King Coal | Telling Appalachia's Story - Past, Present, and Future

For 200 years, the people of central Appalachia in the US have lived off the industry of coal. Subscribe for more from Factual America: bit.ly/AlamoPictures
Now, though, times are changing, and the coal industry is dying. One day, it will become no more than a memory.
Director Elaine McMillion Sheldon describes King Coal as "part documentary, part fable", and the film aims to not only tell the story of Appalachia and its coal, but also to preserve Appalachians' memory of it.
And that is not all. Through Lanie and Gabby, two young Appalachian girls, Elaine looks to the future, to the new world that is now coming into being. In doing so, she is able to say truthfully that far from now ending, Appalachia's story is just beginning.
In the course of their conversation, Elaine discusses her own intimate connection to Appalachia, the surprising origin of one mark of deep respect given to miners, and how she broke her filmmaking rules in order to make the documentary.
"... if this was just a story about facts and figures, it would make no sense. But this film is really about the psyche and soul... I think that King Coal dominates a time when work, and pride in work, of belonging was a huge part of our identity." - Elaine McMillion Sheldon
What is Covered:
00:00 - Matthew Sherwood introduces this episode's guest, Elaine McMillion Sheldon, and her film, King Coal
04:23 - Elaine explains what King Coal is about
05:40 - Elaine discusses the unique features of the film
06:51 - Exploring coal's historic influence over Appalachia
10:24 - The UK origin of the phrase 'King Coal'
10:53 - The genesis of King Coal
12:41 - Lanie and Gabby: the two girls at the centre of the film
13:54 - King Coal's themes and personal nature
16:11 - How Elaine was helped by contributing writer Shane Boris, as well as her other collaborators
18:15 - Elaine's hopes for the film
Resources:
King Coal www.kingcoalfilm.com/
MovieMaker Magazine www.moviemaker.com/
Innersound Audio www.innersoundaudio.co.uk/
Connect with Elaine McMillion Sheldon
Website www.elainemcmillionsheldon.com/
IMDb www.imdb.com/name/nm4140928/
Twitter / elainemsheldon
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