January 12, 2012
The Northeast Texas Community College Honors Program recently released the first feature-length movie ever directed and produced by NTCC students. The film, "Fredonia: A Tale of East Texas," takes a historic look at the most violent and anarchic period in the history of Northeast Texas.
The film was directed by Presidential Scholar Isaac Griffin, and produced by Presidential Scholar, Whitney McIntosh. The Walter Prescott Webb Society of NTCC Honors supported the production. The Rural Heritage Museum of Pittsburg, and the Hearts Bluff Game Ranch allowed the filming on their sites.
The film, which is based entirely on historical documents, features this chaotic period when bushwhackers such as Cullen Baker and Ben Bickerstaff threatened to wrest control from federal authorities.
"This is the first film to cover a lawless era of our past. In all of Texas after the Civil War, few places were as anarchic as the "Devil's Triangle" as it was called, including Mount Pleasant, and Paris to Texarkana," Dr. Andrew Yox, Honors Director, said.††"The students worked hard to make this era of our history come alive for the first time."
The film stars Isaac Griffin in the role of Thomas Orr, a victim of Cullen Baker's atrocities before becoming the first Mayor of Texarkana.††Garrett Trickey plays the role of Cullen Baker.††Elizabeth Griffin plays the role of Belle Foster, who in history was sought after by both Cullen Baker and Thomas Orr. Whitney McIntosh, a film major who played the major role in bringing the film together, plays a number of roles as well as Rhea Siemsen, an NTCC Honors Scholar from Winnsboro.††Jacob Isom, a Presidential Scholar, plays the role of Ben Bickerstaff.††Finally Dr. Andrew Yox, the Honors Director and Faculty adviser, plays the role of Oran Roberts, Texas secessionist, and ultra-conservative governor.
The film may be viewed on Youtube at†http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk3KV8b_6Dc&feature=youtu.be. For more information about NTCC Honors, please contact Yox at 903-434-8229 or†ayox@ntcc.edu.
