How Appalachia-Based Filmmakers Blend Doc and Myth in “King Coal”
Elaine McMillion Sheldon is a director and writer known for documentaries, such as the Netflix Original Documentaries, Heroin(e) and Recovery Boys. Her latest film, King Coal, premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. This “part fable, part documentary” is about the complex, coal culture in Central Appalachia.
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Show Notes
Elaine McMillion Sheldon is a director and writer known for documentaries, such as the Netflix Original Documentaries, Heroin(e) and Recovery Boys. Her latest film, King Coal, premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. This “part fable, part documentary” is about the complex, coal culture in Central Appalachia.
In this episode, No Film School’s GG Hawkins speaks with Emmy-winning filmmakers, Elaine McMillion Sheldon and Curren Sheldon to discuss:
- The inception of the film and how it became a hybrid style
- What the lens vetting process was like
- Not using any artificial light
- The reason behind focusing on the young characters in the film
- Why it’s important to have bad ideas
- Pushing through moments of vulnerability
- Where Elaine got inspiration from
- Working with a breath artist to create all the crazy sounds in the film
- All the wonderful support they received from labs and grants
- Why you need to have a long-term version
Memorable Quotes
- “How do we make this feel almost like a dream, almost like an imagined future?” [7:51]
- “This film required a level of failure and vulnerability that made me insecure at moments. But ultimately made me grow as a filmmaker.” [14:09]
- “Having a long view of your career is so healthy otherwise you’re gonna get burnt out and depressed.” [31:20]
- “Most of this industry lives in a bubble, on a coast.” [42:08]
Resources:
Here is the upcoming 2023 theatrical:
August 11th - DCTV- New York City, NY (weeklong)
August 18th - Aperture Cinema - Winston-Salem, NC (weeklong)
August 25th - Laemmle Glendale - Los Angeles, CA (weeklong)
August 28th -Harris Theater - Pittsburgh, PA (Select shows during the week)
August 31- Floralee Theater - Charleston, WV (Select shows)
September 1st - The Nightlight - Akron, OH (weeklong)
September 1st- Zoetropolis Cinema - Lancaster, PA (two-week run)
September 1st - Central Cinema - Knoxville, TN (weeklong)
September 4th - The Woodward Theater - Cincinnati, OH (one night)
September 8th - Wexner Center of the Arts - Columbus, OH (one night)
September 9th - Museum of the Moving Image- Queens, NY (one night)
September 15th- Raleigh Playhouse- Beckley, WV (one night)
September 21st - The Lyric Theater- Blacksburg, VA (one night)
September 22nd - The Granada Theater- Bluefield, WV (one night)
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