Do No Harm at Carson Newman College, Jefferson City, TN

I was having trouble posting photos earlier, so I split this up into two posts. Susanne and I went exploring Jefferson City and Morristown. Kim Stapleton, who runs The Minnis House B&B, where we stayed, was so generous in giving us her advice and suggestions. The Minnis House is a beautiful old home that the Stapletons have completely restored. It's got their history and its own mixed together and was a great way to feel like we were at home. Kim pointed us to a well right across the highway from the house where Mr. Houston, who has since passed away, once cured his kidney disease by only drinking this water. Since then, people come from all over the area to fill up their water jugs because of it's healing power. Some people say they've never had cavities, or been seriously ill.


Then, we headed over to Panther Creek Park for a hike around Cherokee Lake, a huge lake just 15 minutes away. That was spectacular. For two old friends this was a magical day - we got to spend some time outside together (we never get to do that - we're usually in the editing room together) and really got to know town.


After the hike we drove into Morristown, which is a great old town, and Karen Borchert, a local minister and wife of Mark Borchert, joined us for lunch. We told Mark later that she is truly the nicest person we have ever met.

Do No Harm at Carson Newman College, Jefferson City, TN

Last night's screening at Carson Newman College was exciting. There were a lot of film students there, some of whom are about to create their own films. We spent some time with them after the screening hearing about their film ideas and talking about process. We also shared equipment...here are their photos...









We hope that they'll share their films with us and stay in touch.

Do No Harm at the B.B. King Museum

the old gin mill

























after the screening

Here are a few photos from the museum and our drive yesterday -

Do No Harm at the B.B. King Museum

Last night we screened at the B.B. King Museum in Indianola, which is such a beautiful space and exhibit. It was a great start of the tour for me, since I had just joined Susanne in the Delta yesterday afternoon. The drive to the museum took us through farm country, and I'm fascinated by agricultural structures and machines, so I spent the whole time wanting to stop and take pictures. (We didn't have time for much but I have a few that I'll post.) The museum is a combination of modern architecture and a restored old gin mill. I've always loved B.B. King's music but never knew that he was on his own from the time he was 14 years old. It was so moving to see images of his life and to hear him speak, and really an honor that the film was screened there.


Erin Mulligan and Ann Shackelford were great hosts, and after the screening, we all went next door to the Gin Mill Galleries and got to know some of the people who attended the screening. Two of them were former Teach for America teachers who had fallen in love with the Delta and stayed.


We eventually swung back towards Greenwood with some friends from Oxford who met us there. We had a great dinner at Lusco's, a restaurant that was established in the 1930's. We sat at a table in it's own room with a curtain and a bell to call the waitress. It was hilarious, and we were given the heads up by our new friends that sometimes you can hear some fairly interesting conversations from the other tables if you stay pretty quiet. But of course, we would never do that...Greenwood is a great town, and we loved walking around there.


This morning we were a little bleary from a late night and yesterday's travel, and we took a little unintended detour on the way to the airport, almost missing our flight to Memphis. Wouldn't be a road trip without a drive to a defunct airport. But we made it and are now just outside Jefferson City, staying at a fun B&B - the Minnis House Bed and Breakfast.

Meet Rebecca Schanberg

(Schanberg with Bagnato from her film Do No Harm)

Welcome Rebecca Schanberg to the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers! She will be joining the tour with her film, Do No Harm, on Saturday, February 19, 2011 at the B.B. King Museum in Indianola, Mississippi. The film will start at 4:00 p.m.

Rebecca Schanberg who received a BA from Stanford University, has worked as director of corporate philanthropy at Polo Ralph Lauren. There she helped to create and run the company’s “Pink Pony Campaign.” She also worked as a team leader and program designer for City Year, a national urban peace corps. Do No Harm is her first directorial project.