Sons & Daughters of Thunder

Cincinnati Premiere of "Sons & Daughters of Thunder" set for March 23

On this 23rd day of November we honor abolitionist and Lane rebel Theodore Weld's 215th birthday by announcing the Cincinnati Premiere of Sons & Daughters of Thunder is set for Saturday, March 23, 2019 at the downtown Garfield Theatre, 719 Race Street.  The docudrama, produced by Mid-America Emmy-nominated filmmakers Kelly & Tammy Rundle, and Kent Hawley, will screen at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.  A Q&A with the filmmakers and others will follow the movie.

This special Cincinnati premiere event is sponsored by the Friends of the Harriet Beecher Stowe House.

Thomas Alan Taylor plays firebrand Theodore Weld in Sons & Daughters of Thunder.

"We are very excited to show Sons & Daughters of Thunder in the city where the true story took place 185 years ago," said producer Tammy Rundle.  "Attendees of the film premiere will also have the opportunity to visit historic sites in Cincinnati with connections to the story, including the Harriet Beecher Stowe House, the last remaining structure on what was Lane Theological Seminary grounds where abolitionist Theodore Weld and his 'Lane Rebels' made history with the first public discussions of the abolition of slavery."  

The Quad Cities Premiere of Sons & Daughters of Thunder is set for the Putnam Giant Screen 1717 W 12th St, Davenport, Iowa on Saturday, March 9th at 6:30 p.m.  Q&A with the filmmakers and other film participants will follow the movie.  Both premiere events take place during the 185th Anniversary of the Lane Debates.

Sons & Daughters of Thunder  is based on a play by Earlene Hawley and Curtis Heeter and tells the unforgettable true story of the beginning of the end of slavery in America. In 1834, if polite discussions about abolishing slavery were considered inappropriate among Americans in Northern states, then eighteen days of public student-sponsored debates on the divisive subject at Lane Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio (a border community) were scandalous. Organized by Theodore Weld, one of the architects of the abolitionist movement, the shocking oratory sparked intense controversy and awakened a young Harriet Beecher (Stowe) to the realities of slavery.

Produced and directed by Kelly and Tammy Rundle, their company Fourth Wall Films is an award-winning and Regional Emmy® nominated independent film and video production company formerly located in Los Angeles, and now based in the Quad Cities.

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The Sons & Daughters of Thunder DVD can be pre-ordered via Paypal/Credit Card or check.  The DVD will be released in late March 2019!

To pre-order your Sons & Daughters of Thunder DVD, click HERE!  And, remember to make a note: the DVDs will ship in March 2019! 

"Thunder" ADR Work Begins

Sons & Daughters of Thunder sound designer Chris Ryder captures audio with actors Justin Marxen, Thomas Alan Taylor and Tristan Tapscott.

Sound. Good sound is as important to a film as the picture itself.  As wonderful as our Sons & Daughters of Thunder locations were to film in, sound was one of the biggest challenges to contend with. 

For instance, the beautiful Dillon Home in Sterling, Illinois (the stand-in for the Lyman Beecher home at Lane Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio) was sandwiched between the busy Lincoln Highway and active railroad tracks--not exactly conducive to the ambience of 1834 Cincinnati, Ohio.  The planes, trains and automobiles certainly kept sound technician Chris Ryder on his toes.

Chris Ryder captures Kimberly Kurtenbach's (Catharine Beecher) dialog in the Dillon Home.

Most of the sound captured for Thunder at places like the Dillon Home, Jenny Lind Chapel (the stand-in for Lane Theological Seminary's chapel) will be re-recorded.  Dialog that cannot be salvaged from production tracks must be re-recorded in a process called looping or ADR (Automatic Dialog Replacement). 

Joe Maubach as Marius Robinson during a debate scene filmed at the Jenny Lind Chapel in Andover, Illinois.

Thanks to a grant from Quad City Arts Dollars, the bulk of the ADR work on Sons & Daughters of Thunder will take place December-January as the film reaches its completion.  Key cast members will be called in to re-record their dialog as they watch their edited performances onscreen.

Some early ADR work has already begun.  Joe Maubach who portrays Lane Rebel Marius Robinson in Thunder recently re-recorded his dialog for the film.

Chris Ryder prepares to role sound on actor Mike Kennedy at the quiet Augustana House on the Hill.  Actor David Shropshire appears on the monitor.

The re-recorded dialog will then be edited into the film to replace the temp dialog track.  Ambient sound and sound effects will also be layered into the film so when it premieres in March 2019 the sound will be pristine and an important element in telling the story of the Lane Rebels and the awakening of young Harriet Beecher to the realities of slavery.

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Sons & Daughters of Thunder is based on a play by Earlene Hawley and Curtis Heeter and tells the unforgettable true story of the beginning of the end of slavery in America. In 1834, if polite discussions about abolishing slavery were considered inappropriate among Americans in Northern states, then eighteen days of public student-sponsored debates on the divisive subject at Lane Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio (a border community) were scandalous. Organized by Theodore Weld, one of the architects of the abolitionist movement, the shocking oratory sparked intense controversy and awakened a young Harriet Beecher (Stowe) to the realities of slavery.

Sons & Daughters of Thunder is produced and directed by Kelly and Tammy Rundle.  Their company Fourth Wall Films is an award-winning and Regional Emmy® nominated independent film and video production company formerly located in Los Angeles, and now based in the Quad Cities.

Sons & Daughters of Thunder will premiere at the Putnam National Geographic Giant Screen in Davenport, Iowa March 9, 2019. A special Cincinnati premiere is also in the works.

To pre-order your Sons & Daughters of Thunder DVD and SAVE, click HERE!  And, remember to make a note: the DVDs will ship in March 2019! 

"Sons & Daughters of Thunder" Filmmakers Receive Emmy-nomination for New Documentary

Sons & Daughters of Thunder producers Kelly and Tammy Rundle of Fourth Wall Films  have received a Mid-America Emmy® nomination for their new documentary Good Earth: Awakening the Silent City.  This is the Rundles' fourth Emmy® nomination. 

The Moline, Illinois-based independent production company successfully competed with 42 proposals by 36 other media production companies nationwide to win a contract to produce "Good Earth" for the visitors center at South Dakota's newest State Park, Good Earth at Blood Run.

Good Earth: Awakening the Silent City tells the fascinating and forgotten story of the Blood Run National Historic Landmark as told by a Native American grandfather to his grandchildren. Produced in 4K, the documentary combines vivid present-day views of the park's scenic vistas and wildlife with dramatic historical reenactments portraying daily life in the year 1650. 

The Good Earth site in Iowa and South Dakota was occupied between 1500 and 1725 by ancestors of the present-day Omaha, Ponca, Ioway and Otoe-Missouria tribes, making it one of the oldest long-term habitation sites in the United States.  At its peak around 1650, the site was home to 6,000-10,000 residents--more than Boston (2,000) and New York (New Amsterdam-1,000) in that same year--making It the largest city in what is now the United States.

Good Earth was an important Native trading center for pipestone, bison hides and culture.  The once-vibrant city featured hundreds of lodges, earthen mounds, and a serpent-shaped effigy mound an eighth of a mile long.

A number of Sons & Daughters of Thunder wonderful and talented crew worked on the Good Earth documentary project with the Rundles, including Kimberly Kurtenbach who served as casting director/assistant director; Kevin Railsback who served as the nature director of photography, Chris Ryder who served as re-enactment director of photography/editing assistant; Lora Adams served as assistant director/modern wardrobe supervisor; and Melinda Carriker served as cultural wardrobe/props/set supervisor.

Fourth Wall Films is an Emmy® nominated and award-winning independent film and video production company formerly located in Los Angeles, and now based in Moline, Illinois.  The Rundles are the producers of the award-winning The Barn Raisers, Movie Star: The Secret Lives of Jean Seberg (co-produced with Garry McGee, McMarr, LTD.) Lost Nation: The Ioway series, Villisca: Living with a Mystery; the Emmy® nominated Letters Home to Hero Street (co-produced with WQPT-PBS); Country School: One Room - One Nation, River to River: Iowa's Forgotten Highway 6, and the soon-to-be released docudrama Sons & Daughters of Thunder.

Fourth Wall Films focuses on telling Midwestern stories through historical documentary films that reach viewers via PBS broadcasts, theaters, film festivals, national DVD release and online streaming.

To pre-order  Sons & Daughters of Thunder on DVD, click HERE!  And, remember to make a note: the DVDs will ship in March 2019! 

To purchase Fourth Wall Films'  award-winning documentaries on DVD, click HERE!

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Mark your calendars and save the date for Saturday, March 9, 2019 for the Quad Cities premiere of Thunder at the Putnam Museum National Geographic Giant Screen at 6:30 p.m.  It will be a wonderful celebration with a number of cast and crew appearing at the event.  The film will be dedicated to Kent Hawley (whom we lost in November 2017) and his wife playwright Earlene Hawley.  News regarding the special February 2019 premiere in Cincinnati (where the true story took place) will be shared soon!

Follow us on Facebook by LIKING our Sons & Daughters of Thunder fanpage for all of the updates!

"Sons & Daughters of Thunder" DVD Available for Pre-order

For a limited time, you can pre-order and reserve your DVD copy of Sons & Daughters of Thunder* for just $25 and receive FREE shipping!  The DVD will feature the film and plenty of BONUS FEATURES!  The regular retail price for the DVD will be $26.99, plus shipping. 

Based on a play by Earlene Hawley and Curtis Heeter, Sons & Daughters of Thunder tells the unforgettable true story of the beginning of the end of slavery in America. In 1834, if polite discussions about abolishing slavery were considered inappropriate among Americans in Northern states, then eighteen days of public student-sponsored debates on the divisive subject at Lane Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio (a border community) were scandalous. Organized by Theodore Weld, one of the architects of the abolitionist movement, the shocking oratory sparked intense controversy and awakened a young Harriet Beecher (Stowe) to the realities of slavery.

Produced and directed by Kelly and Tammy Rundle, their company Fourth Wall Films is an award-winning and Regional Emmy® nominated independent film and video production company formerly located in Los Angeles, and now based in the Quad Cities.

The Sons & Daughters of Thunder DVD can be pre-ordered via Paypal/Credit Card or check.  The DVD will be released in March 2019 and pre-orders will ship first!

To pre-order your Sons & Daughters of Thunder DVD and SAVE, click HERE!  And, remember to make a note: the DVDs will ship in March 2019! 

*Final DVD art and Bonus Features TBD.

Final Footage for "Thunder" Shot at Harriet Beecher Stowe Center in Hartford, CT

Producers Kelly and Tammy Rundle of Fourth Wall Films took a production trip to Connecticut to gather final footage for their docudrama Sons & Daughters of Thunder.  Filming took place at the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center in the heart of Hartford, where the author lived her remaining years until her death in the house on July 1, 1896.  She was 85 years old.

 

Director Kelly Rundle gathers glimpses of Harriet's elder life in the home she shared with husband Calvin and their twin daughters.

Several of Harriet's still life paintings she created hung on the walls in the home.

Lisa Beede, the Stowe Center Communications Coordinator, toured Tammy (pictured here) and Kelly through the home and shared details about the extensive family archives and the collection on exhibit at the museum.

An image of Lane Theological Seminary hangs above a photo of Harriet and Calvin Stowe.

Footage gathered at the home is planned to be used in Thunder as the framework for the storytelling.

Based on a play by Earlene Hawley and Curtis Heeter, Sons & Daughters of Thunder tells the unforgettable true story of the beginning of the end of slavery in America. In 1834, if polite discussions about abolishing slavery were considered inappropriate among Americans in Northern states, then eighteen days of public student-sponsored debates on the divisive subject at Lane Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio (a border community) were scandalous. Organized by Theodore Weld, one of the architects of the abolitionist movement, the shocking oratory sparked intense controversy and awakened a young Harriet Beecher (Stowe) to the realities of slavery.

 

Harriet Beecher Stowe (far right) and her father Lyman Beecher.

Collections Manager Elizabeth Burgess, Lisa Beede and Kelly Rundle in between filming.

Our thanks to everyone at the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center for allowing us to film in Harriet and Calvin's beautiful home and for your kind assistance during our work there.

For more information about the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center and taking your own tour of this magnificent historical site, visit https://www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org.

Fourth Wall Films is anxious to share the finished film with you at the premiere in February in Cincinnati and March 9, 2019 on the National Geographic Giant Screen at the Putnam Museum in Davenport!

Remember to follow us on Facebook by LIKING our Sons & Daughters of Thunder fan page for all of the updates!  Check out LaneRebelsMovie.com to meet our talented Cast & Crew.

Pickup Shooting - Getting 'the Glue'

It is getting exciting! As we make progress with post-production (editing) on Sons & Daughters of Thunder, we take note of 'pickup filming' we will need to do to add atmosphere, close-ups of props at specific locations, and nature and scenery shots.  This 'glue' will help set a scene, establish time and place, and add ambiance to the film.

In late August we will be in Hartford, Connecticut filming at the Harriet Beecher Stowe House--the place she called home for the last 23 years of her life.  She died in the upstairs bedroom of the house in 1896 with her family around her.

We will also do pickup filming at the Jenny Lind Chapel in Andover, Illinois and the Dillon Home in Sterling, Illinois.

Nature footage will be gathered during this summer, autumn and winter to be used in the film to add scenic texture to Thunder.



Once again, we are grateful to our generous supporters, our sponsors, our locations and the cast and crew of Sons & Daughters of Thunder. 
 


Fourth Wall Films is anxious to share the finished film with you at the premiere in February in Cincinnati and March 9, 2019 on the National Geographic Giant Screen at the Putnam Museum in Davenport!

Remember to follow us on Facebook by LIKING our Sons & Daughters of Thunder fan page for all of the updates!  Check out LaneRebelsMovie.com to meet our talented Cast & Crew.

 

What Happens Behind the Camera...

As we get closer and closer to finishing this epic project, we are reminded of all of the work that went on behind the camera.  We had some long days. Some long nights.  We had a pretty talented and professional cast and crew that were patient and tolerant of the demands of the project and passionate about bringing it 'home'.

Most often you see only the beautiful clips from the film and the publicity shots or promotional materials. 

Here we give you just a glimpse of what goes on behind the camera.  Some of it very serious... and, well, sometimes you just have to let go of the stress and laugh a bit. 

Our thanks to every person who was a part of "Sons & Daughters of Thunder".  We are anxious to share the finished film with you at the premiere in February and March 2019--FINALLY!

Until then, enjoy!

A very serious Jessica Taylor/Harriet Beecher waits for her close-up.

Kelly Rundle gives some direction to seasoned actors Mike Schulz, Mike Kennedy and Janos Horvath.

Boom/Sound super genius Chris Ryder.

Director of Photography Kevin Railsback at the very first shoot for Thunder.

Our wardrobe super star Emily Busha removes lint from Justin Marxen's coat jacket.

Actress Lora Adams steps in to do make-up and hair when needed. 

A room-full of wonderful extras sing under the direction of Assistant Director Tyson Danner and actor Don Denton while Chris Ryder records sound.

Busy make-up and hair ladies Lora Adams and Farrah Ketron prep Jessica's hair.

DP Kevin Railsback, 2nd Camera Stephen Folker and Chris Ryder on sound set-up for filming the debate scenes at the Jenny Lind Chapel.

Assistant Director Tyson Danner reviews the script and producer Tammy Rundle reviews the shot list and schedule.

Actress Kimberly Kurtenbach/Catharine Beecher goes over her lines while Chris Ryder checks sound levels and lighting/camera assistant David Furness readies the slate.

Farrah Ketron applies a touch-up on Thomas Alan Taylor/Theodore Weld.

Only the very best! Our professional vintage gun experts (Ed Garret and Mike Nightengale) brought the correct period gun for Janos and showed him how to hold and handle it.

Production assistant Melinda Carriker (center) wore many hats during the 9 month shoot.

Production assistant Olivia Ketron slates a scene at the Dillon Home.

You really have to watch what you are doing and saying. There are cameras everywhere! Thunder producers Tammy and Kelly Rundle (Fourth Wall Films) review a performance.

Janos gets accessorized with the help of our vintage gun expert Ed Garret.

Numerous volunteers including Wendy Czekalski helped with wardrobe during big scenes that included dozens of extras! They are the unsung heroes of the project--so we will sing their praises NOW!

Mark your calendars and save the date for Saturday, March 9, 2019 for the Quad Cities premiere of Thunder at the Putnam Museum National Geographic Giant Screen at 6:30 p.m.  It will be a wonderful celebration with a number of cast and crew appearing at the event.  The film will be dedicated to Kent Hawley (whom we lost in November 2017) and his wife playwright Earlene Hawley.  News regarding the special February 2019 premiere in Cincinnati (where the true story took place) will be shared once all is in place!

Follow us on Facebook by LIKING our Sons & Daughters of Thunder fanpage for all of the updates!

"Thunder" Premiere Plans Underway

It has been a busy and amazing six months for Sons & Daughters of Thunder as fundraising was kicked into high gear and post-production work began.  Thanks to the generous support of several individuals, organizations, Indiegogo contributors, and a grant award, we are nearing completion and Sons & Daughters of Thunder will be released for the 185th Anniversary of the Lane Debates in February-March 2019.

It is not easy to make a film. Especially an historic period piece set in the 1830s.  The most difficult part of any independent film project is fundraising. It takes long stretches of time, massive effort, and lots and lots of faith.  So, we are deeply grateful to every person, every organization, and every cast and crew member that helped us make Sons & Daughters of Thunder a reality and kept the faith right along with us.

Most of all, we thank Earlene Hawley for researching and writing her beautiful play and sharing it with us to transform into a screenplay and narrative film.  We are deeply grateful to Kent and Earlene, and the Hawley family for their incredible support on this project over the years. 

There were many times that Harriet Beecher Stowe's inspiring words kept us going: "Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn."  The tide turned.

The amazing and timely story of Theodore Weld and his Lane Rebels, and the devisive debates over the abolition of slavery held in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1834 has largely been forgotten by the nation.  But thanks to the long list of supporters behind this film project, the story will be preserved and remembered. 

We are very excited to share that there will be two main premiere events for Sons & Daughters of Thunder in 2019: one in Cincinnati, Ohio and one in Davenport, Iowa.  Other special screening events throughout the U.S. will follow.

We are in discussions regarding the special March premiere in Cincinnati (where the true story took place) and we will have news to share in time.  Mark your calendars and save the date for Saturday, March 9, 2019 for the Quad Cities premiere of Thunder at the Putnam Museum National Geographic Giant Screen at 6:30 p.m.  It will be a wonderful celebration with a number of cast and crew appearing at the event.  The film will be dedicated to Kent Hawley (whom we lost in November 2017) and his wife playwright Earlene Hawley.

Former slave and abolotionist Frederick Douglass once said, "If there is no struggle, there is no progress."  We have struggled. We were determined. We made progress.  And, thanks to those of you who believed in us and cheered us on every step of the way, we reached the finish line. 

We hope to see you at one of the premieres or at a special screening of Sons & Daughters of Thunder next February and March.  Please DO spread the word!

With gratitude,

Kelly & Tammy Rundle
Fourth Wall Films
Producers: Sons & Daughters of Thunder

Andover Annual Festival Shares "Thunder" Update

Jenny Lind Chapel in the early morning of a Thunder production shoot February 2014.

Andover, Illinois celebrates its annual "More Fun on 81" Festival this weekend (June 2-3) spotlighting the Bicentennial of Illinois. Free and open to ALL ages! Small town charm with lots of activities, musical shows, antique lawn & farm tractor show, salute to veterans, home-cooked meals, ice cream social, photo art show, and open houses and displays at all of Andover’s historical buildings, and an Illinois Bicentennial Pageant!

Numerous extras from Andover sat in the audience during filming of several debate scenes.

Andover opened its arms wide to our Thunder cast and crew while filming several debate scenes in February 2014 in the historic Jenny Lind Chapel--which stands in for the Chapel at Lane Theological Seminary in Cincinatti, Ohio where the actual debates on the abolition of slavery took place.  Numerous Andover locals appeared as extras in the debate scenes in the film.  Sons & Daughters of Thunder, a new film by Kelly and Tammy Rundle of Fourth Wall Films based on the award-winning play by Earlene Hawley and Curtis Heeter, tells the unforgettable true story of the beginning of the end of slavery in America.

Thomas Alan Taylor as abolitionist Theodore Weld during filming at the Jenny Lind Chapel in Andover, Illinois. (Shared Light Photography)

An update on the film project will be shared with festival attendees, including behind-the-scenes images during filming in Andover, premiere news, and the announcement of a special screening of Sons & Daughters of Thunder in Andover which will take place after the premiere events set for Cincinnati, Ohio and at the Putnam Giant Screen in Davenport, Iowa in February 2019 during Black History Month.

Follow Sons & Daughters of Thunder on Facebook by clicking HERE!

 

Keeping it Real with Lane rebel James Thome

Anthony Stratton stars as Lane rebel James Thome in "Sons & Daughters of Thunder".

James A. Thome took part in the 1834 Lane Seminary debates in Cincinnati, Ohio organized by Theodore Weld on the slavery question, delivering a speech in support of immediatism based on his personal experiences as the son of a Southern slaveholder in Augusta, Kentucky.

Thome left Lane Seminary for Oberlin College along with thirty-one other seminary students (called the "Lane Rebels") and graduated from Oberlin in 1836.

Filmmakers Tammy & Kelly Rundle visited the historic plantation home of James Thome in Augusta, Kentucky.

His decision to become an abolitionist put him at odds with his slaveholding father, who initially disowned him. The two of them were later reconciled, and Arthur Thome eventually emancipated his slaves.

For more information about Lane Rebel Thome, click HERE. 

Thomas Alan Taylor (Theodore Weld) and Anthony Stratton (James Thome), fellow abolitionists.

Los Angeles actor Anthony Stratton stars as the iconic Lane rebel James Thome in Sons & Daughters of Thunder--a new film by award-winning Fourth Wall Films, based on the critically-acclaimed play by Earlene Hawley and Curtis Heeter.

 Sons & Daughters of Thunder tells the unforgettable true story of the beginning of the end of slavery in America. In 1834, if polite discussions about abolishing slavery were considered inappropriate among Americans in Northern states, then eighteen days of public student-sponsored debates on the divisive subject at Lane Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio (a border community) were scandalous. Organized by Theodore Weld, one of the architects of the abolitionist movement, the shocking oratory sparked intense controversy and awakened a young Harriet Beecher (Stowe) to the realities of slavery.

We continue our post-production editing on Thunder and our final fundraising to meet our premiere and DVD release deadline.  We greatly acknowledge that the fiscal sponsor for the film project is The Moline Foundation.  If you are interested in contributing to the final phase of Thunder and receiving screen credit (deadline for screen credit is November 30, 2018), please click here: SUPPORT THUNDER!

Again, our sincere thanks to everyone who supported the making of this film--our contributors, fiscal sponsors (The Shell Rock Historical Society and the Moline Foundation), the historic sites that welcomed us, our tireless crew and brilliant cast.  And, our deep gratitude to Earlene and Kent Hawley.  Without them there would be no Thunder.

Remember to LIKE the Sons & Daughters of Thunder's Facebook fan page to get all of the updated news! Follow this link and click LIKE at THUNDER!