Expired September 27, 2021 6:00 AM
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This film sponsored by Residence Inn By Marriott.

In 1933, the infamous father-son musicologists, John and Alan Lomax, take their first field recording trip to penitentiaries in the American south. They are on a WPA project supported by Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal in an effort to record “songs that haven’t been heard by decent ears before.” John bribes their way into the Louisiana State Penitentiary, one of the most oppressive work farms in the country. John and Alan are given the execution room to record in and they set up their disc engraving equipment next to the electric chair. Two members of a chain gang reluctantly join them in the room. John tries to charm the men into singing and when that doesn’t work he threatens to tell the warden about their lack cooperation. Alan plays a previous field recording, which warms the prisoners up. The older prisoner, Father Dobie, agrees to sing. The prisoners sing a work song while John and Alan make a record. After the recording session, Father Dobie offer to pray for John. John is taken back by hearing a black prisoners talk out of turn. John tells Father Dobie not to pray for him, but the prisoners sing a hymn. Alan starts recording. John is visibly shaken by the prayer and sits in the electric chair. A dark pain deep inside John is dislodged.

  • Year
    2021
  • Runtime
    14 minutes
  • Language
    English
  • Country
    USA
  • Premiere
    Colorado
  • Director
    Lukas Huffman 
  • Screenwriter
    Lukas Huffman 
  • Producer
    Anthony Santos
  • Executive Producer
    Huffman Studio
  • Co-Producer
    Dom Flemons
  • Cast
    Michael Potts, David Patrick Kelly, Kevin Breznahan, Manny Dunn, Luke Slattery
  • Editor
    Lukas Huffman 
  • Composer
    Ryder McNair
  • Sound Design
    Anciallary Post