Summer 2015
Filming Laura Walls, scholar, and Richard Smith, Thoreau interpreter, at Replica Cabin, Walden Pond
In the past year I have been busy filming for my new film, Henry David Thoreau, Surveyor of the Soul which will be released in 2017 in time for Thoreau’s 200th birthday. The bulk of filming has been at Walden Pond and Thoreau Country in Concord, MA. I also filmed scenes on 2 trips to Staten Island. In 1843 Thoreau spent 9 months living on Staten Island tutoring the children of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s brother. He also used his time there to try to break into the world of publishing across the harbor in New York City. This proved to be a turning point in Thoreau’s life. His publishing world venture was a bust and he was homesick for his beloved Concord and his family. Staten Island historian, Barnett Shepard, was interviewed talking about what Staten Island was like in 1843 and what Thoreau would have seen and experienced during this influential episode in his life.
In Maine last summer I filmed the first two days of a 16 day canoe trip retracing Thoreau’s excursions to Maine with Penobscot guides. This trip took place on the 150th anniversary of the publication of The Maine Woods. This past July I filmed at the Thoreau Society’s Annual Gathering in Concord, MA. The AG featured a symposium on the Maine Woods anniversary canoe trip and other events I filmed. In addition, I filmed an interview with the film’s lead scholar Laura Walls at Walden Pond and Sandy Pond. Earlier in the Spring I filmed Thoreau scholars Rochelle Johnson and Kristen Case paddling on the Concord River and interviewed them as well.
Last year I was fortunate to film Walter Brain on 3 different occasions. Walter knew more about where Thoreau walked and visited in Thoreau Country than anyone else. Walter passed away this Spring. He was a good friend and is dearly missed.
This Fall I having filming planned for Vermont, Maine, and Concord, MA. Maybe I’ll see you at Walden Pond where I am filming “on the trail” interviews with visitors to Thoreau’s cabin site and the replica cabin. I’ll send out an update on all this in the Fall. Also this Fall I’ll be sending out news on how you can help with the production of Surveyor of the Soul with a tax deductible donation.
Maine Heritage Orchard Film done for MOFGA
In other film news, this past Spring I finished a year and half long film project done for Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association on their Maine Heritage Orchard. This is an orchard near MOFGA’s Common Ground Fairgrounds that now has 200 varieties of heirloom apple trees. The film features Maine Heritage Orchard founder and apple guru John Bunker. You can see this 17 minute video on my Vimeo page where you can trailers for some of my other films. Or you can watch it on MOFGA’s YouTube page.
You can keep up with latest behind the scenes news on Surveyor of the Soul and my other films on my Films By Huey Facebook page.
I hope you have time to enjoy the last days of Summer!
Peace, Huey
