration above appears courtesy of the New Bern-Craven County Public Library

Webisode 3 premieres Oct 25th

2010-10-29T12:05:00.001-07:00

Webisode 3: "Memorial Tour" premieres October 25th. In this webisode of "Memorial" from Freedom Lost: Restoration - You'll meet Sharon Bryant, the African-American Outreach Coordinator from the Tryon Palace. Discover the unity that unfolds as she leads both Black and White Tourists on a memorial walk. This inspirational tour showcases the historical homes of some of New Bern's most influential African Americans in the city's 300 year history.

Let us know what you think of it. Visit the website www.awakenpictures.com to watch and please post a comment.

Webisode 2 Premieres Monday October 18th

2010-10-13T11:37:00.000-07:00

Share your thoughts here about Webisode 2 "Prosperity Lost (1710 to 1861) which premieres Monday October 18th. Feel free to leave a comment.

Webisode 2 "Prosperity Lost (1710 to 1861)" focuses on how New Bern, the Colonial Capital of North Carolina, became a haven for Free Blacks in the South and even a place of prosperity for some. But after Nat Turner's Slave Rebellion in Virginia in 1831, life here for Free African Americans soon took a turn for the worse. Webisode 2 of Memorial from the Black History series -Freedom Lost: Restoration premieres on Monday, October 18th at www.awakenpictures.com

Webisode 1 "Identity Lost" came out on Monday October 11th. You can watch that one now by going to www.awakenpictures.com. Identity Lost shows the difficulties of today in the African American Community and how Black History can help restore a lost identity. The Webisode brings home an important truth that "in order to know where you're going you have to know where you've come from."

Freedom Lost: Restoration Goes Through Transition

2010-10-13T11:24:00.001-07:00

A lot of change is happening as this film comes forth -- like birthing a baby - you don't actually know what to expect. All the labor and the birth pains that go into it ( if you or your spouse have had a baby you can understand the analogy at least as far as producing a work of art in the world of filmmaking goes) when it's over and the baby comes forth so long as the birth is successful - the parent is in amazement when they look upon their new child. And that's what is happening for me as I see the new movie poster that we have up on top here. Other changes are here and they're all good.

Originally the project was called The Freedom Lost Project but when I began to release the first documentary short "Memorial" in the series -- there we just too many titles and it began to get confusing even for me, the filmmaker - "Memorial", "Freedom Lost: Restoration", "Freedom Lost Project" -- too much to try to explain and that is confusing in an age of trademark and branding.

So I believe changing the series title "Freedom Lost Project" to "Freedom Lost: Restoration" is a better name for the entire project - both documentaries and feature film. It leaves the message of hope in the series which is our goal with this film series. Using history as a tool of healing - is our aim at this time. So the official change is that we are releasing our first documentary short film "Memorial" from the Black History Series - "Freedom Lost: Restoration." It flows so much better.

I've also got a new working title for the feature film: "City of Refuge: The James City Story" . I believe that title says it all. I'm not sure if "The James City Story" will stay - but for now it's in there.

So anyhow I'm very excited about the changes.

Webisode 1 Premieres

2010-10-10T17:30:00.002-07:00

Memorial -- The Documentary from Freedom Lost: Restoration premieres in a weekly web series. You can check it out by going to www.awakenpictures.com. "Webisode 1: Identity Lost" is streaming live right now.

Here's the official press release:

P R E S S R E L E A S E

For Immediate Release

NC Black History Film Premieres As Web Series

NEW BERN, N.C. – October 11, 2010 - Awaken Pictures, Inc, an emerging movie, television, and documentary production company is releasing the first chapter: Memorial, a documenary from the compelling Black History Series "Freedom Lost: Restoration". The series consists of a documentary and a feature film focusing on African Americans living in James City and New Bern, NC (the Colonial Capital of NC now celebrating its 300^th Anniversary). The first chapter: “Memorial” will be streamed as a weekly web series starting Monday, October 11, 2010. Internet audiences can come each week to the website www.awakenpicturs.com to find the link to watch it online. This first film will be released in webisodes (web episodes) running around 3 minutes long (which is a standard time for successful web content) every Monday for at least 5 weeks.

Tom Swift, co-executive producer and writer/director of “Memorial”, has been working on Freedom Lost: Restoration for 5 years. Swift says he began researching this subject in 2001 while working at the ABC news affiliate there as a videographer. He says this is an area rich with Black History but has been overlooked and deserves more national attention. “I discovered that an incredible piece of history was right in my backyard, and I knew it just had to be told.”

Swift says since New Bern is now celebrating its 300^th Anniversary that the release date is “very timely” especially in a day when people are very interested in African American history since the election of the first African American president in 2008. “Successful filmmaking is all about timing,” says Swift. “And I believe without a shadow of a doubt that this is the right time to release it. I've actually been trying to release it for years, but God didn't permit it until now. Everything is really in His time.”

James City traces its roots to a North Carolina settlement in the 1860s, which became a sanctuary for thousands of slaves, established by the Union army when they took the city of New Bern (known historically as a haven for Free Blacks) captive during the Civil War. After the war was over, the city became a self-sustaining community of former slaves. But growing hostility from a wounded and bitter South, and the loss of protection from the Union victors, allowed for the birth of Jim Crow laws, and other prejudices that forced this promising and thriving community to fight desperately to keep their freedom.

“Freedom Lost: Restoration” is a series of documentary shorts and a feature film about the rich Black History here that explores how far this community has come after freed slaves lost their freedom by the dawn of the 20^th Century. Swift believes that many of the difficult racial issues of today are rooted in events of long ago, “long before many of us were born,” he says. The Freedom Lost: Restoration Series is based on the book, “James City: A Black Community in North Carolina (1863-1900)” by Joe A. Mobley. Swift says he is also excited to have had the opportunity to work with the North Carolina Office of Archives and History, who gave permission to base the project on the book. “They have been very gracious to us and extremely helpful throughout the entire process.”

The First Chapter: “Memorial” showcases the lives of 3 African-Americans (Sharon Bryant, Bernard George, Ben Watford) who are making a positive impact on their community by bringing remembrance to the past. Sharon Bryant is the African-American Outreach Coordinator from Tryon Palace who conducts Black History tours in New Bern. Bernard George is an Eastern North Carolina Historian who has been working on preserving an Oral Black History in his community and Ben Watford,a historian from the James City Historical Society, oversees the Crocket Miller Slave Quarters and memorial in James City, NC. “Memorial” teaches us an important life lesson that “ in order to know where you're going, you have to know where you've come from”

The Historical Drama: “City of Refuge: The James City Story” is a feature film that is still in development. The historical drama focuses on a slave (played by Scott Nunnally from the “Mothman Prophecies”) who flees to New Bern during the Civil War. The filmmakers hope that releasing “Memorial” will draw more attention to the feature film so it can finally be made.

Scott Nunnally, who runs the film company Executor Arts Media in Pittsburgh, PA is also the Co-Executive Producer of Freedom Lost: Restoration. Bill Hand serves as the historical advisor and producer for the series along with Angela Swift and Dan O'Connell who serve as Co-Producers.

After the First Film: “Memorial” is streamed online, it will become available as a short film to schools, universities, churches, and other organizations to obtain an affordable license for public screenings. For more information, visit the official website at www.awakenpictures.com/restoration.html Visit the Freedom Lost blog at www.freedomlostproject.blogspot.com. For more information about Awaken Pictures, Inc. visit the website at www.awakenpictures.com

First Chapter premiering Fall 2010

2010-09-15T09:36:00.000-07:00

Coming this Fall 2010 from Awaken Pictures is my latest project - a compelling new Black History documentary:

"Freedom Lost: Restoration"

Chapter 1: Memorial

from The Freedom Lost Project.

I've been working on this film little by little since 2005. I've been researching the rich Black History of New Bern (the colonial capital of North Carolina) and James City ( a city that began as a refugee camp for runaway slaves during the Civil War) in Eastern North Carolina since 2001. So while you all see me working on tons of projects today-- a lot of them have taken many years of blood, sweat, and tears to get completed by God's grace. By His grace my family is still standing. It's been a real intense battle to get this film completed.

Here is the official production blog:

http://freedomlostproject.blogspot.com/

I've started an official FB fan club here:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=134743493237856

For more info you can visit our website: www.awakenpictures.com

The illustration above portraying slaves seeking refuge from the Union Army in James City appears courtesy of the New Bern Craven County Public Library

African American slaveowners response

2008-07-07T10:50:00.000-07:00

We've been quite busy these days working on many of our projects. But it is very important to address this comment which needs to be done before more time goes by.

Bill Hand who is assisting us on The Freedom Lost Project, gave me permission to post this article he wrote on the blog in response to the question about African Americans owning slaves. Bill has a good understanding of the history of New Bern and we are grateful to have him as a part of this important project.

Some Cololnial Blacks Owned Slaves, But Not in James City
By Bill Hand

I am assisting Tom, a friend of mine, on a documentary about the founding of James City. Recently an article about his project appeared in the Sun Journal, and it prompted an interesting letter:

"Please remember that New Bern and James City have a VERY RICH HISTORY OF BLACK SLAVE OWNERS. They, I believe, owned more slaves than the white owners in the rest of the county. Please look into the published, but not too popular, history of the true old south. Although it may not get votes it will inform the masses of the truth of New Bern!"

This topic is one that is, unfortunately, more debated by activists than by historians. You rarely read a commentary that does not include lines full of UPPER CASE SHOUTING.

Our letter writer is partially right: some free blacks owned slaves. Some of them lived in New Bern. This is especially true around the early-to-mid 1800s. But James City? It didn't exist until 1863 for runaway blacks seeking freedom during the Civil War. I have serious doubts any of them had slaves.

The fact that blacks owned slaves is not in question, though why they did is a hot-button topic. One prevalent view is that blacks purchased slaves for the purpose of either freeing them (their wives and children, for instance) or to benevolently give them a better life. Carter G. Woodson was the founder of this theory, promoted in his 1923 book "Free Negro Owners of Slaves in the United States." It is a pretty notion, but history is what things were, not what we wish things had been.

New Bern's best-known Negro slave owner was John Caruthers Stanly, the black son of the white privateer John Wright Stanly. Born a slave, he earned his freedom, became relatively wealthy and was generally accepted by the white society, so long as they believed he "knew his place." He freed his wife, Kitty, and a few others - such as the barbers who worked under him, after years of service, and a woman who had cared for Kitty in her dying days.

John owned more slaves than any of his white contemporaries at the height of his career: 200 is the figure usually cited, though I've not personally seen the official source. He owned most of his slaves for the same reason that whites did: he needed their labor.

He had more slaves than any other Craven County man of his day, but whites before and after him owned more: New Bernian George Pollock was reported to have some 1,500.

Stanly was not the only black who owned slaves, of course.

John Whitford referred to black slave owners he knew:

"Some of the free negroes were slave owners themselves, and were not slow to so traffic when their means would allow it. Too they were alway[s] rigid and, in some instances, cruel task masters. One fellow sold his own father at New Bern, the writer was personally acquainted with him, and though seemingly heartless by such an inhuman act was not vicious in disposition. Yes, sold his father to the negro speculator from Long Island, New York, John Gildersleeve, to go south in the corn fields."

Stephen Miller, in his "New Bern 50 Years Ago" (written in the 1870s), mentions one Donum Mumford, a "copper-colored" bricklayer and plasterer "with slaves, a number whom he owned."

Still, if we take Mr. Miller's words, it appears that slaves owned by blacks were the exception more than the rule here. He mentioned other black business owners but only listed J. C. Stanly as another slave owner. His general view of New Bern's colored race?

"There was quite a large population of the free negro class, who lived chiefly to themselves in the outskirts of town. Some of them were industrious and inoffensive; but the greatest number ... picked up a precarious living, honest or otherwise, as circumstances permitted." Even allowing for prejudicial exaggeration that does not leave many blacks in a financial condition to purchase slaves.

You can be sure we'll speak of the Peculiar Institution again.

Bill Hand is the author of two books about New Bern, Remembering Craven County and A Walking Tour of Historic New Bern. Both books are available at local stores or through Amazon.com.

A response part 2

2008-06-12T21:39:00.001-07:00

In an article written in the New Bern Sun Journal about our film, there were some comments that were posted by readers and we thought it was important to address them here. Let's address this question:

Question number 1) It's a good thing this guy assumes all blacks support Obama. Otherwise this story would just be ridiculous. I think Condi is a much better choice than Obama. Just my two cents...

We thought it very appropriate to showcase the Obama election because it was and is very timely. From our research, the majority of African Americans in Craven County (where James City resides) are registered Democrats. That said, though, it would be poor journalism on our part to assume that "all blacks support Obama" when this is just not the case. We have known going into this project that the African American community has differences of political opinion just like any ethnic group in America does. This would not be a balanced film without showing 2 sides to that aspect of this discussion. And our desire is to get interviews with folks on both sides of the political spectrum for this project.

Whether you support Barak Obama or not, it is still a historic moment for both North Carolina and the United States... especially in this time when it is likely that he is the first African American in history to to be a presidential nominee of a major party in America. This ties in very well with the subject matter of our film which will deal with many topics including the politics of former slaves and African Americans from the Civil War to today. It amazes us as to how timely our film is.

Back in the days after the Civil War, the majority of African Americans in Craven County voted in the Republican party, the party of Abraham Lincoln. Today, this is not the case. But we were even surprised to find out that Alan Keyes, a strong conservative African American was also on the Republican ticket during the primaries in North Carolina. This is a good discussion to find out what African Americans think of someone like Condaleeza Rice or someone like Clarence Thomas. We look forward to the discussion and welcome your comments.

A Resonse To Compelling Questions: Black and White?

2008-06-05T08:56:00.000-07:00

We've been extremely busy here at Awaken Pictures, Inc. and so my apologies for taking so long to post the answers to these questions that were posed as comments by some readers of the Sun Journal article online. The thing to understand at this time is that a well made documentary is a combination of investigation, research, and conducting interviews. So you really don't know what you're going to get until you get there. Therefore, it is very difficult to answer some questions about the final product. However, we do have a direction that we are sailing towards, so with that in mind, we will prayerfully answer the questions and concerns to the best of our ability.

Question number 2 "Will this film be in Black and White?" is not even a question that can be completely answered at this point. Perhaps they were asking this question to make a joke (if not, my apologies) . There is definitely a shot that we have used in our teaser trailer where it is very appropriate to use in black and white for artistic reasons... however the majority of the film will most likely be presented in color. Sometimes black and white creates a great effect for reenactments -- so there might be some more of it, but that will be decided when we are in post production.

Coming Soon: more answers to your compelling questions. Stay Tuned.

You can link here to read the article: http://www.enctoday.com/news/swift_39321_nbsj__article.html/black_obama.html

SunJournal article comments

2008-05-18T14:57:00.000-07:00

After the New Bern, Sun Journal article was written recently about Freedom Lost: Restoration there were a few questions and comments by online readers.

These are the three comments:

1) It's a good thing this guy assumes all blacks support Obama. Otherwise this story would just be ridiculous. I think Condi is a much better choice than Obama. Just my two cents...

2) Will this film be in Black and White?

3) Tom: Please remember that New Bern and James City have a VERY RICH HISTORY OF BLACK SLAVE OWNERS. They, I believe owned more slaves than the white owners in the rest of the county. Please look into the published, but not too popular history of the true old south. Although it may not get votes it will inform the masses of the truth of New Bern

I posted this response there:

awakenpictures wrote:
I appreciate the comments and concerns about the Freedom Lost Project. We've decided to address some of these questions on our blog at http://freedomlostproject.blogspot.com/ if anyone is interested. Thanks, Tom Swift, New Bern Filmmaker.
5/18/2008 2:55:30 PM

We are now working on responding to these comments in a coming blog post. So please stay tuned.

You can link here to see this positive article in the Sun Journal:
http://www.newbernsj.com/news/swift_39321___article.html/black_obama.html

Sun Journal article on "Freedom Lost: Restoration"

2008-05-07T13:17:00.000-07:00

Freedom Lost: Restoration is a feature news series/documentary from The Freedom Lost Project.

This Sunday, the New Bern Sun Journal ran an article on a segment we are doing in the series/film exploring liberal and conservative African Americans and their opinions about voting for or against Barack Obama.

As the article states, we are not taking sides in the debate. While Barack Obama, an African American, was running for president on the Democratic Ticket in the recent North Carolina Primary, we recently discovered Alan Keyes, who is also African American, was also running for President in the same Primary on the Republican ticket. We will be further exploring this for the project.

You can read the article by going to this link here:

http://www.newbernsj.com/news/swift_39321___article.html/black_obama.html#slComments

The Freedom Lost Project Begins

2008-05-07T12:35:00.000-07:00



Click above here to watch the Teaser Trailer.


Here's the official press release:

Film Company to Spotlight Eastern Carolina Black History

New Bern, NC (April 02, 2008) - Awaken Pictures, Inc, an emerging movie,
television, and documentary production company is now in production of the
feature news series/documentary "Freedom Lost: Restoration".  This is part
of the Freedom Lost project which consists of a feature news
series/documentary and a Historical Drama focusing on African Americans
living in James City, NC and its surrounding communities since the 1800s,
and looking at the subject of freedom, then and now.

James City traces its roots to a North Carolina settlement in the 1860s,
which became a sanctuary for thousands of slaves, established by the Union
army when they took the city of New Bern captive during the Civil War.
New Bern had a reputation for being a thriving Free Black Community at the
time.  After the war was over, the city became a self-sustaining community
of former slaves.  But growing hostility from a wounded and bitter South,
and the loss of protection from the Union victors, allowed for the birth
of Jim Crow laws,  and other prejudices that forced this promising and
thriving community to fight desperately to keep their freedom.

The Freedom Lost project also explores the relationship of the Federal
Government toward African Americans, who used similar tactics of the
British during the Revolutionary War, promising freedom to slaves in order
to weaken their enemy.    The African American community found themselves
caught in the middle of a war over power which resulted in a deep, bitter,
and painful wound that this nation has yet to recover from.   This project
seeks to help bring healing to that wound with the power of media, through
filmmaking, with a message of hope and forgiveness.

Scott Nunnally, who runs the production company Executor Arts Media in the
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area serves as Executive Producer with Tom Swift,
president of Awaken Pictures, Inc. on the project.  The two have been
friends for nearly twenty years and have spent a large amount of that time
developing a supernatural film and television series and strengthening and
encouraging each other in their callings and aspirations to make feature
films.  Collaboration of a film project like this  is a large part of that
strong relationship.  The two met in college on the way to an audition for
the play Master Harold and the Boys, a play about prejudice in South
Africa, which links their start in theater with their recent collaboration
on film.       Nunnally is African American and Swift is Irish and Italian
and their strong friendship is a foundation for the restoration and
healing they seek to bring to both Black and White communities alike
through this project.

Swift, who will direct both the news segments/documentary and narrative
film is a  resident of New Bern, and having worked for 7 years as a
photojournalist at the ABC affiliate in this area has worked on countless
stories covering these communities.  He says the project focuses on issues
he believes are relevant to these Black communities here today; issues of
equality and freedom, universal themes that people in all communities can
connect with and learn from.  Swift believes that many of the difficult
racial issues of today are rooted in events of long ago, “long before many
of us were born,” he says.  “We must dig deep into history for answers and
we must be prepared to look with an unbiased eye.”

Freedom Lost: Restoration looks at how far this community has come since
freed slaves lost their freedom by 1900.  It looks at the rich history of
African Americans in Eastern Carolina and is an overall message about
overcoming incredible odds.   The producers plan to feature
interviews with historians, Black Leaders, and to profile the lives of
African Americans who live in the communities in and around James City
Today.  Dan O’Connell and Angela Swift, who co-produced the Hurricane
Floyd documentary, “Flood”, will return as producers on this project.

The Historical Drama: Freedom Lost: The Story of James City, which is
still in development, is a narrative film based on the book, “James City:
A Black Community in North Carolina (1863-1900)” by Joe A. Mobley and
published by the North Carolina Division of Archives and History featuring
additional storylines by Bill Hand and Tom Swift, and drawing from
additional historical sources.   The Historical drama focuses on the life
of a slave, played by Scott Nunnally, who flees his North Carolina
plantation and comes to the settlement.  Nunnally who has been heavily
involved in education and involved in  Pittsburgh theater for years, has a
strong knowledge of film, and is a seasoned actor, having worked on
countless plays and made appearances in various film and television
productions like Mothman Prophecies and the miniseries The Jacksons: An
American Dream.

Swift says he is also excited to have had the opportunity to work  with
the North Carolina Office of Archives and History, who gave permission to
write a screenplay based upon the book.  “They have been very gracious to
us and extremely helpful throughout the entire process.”   Bill Hand, who
is cowriting the screenplay with Swift, is a gifted writer with a serious
knowledge of Eastern Carolina history also serves as a historical advisor
on the project and plays the part of Vincent Colyer, superintendent of the
poor.

Tom Swift says he became passionate about the subject as he began
researching the history of New Bern in 2001 while working at the ABC news
affiliate there.  Swift says this is an area rich with Black History but
has been overlooked and deserves more national attention.  “I discovered
that an incredible story of freedom was right in my backyard, and I knew
it just had to be told.” Swift began developing the project in 2004 and
asked Nunnally to play a larger role in decision-making than just being a
producer and lead actor in the project.  “I told him that this is not
about me ... it’s about helping the Black Community and I want to make
sure that this project is truthful but sensitive to their painful history.
And I knew I could trust that Scott would help me to balance that.   But
he turned around and told me, “This is really for all of us...it's a
fundamental truth.  It's not exclusively a Black story -- it is a people
story... otherwise it won't work.”

Freedom Lost: Restoration is planned for an estimated release date of
2009. The producers plan to showcase smaller news segments on the Internet
building up to the release date where the segments will be edited together
in an expanded documentary style.   For more information log onto
www.awakenpictures.com or purchase the book James City: A Black Community
in North Carolina (1863-1900)” by Joe A. Mobley online at the NC
Historical Publications Shop:
http://nc-historical-publications.stores.yahoo.net/1903.html  or you can
find this link on the Awaken Pictures, Inc. website.

About Awaken Pictures, Inc.
Awaken Pictures, Inc. Produces family-friendly news, documentaries,
movies, and television shows promoting positive stories of faith,
inspiration, and adventure, without the excessive violence, sexual
conduct, and profanity so common in today’s media.  Its goal is to use
state-of-the-art production values, great stories, and cutting edge technology to prove
that good movies are possible today, making a positive and necessary
impact on today’s culture.