The Discovery of Ser. Williamsland [LANDING PAGE].

A. AUTHENTICITY.

This film seeks to be as authentic and accurate to the time and period as within reason. Seamstress and costume designer Dawn Easom, who provides regalia and artifacts to the Lower Muskogee Creek Tribe, will be hand stitching each and every breechclout, trouser, and skirt with her assistants, with references pulled from as many primary sources as can be collected.

Blacksmith and bladesmith Jordan Borstelmann, from Crooked Path Forge, will be providing steel for the short film, along with blacksmith Christopher Sandlin.

We plan to shoot the film on location, in or around Tallahassee Florida, with some scenes taking place at the Lake Jackson Mounds Archeological Site, and along the Florida Coastline.

B. RESEARCH.

This film attempts to pull directly from the historical record when available. All though there is not a lot of ‘traditional’ records from the Apalachee peoples (technically zero, as they had no formal written language) this film uses contemporary source documents from Spanish Missionaries, and explorers like Hernando De Soto. As well, the works of Florida State professor, and famed colonial author John H. Hann such as his book The Apalachee Indians and Mission San Luis, as well as Josephine Paterek’s Encyclopedia of American Indian Costumes among other tertiary references to contemporary tribes as required, such as the Florida museums (Calusa, south coast) South Florida People & Environments Exhibit, and Theodor de Bry’s Engravings of the Timucua.

On the flip side, for the expeditionaries, much of their look and feel is taken from 1800’s naval tradition and slack-wear, with references pulled directly from Wendy Stites incredible costume design in the film, ‘Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World‘, and Patrick O’Briens accompanying book series. With the language and tone taken from expeditionaries like Edward Wilson’s ‘Diary of the Discovery Expedition to the Antarctic Regions‘, during the golden age of Antarctic exploration.

C. SUPPORT.

The wonderful folks at the Lower Muskogee Creek Tribe have been instrumental in providing historical assistance, research support, and extras for the film. As well, assistance was provided by David Ellis, historian and Site Curator at Mission San Luis, and from genealogist Regina H. Blackstock, among others.