Past Filmmakers

Francine DeCoursey
Remembering 1898…Moving Forward Together

The Interview

1. How did you come up with the idea for this film?
With the publication of Philip Gerard's book, Cape Fear Rising, a fictional account of the racial violence and coup d'etat of Wilmington in 1898, I witnessed the reaction from residents, both black and white in this community, and learned more of what had divided this city along racial lines for the past century. As a long time activist for civil rights, I was frustrated to learn that Wilmington of 1898 had the potential to become a "mecca" for African-Americans, with a growing black middle class engaged in commerce and politics, until the white power elite exiled all the black business and political leaders at gunpoint, killing many in the process, and staged the coup d'etat in our nation's history. I began research on a documentary to uncover the facts of November, 1898.

In 1997, with the 100th anniversary of these tragic events approaching, a group of concerned citizens came together to commemorate this historic incident as a catalyst for healing and racial reconciliation. As the 1898 Foundation committees were formed, and the mission defined: to tell the story, honor the memory, heal the wounds, and restore the hope, and more and more participants joined this emerging community effort, I decided this was the story here... a city with a negative racial history uniting to redress its divided past.

I decided to track the work of the 1898 Centennial Foundation and the process of this community effort toward racial reconciliation. From the opening to closing ceremonies, my video crew was on hand to record the highlights of the centennial year...from inter-racial dialogues, to educational symposiums, to descendant's gatherings. But as the year came to a close, we knew the real work of reconciliation had only just begun, so I decided to continue to document the continuing efforts of the 1898 Foundation as they focused on bringing blacks and whites together in Wilmington, a city once divided, but now making strides toward healing.

2. How long did the production process take?
We spent four years documenting the highlights of each of the 1898 Foundation's committees as they held events addressing their specific goals. After collecting forty-five hours of footage, we spent three months editing to get the documentary to a place where it was suitable for a "community screening." Now at a stage of a "continuing work in progress," our intent is to raise funds for a re-edit to minimize some technical problems, and to create a 20 minute version for educational use in the school system. In addition, we plan to market the current version as a social activist tool for other cities and organizations in need of a "model" for redressing their racial issues.

3. What challenges did you experience...?
With the controversial nature of this project, and initial resistance from sectors of both the black and white communities, not only of the documentary, but the entire community effort, funding was the primary challenge. Uncertain as to how effective the 1898 Foundation would be in meeting its goals, corporate sponsors and funding organizations were not wanting to participate until they had more of an assurance of success. Meanwhile, the most important events to be documented were occurring, and we couldn't wait for funds to be available.

Technical compromises were deemed necessary as to choice of crew and format. Lack of funding also prohibited purchasing preferred historical archival photos, period music, voice-over talent, etc. Thanks to the dedication of a volunteer camera operator, and low-paid editor, the project was brought in for 1/5 the original budget requirements.

4. What is your favorite memory from creating the film?
There were an abundant of skeptics all along the way, with blacks and white saying to "let sleeping dogs lie," and not to "peel the scab off that ugly, old wound." One particular skeptic was the matriarch of the black community, "Ms. Bessie" Funderburg. In the initial informational video produced as a community awareness tool for the 1898 Foundation, she stated that "1898 has divided this city for almost a century..." As an elder I personally respected immensely, I was most pleased that she eventually chose to take an active role in the 1898 Foundation's community effort. Her influence brought many nay-sayers to join in and participate.

One of my favorite memories was when Ms. Bessie let me re-interview her toward the end of the documentary production, and as I asked her what she felt had been accomplished, she smiled broadly and stated, "...at one of the inter-racial dialogues recently, I counted a number of young black men...they were mingling, they were comfortable, and I knew we were reaching the ones we needed to reach...and my heart just sang for joy! It was just like an old-fashioned dinner when your family's been away a long time, and everybody came home." It made my heart sing..and I included her quote in the concluding segment of the production.

As I finished editing, Ms. Bessie was the first I wanted to have view this documentary. Afterwards, she took my hand, and smiled at me, and praised my work...thanking me for staying committed to documenting this important and historic community effort in our town without the funds I needed, but finishing it anyway. It so touched my heart that she was pleased with the results.
"Ms. Bessie" died soon after.

5. When someone has finished watching the film, what do you hope they take away from the experience?
I hope that viewers will feel a sense of hope. We as a nation have been divided along racial lines for too long now. It's time we join hands, hearts, and minds, and join together as one race... the human race. This documentary chronicles a community coming together, black and white, young and older, to redress a wrong, and lay a foundation of racial harmony and inclusion for generations to come.

6. What type of reaction have you had from viewers?
Though I have only screened it for a limited audience to date, I have been delighted with the response. The first audience was the members of the 1898 Foundation. Even though this tracked the work of their community effort, none of them had been in attendance at all of the events covered in the documentary. They were pleased to see how much they had accomplished, and grateful that I had stayed committed and captured this historic undertaking.

Some viewers had been totally unaware of the history of 1898, and were amazed this had happened, but more amazed and impressed that the community had openly confronted this history with an intent of healing and reconciliation.

Perhaps most poignant was the reaction from one of the actual descendants, whose grandmother had hid her family in the swamps during the racial violence of 1898, fearful for their lives. She was comforted by the fact that the city of Wilmington was taking an active role in uncovering this tragedy, and making a real and concerted effort toward healing. She cried at the screening, and thanked me for
tracking the work, as the media had not given fair coverage of what the 1898 Foundation had achieved. Only through this documentary, has the comprehensive effort been chronicled.

7. What advice would you give to aspiring filmmakers?
To just do it! If feature film is your calling, find a production and get on as an intern, an "extra," wherever you can, and become a "sponge." Learn everything you can. Impress people with your hard work, good attitude, and resourcefulness. Decide what department calls you and make connections! Follow through. Once hired, give it 1000 %!

If it's independent filmmaking you aspire to, and you have a story to tell, find someone who's "been there" and pick their brain, learn all you can, and ask them to read your script, and give you some realistic advice as to how to proceed. Find some "like minds", and shoot a short sample as a "Preview of coming attractions" so you can raise some funds and support. And please... tell stories worth being told!

If it's documentary that attracts you, find an organization whose mission addresses your "cause" and try to work with them as a fiscal agent to help find funds for your production. Bottom line, where there's a will, there's a way. Follow your passion, be not discouraged, stick to your mission, learn all you can from every one you can, stay focused, and keep the faith!

8. Next film...
I have a variety of projects in different stages of development. A feature film my partner & I have been developing for a few years..."The Legend of Treasure Cove," about two grandfathers, lifelong friends, one white, the other black, and a summer with their "coming of age" grandsons searching for a legendary pirate treasure shipwrecked off the North Carolina coast...has secured main actors, and some funding and distribution...hoping for production by Spring, 2003.

Our "Women Making Movies" group just shot a documentary on the "Women in the Round on the Road," nine women songwriters and musicians from Texas on an reunion concert in Wilmington; a TV series on wholistic health, and a pilot for an episodic Television series are in development.

9. What are your thoughts on the film industry in North Carolina?
We are sitting on a goldmine at critical mass!. North Carolina has been blessed to be the beneficiary of millions of dollars in film production revenue generated by an industry it has invested little in attracting or maintaining. After seventeen years of building a filmmaking center and infrastructure, we stand at serious risk of losing what we've worked so hard to develop, unless a comprehensive, aggressive strategy is executed immediately to create incentives to attract film production back to the state.

At the same time, North Carolina's crew base, studio facilities, and support infrastructure provide everything it needs to emerge as the leader of the ever-evolving independent film movement, with the exception of funding support. With more distribution outlets, from digital theatres, to extended cable TV outlets, the Internet, DVD's, CD-roms, and programs like NC Visions constantly developing, there is a growing need for content. Venture capitalists, funding organizations, and economic development groups should invest in the next evolution of this well-established industry, and fund independent production and promotion...keeping the resulting profits in the state.