Interview of Former Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz

On October 13, 2011 John and I interviewed former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice, Kathleen Blatz. Justice Blatz was the first woman to serve as chief justice on the Court. It was a wonderful interview and added many interesting facts and details which will be very helpful in completing our film.  Thanks to Justice Blatz for giving us the time and being such a great interview subject!

Final Legacy Grant Application!!

On Friday, November 18th we filed the final application for a Legacy grant in the history category. Brent Peterson and the Washington County Historical Society were so helpful in facilitating and coordinating the grant application and many people at the History Center were invaluable with advice and assistance.

Now we must keep our fingers crossed that our documentary will be recognized and rewarded with funds to cover our post production costs.

As part of our application we received several wonderful letters of recommendation from Professor Sally Kenney, Professor Debra Fitzpatrick and Professor Annette Atkins.

I am attaching a copy of Professor Atkins recommendation letter to show the kind of praise our film is receiving.

Minnesota History Center, Washington County Historical Society and the Legacy Funds application

We are working with the Minnesota Historical Society and Washington County Historical Society to obtain a Legacy Grant to cover post production costs of "She Who Would Giants Fight."  Thanks to Dave Kelliher at the History Center and to Brent Peterson, Executive Director at the Washington County Historical Society, for helping us to obtain funding to make sure the final film will be the highest quality possible.

We will keep everyone posted of our progress.

Thanks to Ruth Usem for hosting a preview showing of the third rough cut

On Tuesday, August 30th we showed the rough cut of "She Who Would Giants Fight" to a group of about 12 people, including Margaret and Dave Kelliher, Erin Murphy, Harriet Lansing and Alan Kline, Carol Connolly, Grace Harkness, DeeDee Wolfson and others.  Ruth Usem hosted the very successful event.  We received a lot of great feedback on the film and suggestions as to possible fundraising efforts and sponsorships.  We will be pursuing these suggestions during the next few months as well as working on another cut of the film based on the critiques.

Thanks so much to Ruth Usem and everyone who participated in our showing.

Third Rough Cut in the Can

I've just completed a third rough cut of the documentary.  It is 85 minutes long and the film is looking good -- pacing improving and emotion coming out, particularly in the ending segment which shows Rosalie's legacy to our society.  There are very few people in this world like her...her life must be celebrated!

Interviews with Judge Michael Davis and Rahn Westby

I also wanted to mention that, during the past two months, John and I have interviewed Judge Michael Davis and Rahn Westby for the documentary.  Both interviewees did a great job and will contribute immensely to the final film.  Thanks to both of them for their help and insights.

First Complete Rough Cut!

I've just finished the first rough cut of the entire film, "She Who Would Giants Fight."  The documentary is 97 minutes long.  I anticipate that the next cut will be a bit shorter.  The film is looking very good right now though it needs significant post production work -- professional narrator and voiceovers for various scenes; sound mix; colorization and picture work; clearances; etc., etc..  We are still trying to put together a reenactment scene of a farm wagon riding through farm fields.

All of the above post production items require financial resources and we are hoping to raise enough money this summer to be able to proceed with finishing the film by the end of the year.

In the meantime I will be starting to work on the next semi-rough cut of the film.

I love this film project and subject!!

Wonderful Progress!

I'm just returning from six weeks in Oracle, Arizona.  This is where I can focus solely on my project and really take advantage of the creative impulses that come as I progress on the film.  On the way down to Oracle I stopped once again in Caney, Kansas, to film scenes of Birch Creek, Rosalie's childhood home, during the winter.  I was able to capture some beautiful film of the snow-covered fields and frozen streams of the countryside.

During the past five weeks I have edited on "She Who Would Giants Fight."  I now have 75 minutes of a good rough cut of the first 4/5 of the film and will be working on the final 20 minutes when I return to Minnesota.

The long cut will be approximately 90 minutes.  I will be cutting and honing to make the film stronger, but I really like what is happening in the film right now.

During May of this year, I plan to film a reenactment of an old horse-drawn farm wagon driving through fields during the early 1930's.  This footage will accompany Rosalie's oral discussion of her childhood on her grandfather's farm in southeastern Kansas; and will be used in the ending sequence of the film.  I am very excited to have this segment to visually enhance the film.  We are still looking for contributions to fund this reenactment as well as post-production costs of the film.

Thanks to all of you who have shown an interest in this film

Emily Haddad