A Drive Thru History of Florence, SC (Mini-documentary) Evan Sellers, EDTECH 533 Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=PJ5ZCfHiTNg
Scene Audio Banjo Music Production Notes Videos shot with Kodak Zi8 HD Camera. Videos editing using a Macbook Pro and iMovie 09. Garageband was used to create background music. Banjo Music begins to play as a title card displays the title of the video and the name of the creator. Black with white text, blur to focus. Exterior shot of the Welcome to Florence sign, cross dissolve transitions to a variety of shots around Florence. Narrator speaks over banjo music.

Florence is located on the coastal plains of the eastern seaboard about an hour west of the Atlantic Ocean. The physical geography of the area is dominated by flat terrain, forests filled with a variety of pine and oaks, and swamps. Driving in, around, and through Florence visitors will see a landscape dotted with remnants of an agricultural heritage combined with the features of growth dictated by the luxury of location. Florences central location as well as access to waterways and railroad lines played a pivotal role in the development of the area from a rural backwater to a modern suburban setting. As many pass through Florence on the way to other destinations such as Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Florida, and the Northeastern United States, they miss an unheralded and largely

Shots of roadways in Florence with cross dissolve transitions. Narrator speaks over banjo music.

unknown history rich in diversity and contrast. Florences history runs the gamut from indigenous dwellers that relied on the land to survive to the perils modern warfare. Visitors can weave a historical narrative by visiting a variety of sites that Florence has to offer. Hewn timber cabins stand as a reminder of the unsavory past that Florence shares with much of the southern United States. These cabins, built by African slaves in the early 19th century, are displayed on the campus of Francis Marion University. The cabins served as homes for many generations of slaves and former slaves throughout the years. Visitors can read about the tools and methods as well as the people that built the cabins. The cabins also served as homes for descendants of the builders until the early 20th century. In a park that bears his name, Henry Timrods one room schoolhouse is still survives. Once used by Timrod to educate the children of the local plantation owners that enslaved others, the tiny building now pays tribute to a man that is known as the Poet Laureate of the Confederacy. Monuments have been erected providing visitors with a taste of Timrods poetic talents. Continuing with theme of the Civil War, propellers from the Confederate cruiser, Pee Dee, are displayed on the grounds of the Florence Museum. The crew of the Pee Dee intentionally sank the cruiser on the Great Pee Dee River to avoid capture by the United States Army during the Civil War. The propellers were

Narrator speaks over banjo music. Several shots of slave cabins tied together. All exterior. Panning motion and still shots included.

Narrator speaks over banjo music. Exterior shots of Timrod. Panning and still shots.

Narrator speaks over banjo music. Exterior shots of propellers. Shots include close up, moving, and still.

recovered from the river many years later by artifact hunters and now stand as testament to the longevity of their construction. Amidst the stately oaks and the hanging Spanish Moss stands a silent reminder of the great rift that tore at the fabric of the United States. During the latter part of the Civil War, Florence was home to a Confederate prisoner of war camp known as the Stockade. Prisoners of war were transferred to and housed at the Stockade until General Shermans march forced Confederate leaders to relocate the prison. As many as 12,000 Union soldiers were imprisoned at The Stockade, and over 2,500 soldiers died and were laid to rest in mass graves. The grave markers indicate the location of the burial trenches and the number of dead buried in the trenches. The entire area has since been converted to a National Cemetery and serves as a final resting place for veterans of the United States military. But Florence is not just a collection of Civil War artifacts, memories and graves; it is also the home of William H. Johnson. Johnson was born in Florence and left at age 17 to study painting in New York. His talents led him to become a world-renowned artist often associated with the Harlem Renaissance. His paintings are now displayed in various museums and his work is considered among the greatest of the 20th Century. Narrator speaks over banjo music. Variety of exterior shots of the Stockade to include still, panning, motion, and close- ups.

Narrator speaks over banjo music. Exterior shots of William H Johnsons historical marker from different angles including birth area. Interlaced with images of Johnsons artwork with Ken Burns effect.

Insert 1958 newsreel footage of event.

Even with all of Florences historical offerings, it may be best known for something that occurred by accident. People that happened to be driving along Highway 76 in 1958 may have been surprised by this scene: Audio is of newscaster reporting about the atomic bomb incident in Florence. The atomic bomb crater, as it is now known, is an often- ignored roadside attraction. This rarely visited site requires a drive through an abandoned mobile home park and is accessible through an overgrown trail on the outskirts of Florence. Walking down the trail visitors can see the foundations of the once standing farmhouse as well as other debris from the explosion. In addition, newspaper articles are displayed that chronicle the incident. A wooden replica of the bombs stands near the water filled crater that served many years as a trash dump and burn pit for local residents.

Narrator speaks over banjo music. Exterior shot of Highway 76 with cut to atomic bomb newsreel.

Atomic bomb newsreel plays. Narrator speaks over banjo music. Exterior shots of crater site. Moving shots through trail, pans of crater, newsreel and bomb replica.

The unique and interesting history of Florence is manifested in a variety of attractions. And these attractions can provide visitors with a broad view of not only the history of Florence, but with the United States as well. Those travelling Interstate 20 or Interstate 95 would do well to slow down and experience history in Florence. Banjo music plays. Narrator speaks over banjo music. Variety of shots of roadways around Florence.

Credit cards display creator, and various footage credits.

Credits roll using single, centered credit cards. Black with white text