Sponsored by the Scenic Byways Program of the Federal Highway Administration and Ball State University, this hour-long documentary features the nation's first federally-funded interstate highway, which runs from Maryland to Illinois. This documentary focuses on the 156-mile segment, now called U.S. 40, that runs through Indiana from Richmond to Terre Haute.
Movers were those who were headed Westward or left Indiana. Stakers were those who stayed and developed towns, churches, colleges and industry. The film tells 13 stories of people and places along the National Road.
Nancy Carlson is an associate professor of telecommunications at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. This is Carlson's third documentary for public television. She previously produced Gene Stratton-Porter: Voice of the Limberlost (1996) and Ed Ball's Century (2000).
The National Scenic Byways Program is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. The program is a grass-roots collaborative effort established to help recognize, preserve and enhance selected roads throughout the United States. Since 1992, the National Scenic Byways Program has funded 2,672 projects for state and nationally designated byway routes in 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.
Nancy Carlson, executive producer/writer/director
This is Carlson's third documentary for public television. She previously produced Gene Stratton-Porter: Voice of the Limberlost (1996) and Ed Ball's Century (2000). Carlson is an associate professor of telecommunications at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.
Rob Fultz, editor
Fultz is a producer/director/editor for WIPB-TV in Muncie, Indiana, and has more than 20 years of experience in video production. He has received several awards including two national Emmy awards for audio production.
Brian Handler, director of photography/production manager
This is Handler's second documentary for public television. He previously produced Dragged Under (2006), winner of a Regional Emmy for Student Production and Outbreak: The Teenage Pregnancy Dilemma (2005). Handler is a graduate student in Ball State University's Digital Storytelling program. He is currently working for Fox Filmed Entertainment as a Lighting Technical Assistant on Ice Age 3.
Mary Beth Temple, co-writer and segment producer
Temple is a freelance writer based just outside New York City, who writes frequently on antiques and home decor. She discovered the joys of touring the National Road while researching an article on Wayne County's Antique Alley. She's the author of several books, including Driving the National Road in Indiana.
Michael Hodson, narrator
Hodson is a sophomore telecommunications major at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. He is focusing specifically on the management aspects of the industry and performing voiceovers for the department as well as the university. Hodson's voice can be heard on WIPB, the Ball State Sports Network, CardinalVision, WCRD, Emens Auditorium, and many others. This is his first full length documentary narration.
Greg Ziesemer, music supervisor
Ziesemer is an accomplished singer/songwriter and 30 year veteran of the Indiana music community. He has recorded and performed extensively, and has shared the stage with many notable national acts.
Dustin Frey, assistant editor/camera
Frey is a senior telecommunications major at Ball State and Electronic Field Trip student media producer. He enjoys working creatively with video, audio and motion graphics. After graduation in May he hopes to work in the post-production setting of film and video.
John Rozewicki, camera/research
Rozewicki is a senior, graduating with a double major in Japanese and telecommunications from Ball State University in May. He's interested in doing production in any form, and also translation of novels, comic books, and video games from Japanese to English.
Hopeann Hintz, special features editor/research
Hintz is currently a junior telecommunications major at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. She is studying to be a news reporter and can be seen on the BSU television show, The Reel Deal (Muncie's Premier Entertainment and Television Review Show). This is her first documentary.
Valerie Morris, graphics supervisor
Morris is a graphic designer/project manager at Ball State University in the Teleplex department. She has 23 years design experience in various media such as 2D and 3D animation as well as electronic design and layout. This is her third documentary project working with Carlson.
Darik Hall, motion graphics
Hall is a sophomore telecommunications major with an emphasis on production. He enjoys working with all forms of electronic multimedia. After he graduates, he hopes to open his own multimedia production facility, as well as work on several films in all phases of production.
Brian Boswell, audio
Boswell has been working in post production since 1989. He has previously done work for A&E's Civil War Combat series, as well as ads for Fox Television and UPN. He has also served as an audio and video advisor to entities such as the U.S. Army and Apple Computer.
Chad Buterbaugh, segment producer
Buterbaugh is director of content development at Web Courseworks, an eLearning production house in Madison, Wisconsin. As a Digital Storytelling graduate student from 2006-8, he produced the documentary "Slota", taught classes on broadcast and Web writing, and worked as Web editor at NewsLink Indiana. Prior to that, he was a newspaper reporter in Ohio and County Cork, Ireland.
Sara Hamilton, assistant editor
Hamilton earned her bachelor of arts in telecommunications in 2007 from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. She is interested in post-production work. She enjoys editing, designing elements and motion graphics. She loves children and hopes to someday work for The Learning Channel or The Discovery Channel. Sara is interested in stories that impact the hearts of viewers.
Jason Staskus, special features editor
Staskus graduated from Winona State University in 2008 with a bachelors degree in mass communications. He is currently enrolled in the Digital Storytelling masters program at Ball State University. He hopes one day to be working in the film and television industry.
Michael Smith, research assistant to the director
Smith is working on his bachelor's degree in history with a focus on American Military History. He plans to attend a graduate program following the conclusion of his undergraduate requirements with the possibility of continuing in academia in the future.
Kyle Ramsy, intern
Ramsy was nominated for a regional EMMY as the Executive Producer of Indiana Outdoors and produced videos for Indiana Food Alliance, a non-profit company dedicated to the promotion of Indiana Culinary Tourism. Ramsy hopes to continue working with video projects that are related to the traveler.
Jessica Kerman, Web developer
Kerman is working on her master's degree in Digital Storytelling at Ball State University. She graduated from Ball State with a bachelor's degree in journalism in 2007 and worked as a newspaper reporter until returning to school. She plans to continue working in the news industry.
James Whitcomb Riley— known as the "Hoosier Poet"— was born in Greenfield, Indiana, and was heavily influenced by travelers along the National Road, where he lived. Here are a couple of poems that refer to the road.
The Old Home-Folks
Regardin' Terry Hut
Rosalie Lewis
Along the Road
A Nation's thoroughfare of hopes and fears,
First blazed by heroic pioneers
Who gave up old-home idols and set face
Toward the unbroken West, to found a race
And tame a wilderness no mightier than
All peoples and all tracts American.
And be'n a-handlin' the concern,
I've travelled round the grand old
State Of Indiany, lots, o' late--!
I've canvassed Crawferdsville and sweat
Around the town o' Layfayette;
I've saw a many a County-seat
I ust to think was hard to beat:
At constant dreenage and expense
I've worked Greencastle and Vincennes--
Drapped out o' Putnam into Clay,
Owen, and on down thataway
Plum into Knox, on the back-track
Fer home ag'in-- and glad I'm back--!
I've saw these towns, as I say-- but
They's none 'at beats old Terry Hut!
It's more'n likely you'll insist
I claim this 'cause I'm prejudist,
Bein' born'd here in ole Vygo
In sight o' Terry Hut--; but no,
Yer clean dead wrong--! And I maintain
They's nary drap in ary vein
O' mine but what's as free as air
To jest take issue with you there--!
'Cause, boy and man, fer forty year,
I've argied ag'inst livin' here,
And jawed around and traded lies
About our lack o' enterprise,
And tuk and turned in and agreed
All other towns was in the lead,
When-- drat my melts--!
They couldn't cut
No shine a-tall with Terry Hut!
Take even, statesmanship, and wit,
And ginerel git-up-and-git,
Old Terry Hut is sound clean through--!
Turn old Dick Thompson loose, er Dan
Vorehees-- and where's they any man
Kin even hold a candle to
Their eloquence--? And where's as clean
A fi-nan-seer as Rile' McKeen--
Er puorer, in his daily walk,
In railroad er in racin' stock!
And there's 'Gene Debs-- a man 'at stands
And jest holds out in his two hands
As warm a heart as ever beat
Betwixt here and the Jedgement Seat--!
All these is reasons why I putt
Sich bulk o' faith in Terry Hut.
So I've come back, with eyes 'at sees
My faults, at last--, to make my peace
With this old place, and truthful' swear--
Like Gineral Tom Nelson does--,
"They hain't no city anywhere
On God's green earth lays over us!"
Our city government is grand--
"Ner is they better farmin'-land
Sun-kissed--" as Tom goes on and says--
"Er dower'd with sich advantages!"
And I've come back, with welcome tread,
From journeyin's vain, as I have said,
To settle down in ca'm content,
And cuss the towns where I have went,
And brag on ourn, and boast and strut
Around the streets o' Terry Hut!
Looking back to yesteryear, some might say is a waste of time.
“We’ve come so far and done so much, old-time’s not worth a dime.”
I beg to differ with you, friend, time past has much to tell.
We must be willing to learn those truths that our fathers knew so well.
The folks along the National Road worked so hard to build their dream,
To serve those travelers, run the inn or maybe, shod the team.
As grocer, miller, farmer or one who cleared the “way”,
The “pioneer spirit” spurred them on to work hard every day.
A visit with the older folks that live within our Town
Could help us catch their vision, or learn what kept them down.
We’d learn that even children worked toward the family goal,
By tending babies, splitting wood or bringing in the coal.
One mom might tell how love prevailed though seas kept them apart.
The man recalls the fear, the hell, ad oft, the broken heart.
Some could tell of broken dreams or wrong choices that they made,
And for that bit of “fancy”, the consequences paid.
Others will recall with pride, the game, the prize, the cost.
Let’s take the time to seek them out or life’s lessons could be lost.
Yes, folks along the National Road worked to set the pace.
Let’s not lose sight of dreams they had and settle for second place.
In the news...
- TCOM documentary to compete in Louisville film festival
- Film Festival Entry
- Hintz is movin' and stakin'
- Frey working on BSU documentary
- Film features National Road
- New film focuses on U.S. 40
- NUVO review of documentary
- Stories from National Road comes to Indiana Theatre
- Sneak peak of documentary at library annual dinner (PDF)
- Week still eventful for Indiana Theatre, despite cancellation
- 'Wonderful stories': Documentary highlights stories along U.S. 40
- People bring road alive
- Ball State University Libraries Friends of Alexander M. Bracken Library Annual Dinner Features Movers and Stakers
Media contact
Nancy Carlson
1-765-285-1489
ncarlson@bsu.edu
