Past Filmmakers

Mary M. Dalton
Martha in Lattimore

1. How did you come up with the idea for the film?

Because Martha and I became close friends a couple of years before we first discussed the prospect of making the film, I also became familiar with her daily routine and acquainted with some of her other close friends.  My mother grew up on a farm just a few miles from Martha’s home, and my frequent visits to the area throughout my life have given me a sense of the community that would normally be available only to residents.  This is probably why I chose to tell Martha’s story largely in the context of the town and local friendships that nurture her, and I have tried to make clear through the depiction of some of those relationships that Martha gives back to others as much as she receives. 

Martha’s friendship has brought a new perspective and dimension into my life, and I hope that the documentary Martha in Lattimore will join her memoir Breath: Life in the Rhythm of an Iron Lung as a medium that helps bring this special story to a new audience.  While her courage, sense of humor, and clear sense of priority and purpose are obvious to the people who know her personally, it is important to share with everyone else the strength and grace that have led Martha to overcome so many obstacles throughout her life.  She has always maintained that “Pity is an ugly word,” and those of us who know and love her do not pity Martha Mason because she represents what is best in all of us.

2. How long did the production process take?

We shot the film in five days, but I had spent years beforehand visiting with Martha and meeting some of her other friends.  In a sense, all of those visits and e-mails and phone calls that were part of our friendship were also part of the pre-production process.

3. What challenges did you experience in the creation of the film?

Martha is a very private person and she wanted to be sure that this film would not just focus on her but would, instead, honor her friends, helpers, and parents.  The biggest challenge for me was trying to tell a story that would convey a sense of the extraordinary person Martha is without making her feel uncomfortable about the attention she would receive.

4. What is your favorite memory from creating the film?

My favorite memory from production was sitting and talking with Martha in conversation that was very similar to our talks during regular visits (except for the fact that camera and crew were there, of course!) and having her reveal things to me about her life that I had never heard before.  This was all the more surprising because she was talking to me on tape, and she knew that the private thoughts she revealed would be shared with a much larger audience than the few of us in the room with her. 

5. When someone has finished watching the film, what do you hope they take away from the experience?

I want people to appreciate the strength, dignity, and humor that Martha shares in her daily life and to feel the warmth of her community.

6. What type of reaction has your film received from viewers?

People are invariably surprised that a film they assume will be sad because of the tragic circumstances of Martha's illness and resulting disability is so uplifting and hopeful.

7. What advice would you give to aspiring young filmmakers?

Tell important stories and start looking for them close to home and your own personal experience.

8. Please tell us about your next film or project.

I have recently finished a ten-minute doc about called Knitting Lessons about a friend of mine who owns three yarn stores in North Carolina, one in Greensboro, one in Carrboro, and another in Raleigh.  My logline for this one is "Meet the Yarn Queen--Mary Stowe is a store owner, pattern designer, sales rep, and accomplished speed knitter."

9. What are your thoughts on the film industry in North Carolina?