Jeff Suess, Cincinnati Enquirer
A film about the Lane Theological Seminary debates, a seminal moment in U.S. history that happened in Cincinnati, gets its local premiere this weekend.
“Sons & Daughters of Thunder,” by Emmy-nominated filmmakers Kelly and Tammy Rundle, depicts the student-led debates held at the Walnut Hills campus in 1834 that denounced slavery and gave voice to the abolitionist movement.
The film will be shown at Garfield Theatre on Saturday, March 23, at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., both followed by a talk with the filmmakers. The event is sponsored by Cincinnati World Cinema and the Harriet Beecher Stowe House.
Lyman Beecher (Janos Horvath), Theodore Weld (Thomas Alan Taylor) and Harriet Beecher Stowe (Jessica Taylor) in front of the Harriet Beecher Stowe House in Cinncinatti during filming for Sons & Daughters of Thunder.
A few scenes were filmed at the historic house where the Beecher family lived at 2950 Gilbert Ave. in Walnut Hills.
“It is the last remaining structure on what was Lane Seminary grounds,” said film producer Tammy Rundle. “It was a remarkable experience to film in the location where these important events took place.”
Sons & Daughters of Thunder is based on the critically-acclaimed play by Earlene Hawley and Curtis Heeter, and tells the true story of the 1834 Cincinnati, Ohio Lane Theological Seminary anti-slavery debates. The controversial meetings, led by abolitionist and firebrand Theodore Weld (Thomas Alan Taylor), were the first to publicly discuss the end of slavery in America. The meetings angered Cincinnati residents and Lane Seminary officials, who promptly slapped a gag order on the entire student body. This action was followed by a freedom of speech protest and mass exodus of Lane students to Oberlin College. A young Harriet Beecher’s (Jessica Taylor) exposure to the debates and Weld's continuing work to free the slaves sparked a flame that led her to write her magnum opus Uncle Tom's Cabin.
Sons & Daughters of Thunder is produced by Kent Hawley and Fourth Wall Films, owned by Emmy® nominated filmmakers Kelly Rundle and Tammy Rundle, a film and video production company specializing in historical documentaries for public television broadcast and DVD home video.
Kimberly Kurtenbach is the Executive Producer on the film and also stars as Catharine Beecher. Kurtenbach also served as Casting Director on the project. Thunder was shot by award-winning Director of Photography Kevin Railsback. Award-winning filmmaker Chris Ryder handled sound and visual effects. Emily Busha was the film’s costume designer, circa 1834. William Campbell is the film score composer. Tyson Danner served as Assistant Director, with Olivia Ketron and Melinda Carriker serving as Production Assistants.
The cast includes Thomas Alan Taylor, Jessica Taylor, Janos Horvath, Mark Winn, Tom Walljasper, Mike Kennedy, Don Denton, Mike Schulz, Tristan Tapscott, Anthony Stratton, Justin Marxen, Jaylen Marks, Pat Flaherty, Daniel Rairdin-Hale, Lora Adams, Joseph Maubach, Tim Stompanato, David Furness, Travis Shepherd, Mikeal Burgin, Lisa Kahn, David Juehring, Don Hazen and David Shropshire. Over fifty extras took part in Thunder.
Sons & Daughters of Thunder is dedicated to Kent Hawley & Earlene Hawley.
Partial funding for the film was provided by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, and through the Quad City Arts with a grant provided by the Illinois Arts Council Agency, Hubbell-Waterman Foundation, and John Deere. The fiscal sponsors for the film project are The Shell Rock Historical Society, and The Moline Foundation.
PRE-ORDER the Sons & Daughters of Thunder DVD (release date December 2019) and SAVE! Click HERE!
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