The Mountain Minor

The Mountain Minor is a 2019 American drama film written, directed and co-produced by Dale Farmer, produced by Susan Pepper, and starring Dan Gellert, Elizabeth LaPrelle, Ma Crow, Asa Nelson, Hazel Pasley, Jonathan Bradshaw, Warren Waldron, Amy Cogan Clay, Judy Waldron, Trevor McKenzie and Mike Oberst. The film is noted for its on-screen performances of old-time music commonly associated with Appalachia.[1]

The Mountain Minor
Official poster
Directed byDale Farmer
Produced by
  • Susan Pepper
  • Dale Farmer
Written byDale Farmer
Starring
  • Dan Gellert
  • Elizabeth LaPrelle
  • Ma Crow
  • Asa Nelson
  • Hazel Pasley
  • Jonathan Bradshaw
  • Warren Waldron
  • Amy Cogan Clay
  • Jonathan Bradshaw
  • Judy Waldron
  • Trevor McKenzie
  • Mike Oberst
Music by
  • Trevor McKenzie
CinematographyPaul Halluch
Edited by
  • Eitan Abramowitz
  • Scott Young (additional)
Production
company
Alt452 Productions
Release date
  • August 2018 (2018-08) (Jukebox International Film Festival)
  • October 17, 2019 (2019-10-17) (United States)
Running time
89 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$150,000 (estimated)

Plot

During the Great Depression, Vestal Abner, his wife Oza and their young son Charlie reluctantly move from their impoverished farm in Eastern Kentucky to Ohio, where Vestal has found a job. As Charlie grows up and eventually marries his childhood friend, Ruthie, he yearns to return to his boyhood home in the mountains, never losing his passion for the traditional mountain music of his ancestors.[2]


Cast
  • Dan Gellert as Charlie Abner
  • Ma Crow as Ruth Abner
  • Asa Nelson as Young Charlie
  • Hazel Pasley as Young Ruth
  • Elizabeth LaPrelle as Oza Abner
  • Jonathan Bradshaw as Vestal Abner
  • Warren Waldron as Tom Abner
  • Amy Cogan Clay as Dellie Abner
  • Judy Waldron as Granny Whit
  • Chuck Blackburn as Dan
  • Mike Oberst as Willie Abner
  • Trevor McKenzie as Ves Abner
  • Susan Pepper as Sandra Abner
  • Tracy Jarrell as Kim Abner
  • Aaron Wolfe as Jimmie Abner
  • Alison Moretz as Julie Abner
  • Lucas Pasley as Hershel Abner
  • Betty Wolfe as Hershel's Wife
  • Wyatt Wolfe as Hershel's Grandson
  • Naomi Jarrell as Willie Abner (baby)
  • Rhoda Bradshaw as Sarah Abner
  • Hubbard Bradshaw as Charlie Abner (toddler)
  • James Moretz as Sandra Abner's Husband
  • Josie Moretz as Sandra Abner's Daughter
  • The Tillers (Mike Oberst, Sean Geal, Aaron Geal, Joe Macheret) as The Willie Abner Band
  • Walton Conway as Man On Road
  • Carolina Conway as Woman On Road
  • Ed Pilkington as Elder Alton Radcliff
  • Wade Wilmoth as Funeral Minister
  • Gary Sampson as Ron
  • Jean Pence as Jean
  • Nick Schraub as Mark
  • Cecil Gurganus as Square Dance Fiddler

Background

Writer-director Dale Farmer made The Mountain Minor as a tribute to Appalachian culture and music, with the intention of portraying the characters realistically, not in the stereotypical manner in which mountain people are often depicted in film and television.[3] Farmer, an old-time musician himself, loosely based the movie on the story of his grandparents, who migrated as children to Ohio from Jackson County, Kentucky during the 1930s.[4] The title of the film refers to a musical style often used in traditional Appalachian music in which the third note is raised, not lowered as in a traditional minor key.[5]

Production

The Mountain Minor was a collaboration of Alt452 Productions, WonderlandWoods.tv and From the Heart Productions.[6] The film spans several decades as it follows the characters Charlie Abner and Ruth Whit from childhood into adulthood, marriage and retirement. Though many scenes are set in Kentucky, they were filmed primarily at the historic Willet Ponds Farm[7][8] in Todd, North Carolina for logistical and budget reasons. Other scenes were filmed in Newport, Kentucky; Oxford, Ohio; and Eaton, Ohio.[9] Because of the film's emphasis on old-time music and Farmer's desire for authenticity, he decided to cast most of the main roles with experienced musicians, including Smithsonian Folkways recording artist Elizabeth LaPrelle (of the duo Anna & Elizabeth), Dan Gellert, Ma Crow and Mike Oberst of the band The Tillers.[10] As Farmer told Bluegrass Today, “I figured that if I took professional musicians who are used to performing, that musicians would make better actors than actors make musicians.”[11]

Release and critical response

The Mountain Minor premiered at the Jukebox International Film Festival in Carson City, Nevada in 2018, where it received awards for Best of Festival and Best Picture-Runner Up. The film subsequently received awards in other festivals.[12]

In addition to film festival awards, The Mountain Minor received positive reviews in several publications. Bill McGoun of the Asheville Citizen-Times called it "a powerful and true-to-life depiction of people doing what they needed to do to make their way in a sometimes difficult world".[13] James Peterson for the Old-Time Central described the film as "highly entertaining, packed with beautiful scenery, and full of great tunes played masterfully by the actors themselves".[14] Joel Wertman, president of The Heartland Network, said, "This film captures beautifully how the country music genre was born".[15]

Following screenings at film festivals, The Mountain Minor had its commercial theatrical premiere at The Esquire Theatre in Cincinnati, Ohio on October 17 and October 20, 2019.[16] Additional theatrical showings took place in other cities from November, 2019 until March, 2020. Subsequent theatrical showings were canceled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic causing most movie theaters and other entertainment venues to shut down beginning in March, 2020.

With theaters closed, Alt452 Productions released The Mountain Minor on Blu-ray, DVD, Amazon and Vimeo on Demand in the spring of 2020.[17] Several television entities also began showing, or making plans to show the film, including The Heartland Network,[18] Kentucky Educational Television (KET)[19] and West Virginia Public Broadcasting.[20]

A soundtrack album, The Mountain Minor Motion Picture Soundtrack, was released on October 16, 2020.[21]

References
  1. Bachman, Kara Martinez. "The Mountain Minor: Film Brings Appalachian Music to Life". The Bluegrass Standard. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  2. Abner, Carmen. "The Mountain Minor: Homecoming". Jackson County Sun. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  3. Kissell, Margo. "Film about Appalachian life and music has Miami connections". Miami University News. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
  4. Eason, Jeff. "'The Mountain Minor' to be filmed in Todd". Watauga Democrat. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  5. "English Department's Bradshaw appears in film about Appalachian music, migration". Western Carolina University. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  6. Norris, Sherrie. "'The Mountain Minor' Nears Completion; Film Reps in Boone Saturday for App State Fiddler's Convention". High Country Press. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  7. Fisher, Bill. "Movie filmed in Ashe County debuts on TV June 6". GoBlueRidge.net. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  8. "Have you ever lived on a movie set?". WilletPondsFarm.com. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  9. Hay, Lee. "'The Mountain Minor' Movie & Appalachian Music". WVXU. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  10. Dickens, Todd. "Old-time singer from Anna & Elizabeth takes acting role that showcases her singing". Roanoke Times. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  11. Lawless, John. "'Mountain Minor' film coming soon". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  12. Mitchell, Madeline. "This new Cincinnati-inspired film is winning tons of awards". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  13. McGoun, Bill. "'The Mountain Minor' is a major win for Appalachian stories". Asheville Citizen-Times. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  14. Peterson, James. "'The Mountain Minor' Movie Review and Interview". Old-Time Central. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  15. Courter, Barry. "New movie on the Heartland network, 'The Mountain Minor,' brings Appalachia to life". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  16. "Esquire Theatre hosting premiere for 'The Mountain Minor'". WLWT.com. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  17. "The Mountain Minor, Award-Winning Film Released Digitally Due to Coronavirus". Indie Activity. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  18. Luchter, Les. "'Mountain Minor' Goes Free". The Savvy Screener. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  19. Isaacs, Debra Gibson. "Appalachian film soars with music and poignant message". Kentucky Living. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  20. "THE MOUNTAIN MINOR To Air On West Virginia Public Broadcasting Beginning September 14". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  21. Neophytou, Nadia. "'The Mountain Minor' Releases a Soundtrack Honoring Appalachian Culture and Music". American Songwriter. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
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