RIPLEY, Ohio — Dust swirled up from the dirty brick floor in the basement slave cell of the Phillip’s Folly house on Sutton Street in Maysville as two actors stood ready to create a scene for an upcoming movie.
Director and producer of “Mattie, Johnny and the Smooth White Stones,” Cassandra Hollis, who also stars as the title character, Mattie, patiently waited for the videographer, Tommy Nichols to eliminate some annoying shadows before they began to tape the shot.
The first part of the film, depicting a 1850s slave couple’s struggle to be properly married, has already received acclaim from the National Park Service Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program. According to the NPS, the authentic nature of the film makes it notable as an official and authentic representation of this part of the nation’s history, said Sonja Cropper of Brown County Economic Development, Travel and Tourism.
“Today we are shooting the segment where Johnny and fellow runaway slave, Fred are south of the river and avoiding the slave chasers,” said Hollis.
In the segment, Johnny worries about Mattie, while Fred tries to assure Johnny that he is underestimating the strength of the woman he loves.
Hollis and her crew have been shooting footage in Ripley and the Maysville area for the second part of the historically-motivated movie since Monday. Coming to Ripley and meeting people who are familiar with the slave era and pertinent area locations has been helpful in the production of the movie, said Hollis.
“This area is like a preserved time capsule,” said Hollis, who met up with historian Jerry Gore while making the movie. “He is just a wonderful help.”
The basement was not where the pair of slaves were suppose to be, according to the script, but the design lent itself to represent the location of an old barn, said Hollis.
After the shot was taped the image was not recognizable as the jail cell.
“It actually looks like a cave in the shot,” said Nichols, who seemed pleased that the segment had come out so well.
Marshall Dixon, who plays Johnny, and Rob Riley, playing Fred were in awe of the Maysville location and have been learning a lot about the area from people they have met in the previous days of shooting on locations in Ripley.
“There is a lot of rich history here,” said Dixon.
“Everyone in Ripley and here have been really nice,” said Riley.
Shooting is not over; Thursday the production company will be at the Rankin House barn and street locations in Ripley.
When shooting is done, Hollis hopes to have the post production editing completed in time for a premier during Black History month in February.
“I think three months will give us enough time,” she said.
For more about Hollis and the movie go to www.holyhillproductions.com.
Contact Wendy Mitchell at wendy.mitchell@lee.net or call 564-9091, ext. 370.
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