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How Appalachia-Based Filmmakers Blend Doc and Myth in “King Coal”

53 min • 28 juli 2023

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:

King Coal trailer

King Coal official website

King Coal on Instagram

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)