Watkins produces Honors film

The scholars of Honors Northeast completed filming their fifth featurelength movie last week in Nacogdoches. The subject of this year’s film was the end of the Texas Cherokee and the transformation of Sam Houston. The project was researched, written, directed, acted and produced by students in the Northeast Texas Community College honors program with the support of faculty, staff and community members.

Both the Texas Cherokee and Sam Houston came to prominence while living in the Nacogdoches area. Hudson Old, publisher of the East Texas Journal, suggested the film topic. The group’s dramatized history focuses on leading Cherokees of Texas, their eradication under the Mirabeau Lamar Administration in 1839, and a fundamental change in the outlook of Sam Houston, who as a former son of the Cherokee could not halt the "ethnic cleansing” that ensued.

One measure of Houston’s change came in his relations with women. Houston, played by NTCC Presidential Scholar, William Jones, has transient relationships with three women, one a Cherokee maiden, before being changed by his last wife, Margaret Lea Houston.

According to Dr. Andrew Yox, NTCC Honors Director, filming almost faced disaster on the first night when problems with the group’s accommodations wiped out hours of filming. But Director Presley McClendon, who also has helped manage the Mount Pleasant High School band’s half-time entertainment for the last two summers, got the group working as a team by the second day. Unit Production Director Ryan-Rose Mendoza re-sequenced the entire effort, and Makeup Artist, Kassandra Martinez worked at breakneck speed. The film, with 65 scenes, could run up to 80 minutes, and after starting on Tuesday, the group finished the last scene on Friday night at 10 PM. “I was bowled over by the group’s teamwork and cando spirit,” Yox said. “Leaders emerged, learning curves were conquered, and the cast worked furiously to complete the rather ambitious script.”

Two key roles were played by co-cinematographers, Adriana Rodriguez of Mount Pleasant, and Rachel Jordan of Ore City. Both incoming freshmen quickly learned the potential of new high-end Canon HFG30 and HFG40 camcorders, and supervised the use of the boom mics, and headphones to secure the sound quality.

The film began with research projects by honors scholars Marisol Bautista, and Ryan-Rose Mendoza of Mount Pleasant. A team that included William Fox, Kassandra Martinez and Mendoza, led by Dr. Yox, researched the plot further last May at the Dolph Briscoe Center at the University of Texas. The research team, plus William Jones, shaped the script.

Other important roles were allocated to sophomores Alecia Spurlin of Winnsboro, who served as Director of Costumes, and Emmalea Shaw, of Omaha, who served as Director of Props. Cassidy Watkins, 2016 Daingerfield Salutatorian, is working as the film’s producer.

Students who will also appear with major roles in the film are Hayden Duncan as Edmund Burleson, William Fox as Cherokee Chief Bowles, Joshua Yox as Mirabeau Lamar, and Alicia Cantrell, Kassandra Martinez, Melody Mott and Leivy Zuniga as Cherokee maidens, Hialeah, Adsila, Immookalea, and Hiawassee.

The project was supported by Mary Lou and Jerald Mowery through an NTCC Whatley Employee Enhancement grant. Other contributors include Mark Lesher Esq., Glenda Brogoitti, and other Friends of Honors Northeast. NTCC employees Delbra Anthony and Dr. Ron Clinton provided vital administrative support the project. Honors Professors Dr. Shirley Clay and Dr. Mary Hearron also provided invaluable logistical assistance. Al Clay of Pittsburg and Martin Holden of Theatre Northeast made a generous provision of his 1830s period wear, and John Thompson, NTCC’s Whatley Technical Director, provided valuable service to the cause.

Filming was made possible by Millard’s Crossing of Nacogdoches, as well as Bed and Breakfasts such as the Hardeman, and Jones houses, and Llando Grande. The NTCC group dined the final night at the Clear Springs Restaurant with the family of Anne, Charles, and Pam Phillips, who were instrumental in preserving the Tol Barrett House of the Llano Grande, a home that Sam Houston probably visited back in the 1830s.

The local premiere of this film is tentatively scheduled for February of 2017. Visit ntcc.edu/honors to view past film projects.