The Heartland Network, one of several national networks owned and operated by Reach High Media in Chattanooga, will premiere the independent movie "The Mountain Minor" Saturday night at 8 p.m.
It's the story of Dale Farmer's ancestors' move from Southern Appalachia to Ohio looking for work. Along the way, they share their love for old-time mountain music. A musician himself, Farmer, 60, now lives in Dayton, Ohio, and based the screenplay on stories his grandfather told him about life, and music, in Appalachia.
"This film is about people leaving their homes and bringing their music and culture with them," Farmer said. "They deserve so much credit for the music that eventually became country and bluegrass."
Fans of old-time music will appreciate the film's authenticity when it comes to the performances as Farmer and singer-songwriter-producer Susan Pepper used talented mountain music performers including Smithsonian Folkways artist Elizabeth LaPrelle, The Tillers, Dan Gellert, Ma Crow, Trevor McKenzie, Lucas Pasley, Hazel Pasley, Asa Nelson, Warren Waldron, Judy Waldron, Aaron Wolfe, Jean Dowell and Pepper herself, rather than actors in the film.
The film was honored with the Spirit of the Mountains Award at the University of Pikeville's UPike Film & Media Arts Festival in Kentucky, as well as Best Drama at the Longleaf Festival at the North Carolina History Museum and the Franklin International Film Festival (Tennessee), Best Feature at the Northeast Mountain Festival (Georgia) and Best of Festival at the Endless Mountain Film Festival (Pennsylvania) and The Jukebox International Film Festival (Nevada).
WHERE TO WATCH
"The Mountain Minor" is available on Video on Demand at https://vimeo.com/ondemand/themountainminor and on Amazon Prime. Encore presentations are scheduled on the Heartland network (channel 6.2 over the air, 388 on Dish, 165 on EPBFI) on Monday, June 15; 4 p.m. Sunday, June 21; and 10 p.m. Saturday, June 27 (all times Eastern).
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.