Interview with Mimi Pickering, January 28, 2016

Partial Transcript: This is Jeff Keith and Rayna Gellert on January 28th, 2016.

Segment Synopsis: Mimi Pickering talks about Appalshop planning a film series that would have focused on various aspects of Appalachian history. Several filmmakers traveled throughout the area conducting research in archives and met with Appalachian scholars. She talks about some of the people involved and their ideas for the films.

Keywords: "Rivers and Trails"; Archie Green; Archives; Budget cuts; Cratis Williams; Dave Walls; Dee Davis; Don Baker; Elizabeth Barret; Federal funding; Filmmakers; Francis Morton; George Stoney; Grants; Helen Lewis; Herb Smith; Human history project; Humanities; Maxine Kenny; Meetings; Migration; North Carolina; Project proposals; Research; Resistance movements; Ron Eller; Ronald Reagan; Scholars; Scott Faulkner; Stereotypes; Travel; Wayne Coombs

Subjects: Appalachian Region--History; Appalachian Region--Social conditions; Appalshop, Inc.; Documentary films--Production and direction.; Economic conditions; Elections; Motion picture industry--Finance.; Politics and government

Partial Transcript: Could you tell me though about your, your, uh, vision for the resistance, uh, movements, sort of, film and, and--

Segment Synopsis: Pickering talks more about the films that Appalshop was planning to make as part of its History of Appalachia series, including the film she was planning about resistance movements. Only one film was ultimately made ("Strangers and Kin") due to cuts in funding.

Keywords: "Strangers and Kin"; Actors; Budgets; Challenges; Coal Creek Rebellion; Don Baker; Dragging Canoe; Film series; Funding; Helen Lewis; Herb Smith; Jo Carson; Marty Newell; Money; Pilot films; Plays; Priorities; Radio; Resistance movements; Sarah Ogan Gunning; Scott Faulkner; Scripts; Whiskey Rebellion; Writing

Subjects: Appalachian Region--History; Appalachian Region--Social conditions; Appalshop, Inc.; Documentary films--Production and direction.; Economic conditions; Motion picture industry--Finance.; Motion pictures--Production and direction.

Partial Transcript: Well you were talking about, uh, resistance movements and how, you know, to your mind, uh, Sarah Gunning fits in with that.

Segment Synopsis: Pickering talks about why she became interested in making a film about Sarah Ogan Gunning, a singer and songwriter from Appalachia. She talks about the process of filming and editing, and discusses Gunning's death immediately after agreeing to be in the film. She talks about the political aspects of Gunning's work and of the film.

Keywords: "Chemical Valley"; Archie Green; Coal fields; Communist Party; Death; Family; Filming; Filmmakers; Films; Florence Reece; Footage; Funding; Hazel Garland; Highlander Folk School; History; Inspiration; Memorials; Messages; NEA grants; National Endowment for the Arts; National Miners Union (NMU); Radical; Resistance movements; Response; Sarah Ogan Gunning; Songs; Stories; United Mine Workers Association (UMWA); “Union Maids”; “Which Side Are You On”

Subjects: Appalachian Region--Social conditions; Appalachians (People) in motion pictures; Appalshop, Inc.; Documentary films--Production and direction.; Ethnographic films.; Filmed interviews.; Gunning, Sarah Ogan, 1910-1983; Music--Appalachian Region

Partial Transcript: But the other part for me, you know, as, as you know I'm really interested in music, was how that also seeps over into this--the politics of the revival.

Segment Synopsis: Pickering talks about Sarah Ogan Gunning's music, her feelings on capitalism, and whether Gunning felt resentment about other folk singers making money from her work. She talks about other Appalachian musicians whose work has been used without much compensation.

Keywords: Archie Green; Artists; Capitalist system; Copyright; Economics; Folklorists; Hazel Garland; Jean Ritchie; Joan Baez; John Jacob Niles; June Appal Recordings; Kingston Trio; Kinship; Making money; Moe Asch; Moses Asch; New York; Pete Seeger; Resentment; Royalty checks; Sarah Ogan Gunning; Singing; Tensions; Traditional music; Welfare; “I Hate the Capitalist System”

Subjects: Appalachian Region--Social conditions; Capitalism.; Economic conditions; Gunning, Sarah Ogan, 1910-1983; Music--Appalachian Region; Musicians; Seeger, Pete, 1919-2014

Partial Transcript: Um, that's all great. Thank you very much. And, and, uh, I kind of want to ask some general questions maybe about, um, the eighties and then talk some about the "I'm What This Is All About" film.

Segment Synopsis: Pickering talks about the atmosphere at Appalshop during the 1980s, especially in regard to Ronald Reagan's election which led to funding cuts on the federal level. She talks about their fundraising efforts, leadership of Appalshop and some of the people working there, and some of their film projects. She talks about the beginning of the Headwaters series on KET.

Keywords: "Harlan County, USA"; Anne Lewis; Barbara Kopple; Bess Lomax Hawes; Buildings; Dee Davis; Don Baker; Film projects; Funding; Fundraising; Headwaters series; Headwaters: Real Stories from Rural America; History of Appalachia series; Jack Wright; Katherine Pearson; Kentucky Educational Television (KET); Marty Newell; Michael Stamper; Money; NEA grants; National Endowment for the Arts; Nick Stump; Pay; Priorities; Resources; Roadside Theater; Ronald Reagan; Salary; Sources; Staff; Television shows; Uncertainty; “Red Fox / Second Hangin’”

Subjects: Appalshop, Inc.; Documentary films--Production and direction.; Economic conditions; Motion picture industry--Finance.; Motion pictures--Production and direction.; Politics and government; Reagan, Ronald.; Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- )

Partial Transcript: You brought up Anne Lewis though and, and this gets us maybe to the next film that we could discuss for a bit, um, and, and that's "I'm What This Is All About."

Segment Synopsis: Pickering talks about working with Anne Lewis on the film "I'm What This Is All About" about the inequality in school funding in Lincoln County, West Virginia. She talks about the impact of the film and the community groups on education reform. She talks about whether Appalshop feared repercussions when arguing against local politicians. She talks about how Appalshop's early films focused on the filmmakers' grandparents' generation, and how this could be seen as an act of rebellion.

Keywords: Appalachian heritage; Betty Jones; Community organizing; Consolidation Coal Company; Court rulings; Educational reform; Funding; Headwaters series; Headwaters: Real Stories from Rural America; Image; Impact; Inequality; Kentucky; Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA); Lincoln County (W. Va.); Local politics; Negative reactions; Older generations; Outsiders; Rebellion; Reception; Responses; Retribution; Sensitive issues; Superintendent McCann; Teachers; Video

Subjects: Appalachian Region--History; Appalachian Region--Social conditions; Appalshop, Inc.; Discrimination in education--Law and legislation; Documentary films--Production and direction.; Lewis, Anne, 1948-; Motion pictures--Production and direction.; Political corruption; Politics and government; Rural schools--Appalachian Region

Partial Transcript: Um, I, I'm curious about a final thing here that's--so we've talked a little bit about content and reception, but now just process.

Segment Synopsis: Pickering talks about Anne Lewis' abilities as a filmmaker and their working relationship.

Keywords: "Chemical Valley"; Focused; Folklore; Grassroots organizations; Headwaters series; Headwaters: Real Stories from Rural America; Influence; Issue oriented; Minnie Black; Morgan Sexton; Output; Perspectives; Political; Sarah Ogan Gunning; Working relationship

Subjects: Appalshop, Inc.; Documentary films--Production and direction.; Ethnographic films.; Lewis, Anne, 1948-; Motion picture producers and directors.; Motion pictures--Philosophy.; Motion pictures--Production and direction.

Partial Transcript: Uh, but I'm, I'm interested to talk about a little different part of life for a second.

Segment Synopsis: Pickering talks about some of the politicized topics covered by Appalshop films, and their role in documenting community organizing efforts. She talks about the controversy created when KET aired the film "On Our Own Land" the night before an election.

Keywords: "On Our Own Land"; Anne Lewis; Awards; Balanced; Broad form deeds; Celebration; Comments; Community organizing; Constitutional amendments; Controversy; David Pick; Filming; Headwaters series; Headwaters: Real Stories from Rural America; Herb Smith; Impact; Interviewing; Involvement; Kentuckians For The Commonwealth (KFTC); Kentucky Coal Association (KCA); Kentucky Educational Television (KET); Lifestyle; Political activism; Political change; Publicity; Rallies; Statements; Television airtime; Victory; Voting

Subjects: Appalshop, Inc.; Documentary films--Production and direction.; Elections; Ethnographic films.; Motion picture producers and directors.; Motion pictures--Philosophy.; Motion pictures--Production and direction.; Politics and government

Partial Transcript: I guess now is a, a, a, a good time to turn to discussing Chemical Valley some.

Segment Synopsis: Pickering talks about working with Anne Lewis on the film "Chemical Valley." She talks about learning of the chemical leak in Bhopal, India and the community meetings that were held soon after in Appalachia. She talks about the parallels in the film between the Bhopal disaster and other chemical plant accidents that occurred in Appalachia. She talks about how this incident brought about awareness of the racial elements of environmental justice. She talks about the process of making the film and including varying perspectives on the issue.

Keywords: "Third worldness"; Andy Garrison; Anne Lewis; Balance; Chemical spills; Cinematographers; Community meetings; Concerns; Conversations; Environmental justice; Environmental racism; Filming; Funding; Gas leaks; Global connections; Highlander Folk School; Historically Black Colleges; John F. Kennedy; John Gaventa; Newspapers; Oppression; Parallels; Perspectives; Press; Quotes; Race issues; Robert Gordon; Similarities; Union Carbide plant; Video; Voices; West Virginia; Working relationship

Subjects: African Americans--Social conditions; Appalachian Region--History; Appalachian Region--Social conditions; Appalshop, Inc.; Bhopal (India); Chemical industry--Accidents.; Chemical industry.; Documentary films--Production and direction.; Environmental disasters.; Industrial accidents.; Lewis, Anne, 1948-; Motion pictures--Editing.; Motion pictures--Production and direction.; Politics and government; Race discrimination; Race relations--United States; Union Carbide Corporation.

Partial Transcript: Um, and, and again I'm almost wondering if there was a, uh--since we were just talking about issue-based film but also opportunity to maybe affect change...

Segment Synopsis: Pickering talks about the relationship between the filmmakers and the local activists during the making of "Chemical Valley." She talks about the creation of 'Right to Know' legislation after the incidents documented in the film. She talks about how the footage shot for the film was used by grassroots groups and community organizers. She talks about the public awareness of racial issues in environmental justice, and international connections to the conditions in Appalachia.

Keywords: Anne Braden; Chemical accidents; Chemical plants; Chemical spills; Community groups; Community meetings; Consciousness; Contract labor; Employment; Environmental justice; Environmental racism; Film showings; Filming; Filmmakers; Films; Fred Milar; Friends of the Earth; Gas leaks; Global connections; Grassroots organizations; Impact; International connections; Jobs; John Gaventa; People of color; Perspectives; Powerlessness; Ralph Nader; Regulation; Resolution; Right to Know legislation; Studies; Synergy; Unions; Uses; Video

Subjects: African Americans--Social conditions; Appalachian Region--History; Appalachian Region--Social conditions; Appalshop, Inc.; Bhopal (India); Chemical industry--Accidents.; Chemical industry.; Documentary films--Production and direction.; Environmental disasters.; Industrial accidents.; Motion pictures--Production and direction.; Political activists.; Politics and government; Race discrimination; Race relations--United States; Union Carbide Corporation.

Partial Transcript: That's amazing. Um, a question though that, that just came to me while you were talking was the role of Highlander.

Segment Synopsis: Pickering talks about the relationship between Appalshop and Highlander Folk School, as both allies and adversaries. She talks about the people that were connections between the organizations.

Keywords: Ada Smith; Allies; Amelia Kirby; Appalachian Media Institute (AMI); Collaboration; Connections; Helen Lewis; John Giventa; Mike Clark; Musicians; Myles Horton; Nimrod Workman; Political; Relationships; Resources; Roles; Ted Carpenter; The Mountain Eagle; Workshops

Subjects: Appalachian Region--Social conditions; Appalshop, Inc.; Highlander Research and Education Center (Knoxville, Tenn.)

Partial Transcript: Um, to return to something you, you said in the--that you did this 2010 Southern History Collection oral history interview, um, and you were commenting on public perceptions of government.

Segment Synopsis: Pickering talks more about the political atmosphere of the 1980s, especially in regard to Ronald Reagan's election which led to funding cuts on the federal level. She also relates this to the current political climate, and talks about the Republican Party's anti-regulation stance.

Keywords: Anti-government; Anti-regulation; Attitudes; Ernie Fletcher; Governor Matt Bevin; Kentuckians For The Commonwealth (KFTC); Kentucky Economic Justice Alliance (KEJA); Money; Mood; North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA); Ronald Reagan; Tax reform; Voting

Subjects: Economic conditions; Politics and government; Reagan, Ronald.; Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- )

Partial Transcript: Well if, if it's okay, we're nearing two hours--

Segment Synopsis: Pickering talks about the creation of CMI and the role of media in achieving the goals of various community organizations. She talks about some of the projects they have been involved in.

Keywords: Community-based; Digital storytelling workshops; Grassroots organizations; Greg Howard; Kellogg Foundation grants; Kentucky Economic Justice Alliance (KEJA); Letcher County (Ky.); Role of media; Video

Subjects: Appalachian Region--Social conditions; Motion pictures--Philosophy.; Motion pictures--Production and direction.; Motion pictures--Social aspects.

Partial Transcript: But two more things.

Segment Synopsis: Pickering talks about the creation of the Appalshop radio station WMMT. She talks about how she came to host a radio show, "Biscuits and Gravy."

Keywords: "Biscuits and Gravy"; 1980s; Community radio; Cookbooks; Debbie Bays; Don Baker; Eastern Kentucky; Jeff Hawkins; Marty Newell; National Public Radio (NPR); Radio shows; Right to Life; Storytelling; WMMT radio station; Women's issues

Subjects: Appalshop, Inc.; Radio broadcasting--Kentucky; Radio programs.; Radio stations.

Partial Transcript: And you had talked ab--some about women's issues and kind of poking fun at men, this actually gets to a big question I want to, sort of, ask...

Segment Synopsis: Pickering talks about what it was like to be a woman at Appalshop, and talks about why her perspective may differ from others'. She talks about why the atmosphere at Appalshop was difficult aside from the issue of gender. She talks about her worries about the future generation's level of production. The interview is concluded.

Keywords: Anne Lewis; Artists; Authority; Committees; Concerns; Envy; Films; Funding; Future; Governance board; Judy Jennings; Leadership; Management; Organizational structure; Output; Personality conflicts; Producing; Production; Recognition; Records; Roles; Sexist; Women; Women filmmakers; Working relationship; Younger generation

Subjects: Appalshop, Inc.; Gender issues; Motion picture producers and directors.; Motion picture studios.; Motion pictures--Production and direction.