Wilmington on Fire: A Massacre Kept Secret for Over 100 Years

by 12/30/2013

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Wilmington on Fire is a feature-length documentary that will give a historical and present day look at the Wilmington Massacre of 1898. The film features interviews from historians, authors, activists and descendants of the victims of the Wilmington Massacre of 1898. Wilmington on Fire will talk about things such as: African-American progress after slavery, African-American’s in Wilmington prior to the 1898 massacre, The Wilmington Massacre of 1898, Reparations, African-American history in Wilmington, The state of North Carolina’s involvement in the massacre of 1898, The Black community in Wilmington today AND MUCH MORE!

The Wilmington Massacre of 1898 was a bloody attack on the African-American community by a heavily armed white mob with the support of the North Carolina Democratic Party on November 10, 1898 in the port city of Wilmington, North Carolina. It is considered one of the only successful examples of a violent overthrow of an existing government (coup d’etat) and left countless numbers of African-American citizens dead and exiled from the city. This event was the spring board for the white supremacy movement and Jim Crow Segregation throughout the state of North Carolina, and the American South. This incident is barely mentioned and has been omitted from most history books. It was not until 2006, after the North Carolina General Assembly published a report on it, that the tragedy became known to the public.

OUR CAST:

LARRY RENI THOMAS is an author/radio announcer and activist. He is also the founder of ICROW, Inc. (International Organization for Compensation and Reparations for the Victims of the Wilmington Massacre of 1898).
LARRY RENI THOMAS is an author/radio announcer and activist. He is also the founder of ICROW, Inc. (International Organization for Compensation and Reparations for the Victims of the Wilmington Massacre of 1898).
KENT CHATFIELD is an independent researcher in Wilmington, North Carolina who has done extensive research on the Wilmington Massacre of 1898.
KENT CHATFIELD is an independent researcher in Wilmington, North Carolina who has done extensive research on the Wilmington Massacre of 1898.
WILLIAM DARITY is a Professor of Public Policy, African and African-American Studies, and Economics at Duke University. He also worked on the official North Carolina Wilmington Race Riot Report, "Economic Impact Analysis".
WILLIAM DARITY is a Professor of Public Policy, African and African-American Studies, and Economics at Duke University. He also worked on the official North Carolina Wilmington Race Riot Report, “Economic Impact Analysis”.
DR. LEWIN MANLY is the grandson of newspaper editor & owner Alexander Manly. Alexander Manly was a prominent black figure in Wilmington and was forced to leave Wilmington in 1898 after his newspaper press was burned down during the massacre.
DR. LEWIN MANLY is the grandson of newspaper editor & owner Alexander Manly. Alexander Manly was a prominent black figure in Wilmington and was forced to leave Wilmington in 1898 after his newspaper press was burned down during the massacre.
INEZ EASON is the great-granddaughter of Isham Quick. Isham Quick was a Coal & Wood Dealer and was also a board member of the Metropolitan Trust Company in Wilmington, NC before the massacre of 1898.
INEZ EASON is the great-granddaughter of Isham Quick. Isham Quick was a Coal & Wood Dealer and was also a board member of the Metropolitan Trust Company in Wilmington, NC before the massacre of 1898.
FAYE CHAPLIN is the great-granddaughter of Thomas C. Miller. Thomas C. Miller was a prominent businessman and property owner in Wilmington and was forced to leave Wilmington during the massacre of 1898.
FAYE CHAPLIN is the great-granddaughter of Thomas C. Miller. Thomas C. Miller was a prominent businessman and property owner in Wilmington and was forced to leave Wilmington during the massacre of 1898.
DR. UMAR JOHNSON is a Psychologist who practices privately throughout Pennsylvania and lectures throughout the country. He is considered an authority on mental health in the Black community. He is also in the hit documentary series "Hidden Colors".
DR. UMAR JOHNSON is a Psychologist who practices privately throughout Pennsylvania and lectures throughout the country. He is considered an authority on mental health in the Black community. He is also in the hit documentary series “Hidden Colors”.
QUEEN QUET is a historian and the Chieftess of the Gullah Geechee Nation.
QUEEN QUET is a historian and the Chieftess of the Gullah Geechee Nation.
DR. CLAUD ANDERSON is an author and is the President of the Harvest Institute (a nationally recognized Black think tank that works to help Black America become a self-sufficient and competitive). He is also in the documentary "Hidden Colors 2".
DR. CLAUD ANDERSON is an author and is the President of the Harvest Institute (a nationally recognized Black think tank that works to help Black America become a self-sufficient and competitive). He is also in the documentary “Hidden Colors 2”.
LERAE UMFLEET was the lead researcher on the official North Carolina state report on the Wilmington Massacre of 1898.
LERAE UMFLEET was the lead researcher on the official North Carolina state report on the Wilmington Massacre of 1898.
AL MCSURELY is a legal advisor for the North Carolina NAACP.
AL MCSURELY is a legal advisor for the North Carolina NAACP.
WENDEL WHITE is a Professor at Stockton College, a researcher and photographer. He created the photography book entitled "Small Towns, Black Lives: African American Communities in Southern New Jersey".
WENDEL WHITE is a Professor at Stockton College, a researcher and photographer. He created the photography book entitled “Small Towns, Black Lives: African American Communities in Southern New Jersey”.
DAAWUD MUHAMMAD is a community activist in Wilmington, North Carolina and is the author of "No Covers Vol. 1".
DAAWUD MUHAMMAD is a community activist in Wilmington, North Carolina and is the author of “No Covers Vol. 1”.
WILLIE VEREEN was a member of the "Wilmington Ten". The Wilmington Ten were nine young men and a woman, who were convicted in 1971 in Wilmington, NC of arson and conspiracy, and served nearly a decade in jail.
WILLIE VEREEN was a member of the “Wilmington Ten”. The Wilmington Ten were nine young men and a woman, who were convicted in 1971 in Wilmington, NC of arson and conspiracy, and served nearly a decade in jail.
SONYA BENNETONE is the historian for Central Baptist Church in Wilmington, North Carolina. She gives us a wealth of knowledge about the Reverend J. Allen Kirk and his account of the 1898 massacre.
SONYA BENNETONE is the historian for Central Baptist Church in Wilmington, North Carolina. She gives us a wealth of knowledge about the Reverend J. Allen Kirk and his account of the 1898 massacre.
ROGER HUBBARD is a community activist in Wilmington, NC and is the Program Director for LINC (Leading Into New Communities, Inc.).
ROGER HUBBARD is a community activist in Wilmington, NC and is the Program Director for LINC (Leading Into New Communities, Inc.).
DR. TERRY JACKSON is a community activist in Wilmington, NC and is also a business coach and consultant.
DR. TERRY JACKSON is a community activist in Wilmington, NC and is also a business coach and consultant.
SUSI HAMILTON is a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives (D-18th District).
SUSI HAMILTON is a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives (D-18th District).

OUR TEAM:

Director & Producer Christopher Everett: Christopher Everett is an actor, writer, director and producer. He has a degree in Graphic Design from King’s College in Charlotte, NC. He recently finished his first documentary short entitled “The Laurinburg Institute Est. 1904” on a historic African-American Boarding & Day School in his hometown of Laurinburg, NC. Christopher has also starred in many commercials throughout the south east and indie films such as the award-winning narrative short “On My Last Breath”. For more info, check out: https://www.facebook.com/wilmingtononfire

Executive Producer Pete Chatmon: Pete Chatmon is an award-winning filmmaker across several platforms. He wrote, produced, and directed “Premium”, starring Dorian Missick and Zoe Saldana and “761st”, narrated by Andre Braugher, and has directed several short films, original webseries, and branded content for ad agencies. Double7 Images, his media+marketing collective, exists to give businesses, brands, and entrepreneurs a fighting chance in a marketplace crowded with distracting media noise. For more info, check out: http://d7i.co/

Cinematographer Donte Lee: Donte’ Lee has experience in film, music videos and commercials. His music video experience includes videos for artists such as Shaggy, Calvin Richardson, Tamer Hosny, and Paper Tongues. His commercial experience includes commercials for Rubbermaid and Saber Grills. His recent feature film work includes indies “Jimmy” and “9 Ball”. For more info, check out: http://vimeo.com/donte

Additional Cinematography Jesse Kale: Jesse Kale is recent graduate of UNCW with a degree in Communication. After being inspired by the film John Carpenter’s The Thing he decided to pursue a career in filmmaking. Besides working on WOF he recently produced the action short Drag Him Out! ,which premiered at Cucalorus, and programmed UNCW’s, Lumina Theater. Though he isn’t currently working on a project he is hopeful to find something soon that will spark his interest.

Original Score Matthew Head: With over six years of scoring experience, Matthew has found much success in the realms of film and video. His composition credits include numerous scores for movies, documentaries, and even commercials. Working with The Horne Brother’s production company, Matthew served as the Music Supervisor and Composer for their films Kissing Bandit and The Start of Dreams. Matthew has also worked with Dapa Entertainment composing the music for their documentary I am a Dream Chaser. Extending his abilities, he has worked closely with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution marketing team providing music for their commercials. For more info, check out: http://www.matthewheadproductions.com/

Music Supervisor JaNese Jean: Talk about a musician that embodies every aspect of music, you’re talking about Ja’Nese Jean. Artist, Vocal Producer and Music Supervisor, Ja’Nese Jean is a Triple Threat. Ja’Nese Jean’s dream is to inspire the masses through music, and for that reason, it’s important for her to be well skilled and knowledgeable in multiple aspect of the musical realm. She’s a Songwriter/Composer with ASCAP, a member of NARAS, and AGMA. She’s also a classically trained coloratura Opera diva, and humanitarian amongst many other things.

Promo Trailer / Motion Graphics Christopher Salvador: Christopher Salvador has worked with graphic design for over 6 years, and has been working in motion graphics for about 3 years. He is currently a student at the Savannah college of art in design (SCAD) studying motion graphics and graphic design. For more info, check out:http://www.behance.net/diorchata

Assistant Editor Don Stafford: Don Stafford has been in the video business for more than 20 years. He has been IT Director for several national distributors and is currently Director, IT for an international distributor. He has gotten involved on the production side of the business in both filming and editing in the past 3 years and is proud to be a part of this project.

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