Category Archives: video

And it’s a Wrap!

14 Friday Jul 2023

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Who Is Sarah Kidder imposters, Mary Baird, Sands Hall, and Gladys MacWood Birdsong

The edutainment video project “Who Is Sarah Kidder” is now complete. Just over one year after I worked to develop a project that would not only tell history but engage multiple generations in wanting to learn history in a fun, light-hearted manner, I am happy to say that this project did more, said more was more fun than I expected.

Kimberly Ewing, Adam Kline, Wendy Willoughby, and Michael Keene on the set of Who Is Sarah Kidder

Why? Simple. All the amazing community members came together to contribute their time and input. From actors Mary Baird, Sands Hall, and Gladys MacWood Birdsong to our MC, Robert Trent, and on to panelists Kimberly Ewing, Adam Kline, Michael Keene, and Wendy Willoughby. Michael was joined by Ken Teichmann in creating the stage setting. The Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum was an awesome partner, supporting three talks, the video premiere, and an exhibit that will run through the summer. Nevada Union Broadcast Club, led by instructor Jason Searles, learned how to prep, film, and edit a game show. They are awesome beyond words and I am grateful to everyone who showed up in spades for this video. Nevada County Media provided the perfect destination for us to film.

The informative talks by Megan White of Sierra College, Bernard Zimmerman and Elinor Barnes of the Nevada County Landmarks Commission, and NY Times best-selling author Chris Enss brought a wide range of context to women in Nevada County’s storied history.

As a further benefit, I approached the Nevada County Board of Supervisors requesting March 2023 be designated as Women’s History Month in Nevada County. This resolution was accepted and granted, with a thank you from the Board of Supervisors for this community history project.

This project was made possible by a grant from California Humanities.

Thanks, everyone!

Filming at Nevada County Media, February 2023

Note: California Humanities promotes the humanities – focused on ideas, conversation, and learning – as relevant, meaningful ways to understand the human condition and connect us to each other in order to help strengthen California. California Humanities has provided grants and programs across the state since 1975. To learn more visit www.calhum.org

A Silver Linings Screenplay

27 Saturday Nov 2021

Posted by in history, Nevada City, Uncategorized, video, writers and writing

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Mary Baird as Ellen Sargent in “An Evening with Ellen”

In December 2019 I began what looked like a fun project of writing a one-woman performance play for the local non-profit, Famous Marching Presidents. By mid-January, the actor Mary Baird and I had compiled a good bit of research with particular help from the Nevada County Searl’s Historical Museum. Then came COVID.

The project, An Evening with Ellen, celebrates and recognizes Nevada County suffragette leader Ellen Clark Sargent to commemorate the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote, the passage of the 19th Amendment on August 18, 1920.

Rather than abandon our work, we suddenly had more time to dedicate to producing this performance as a video. So, in a way, there was a silver lining to COVID of offering something creative to work on, and also the time to allocate to such an undertaking.

After months of Zoom readings and script refinements, we began outdoor rehearsals in May with host/interviewer local businessman, Rick Ewald.

We were able to secure a historically significant video location with the cooperation of Nevada City’s Oddfellow Lodge. The video crew filmed during August and by September, we had a finished project to share with educators, historians, and the general public.

COVID continued to shape the destiny of this project as both the 2020 and 2021 Constitution Day Parades were canceled—each potential screening dates. Not to be dismayed, we made this video open to an expanded audience through film festivals.

Earles of Newtown, photo by Waking Crow Studio

To date, the 30-minute video An Evening with Ellen has been accepted n three film festivals, serving to inform and entertain a much broader audience than initially envisioned. The festivals which screened An Evening with Ellen are Toronto Women’s Film Festival, International Sound & Music Film Festival, and Hollywood Women-themed Film Festival. Special thanks to the incredible team that made this happen, including John Boyer’s videography and the music lent to us from Earles of Newtown.

Who knows what the next silver lining may be…

See the video on YouTube and read the full project history here.

An Evening with Ellen

08 Tuesday Dec 2020

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Mary Baird portrays suffrage leader Ellen Clark Sargent in “An Evening with Ellen”

Ellen Clark Sargent was a prominent suffrage leader and resident of Nevada City, where she founded one of the early West Coast Suffrage organizations in 1869. She worked tirelessly to secure women’s voting rights with her entire family for four decades. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote in 2020, the Famous Marching Presidents produced an original play, “An Evening with Ellen,” highlighting Ellen Clark Sargent and the Nineteenth Amendment.

This original work, written by Pamela Biery, is set in an interview format. Actor Mary Baird portrays Ellen Sargent, while Nevada City businessman, Rick Ewald interviews Ellen, from a present-day perspective. Terry Boyer provides the master of ceremonies role, setting the tone for this lively interaction.

Mary Baird portrays Ellen Sargent, with present day interviewer, Rick Ewald

Nevada City California resident Ellen Clark Sargent was a close friend and ally to Susan B. Anthony. Sargent served as both treasurer and secretary of National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA); an organization founded by Susan B. Anthony. Ellen Sargent also was president of the California Woman Suffrage Association and founded the Nevada County Women Suffrage Association. She was a key figure in eventually combining East and West Coast efforts into a unified organization, which later became the League of Women Voters.

Adding to the context of this original, historically accurate work, the video was filmed at the Nevada City Odd Fellows Lodge Temple, where Aaron Sargent, who authored the Nineteenth Amendment, was a founding member in 1863.

Donate to making this project and curriculum materials available free to public, including schools here gf.me/u/x8in5b

Request a password protected link to view this video on Vimeo by emailing pamela[at]pamelab.com

EVENING WITH ELLEN COMMUNITY PROJECT TIMELINE

Project Management & Creative Development, Community Outreach and Engagement

January-February: Writing and research, with support from Nevada County Historical Society Research Library.

March: Convert to video production.

April: Arbor Day tree planting in recognition of Ellen Clark Sargent.

May-June: Rehearsals begin. GoFundMe campaign launched.

July: Poster concept and layout.

August: Poster printing and release. Odd Fellows decorate windows on Broad Street. Video production. Famous Marching Presidents Tree Dedication Ceremony.

September: Video complete.

October: Windows on History features Odd Fellows Nineteenth Amendment windows.

December: Video edited for television and film festival format. Inclusion in Women Soaring art exhibit. Plan for educational curriculum development (2021).

Thanks to the Famous Marching Presidents, donors, and the incredible team.