“Through Her Eyes”: Film Documents Marion’s History

Actress readies herself for the upcoming scene.
The filming crew prepares for their next scene on “Through Her Eyes”.

Earlier this year, a film crew set out to make a powerful short film about the Civil Rights Movement. Traveling from Atlanta, Georgia to the little town of Marion, the crew wanted to capture and recreate powerful moments in Marion’s rich history. The mastermind behind the film, Trent Lumpkin, gathered a cast of both high school and college students, as well as a handful of Marion citizens to construct his vision. The film entitled, “Through Her Eyes” is a time-period piece about an African American teenage girl becoming one of the first to integrate into an all-white school system here in Marion.

“It is based on a true story and on the events that really did happen in the area. That’s why it was so important to come back down there. That way we can pay tribute to the Civil Rights leaders who were lost in the battle of the area, as well as keeping true to all of the locations where these events actually happened,” Lumpkin says. Filming at locations such as Francis Marion High School, the local baseball park, and of course, Zion United Methodist Church, Lumpkin and his crew were able to recreate important historical events, such as the night of Jimmie Lee Jackson’s death. With the help of Mayor, Dexter Hinton, the film crew was able to travel to Marion to create their work.

“It was amazing. Everyone in the town was extremely friendly. It was a very welcoming environment. Without them this project would not have been possible. We look forward to coming back,” Lumpkin stated when asked about the filming process. “Through Her Eyes” is currently in post-production in Atlanta, Georgia and is set to be released during May or June of 2018. “We are going to come back and do a premiere as soon as the film is ready and it will be open to anyone who wants to see it. It will be a really powerful film,” Lumpkin stated.

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