Civil War re-enacted along Spokane River

If you thought you saw a Union Civil War camp complete with soldiers in uniform, horses and even a cannon, pop up on the south side while fishing along the Spokane River near Stateline last weekend, you weren’t hallucinating.

What you saw was the backdrop for a movie being filmed by Post Falls-based K County Productions. The production company was filming a trailer, or preview, for the Civil War-era story called “Taps” about the origin of the bugle call used by the U.S. military for funeral and memorial services.

Producer Syd Albright (CEO of KCP) is excited about the project, but says there are actually two stories being enacted along the shores of the Spokane River – the one set in July 1862 at Harrison’s Landing on the James River in Virginia, and the other about what is occurring in August 2008. “Something extraordinary is happening in North Idaho,” he said, alluding to the fact that this production was made by a volunteer cast and crew with a zero budget.

“We could never have done this in L.A. It just wouldn’t have happened,” said Albright, of the project he hopes will become a springboard to future film work out of the Pacific Northwest. “Every one of the 60 to 70 volunteers who participated did so out of an opportunity to do something they like to do,” said the veteran producer. “They contributed their hearts and souls.”

The completed trailer will be shown to attract backers for a half-hour feature Albright hopes to complete early next year. That film, in turn, will be used to garner interest in the television market for a series of historically accurate, human interest stories from the Civil War era that KCP will produce – “Just good, down-to-earth stories filmed in North Idaho by the talented people who live here,” said Albright.

Albright believes this is an exciting time for the arts in our area. He says every one of the 25-member production team used for this film hails from North Idaho or Eastern Washington. “We are so fortunate such wonderful people are coming into the mix,” he said, mentioning casting director and acting coach for the film, Crystal Reiber, from Rathdrum, and co-producers DeeDee Ferencz and Cherie Christensen from Hayden and Mead, respectively. There are many more, according to Albright. “We have a lot of Hollywood refugees up here, and many of them have a lot to give, “ he said before adding, “And, we’re building young guns.”

Some of the “young guns” Albright is talking about also helped with this film. Esther Johnson, of Sandpoint, directed the film. “Johnson has a filmmaking degree, and just does an excellent job,” said Albright, of the woman he calls, the next Penny Marshall.”

The team of four cameramen who worked on the film also fit Albright’s young guns category: head cameraman, Adam Eich, of Sagle; Jules Nathan, of Ponderay; and Todd Holcomb and Kyle Cossairt, of Coeur d’Alene. “They are really competitors,” he said, “but they all worked together to make each other look good for this film.”

A group of about 30 members of the Washington Civil War Association, a historic re-enactment group, also took part in the project, arriving in full uniform, with Civil War-era clothing, weapons, equipment, supplies – even horses. According to WCWA member Kelly (“Squirrel”) Blanchard, the group usually takes part in re-enactments, focusing on teaching about history. “This is our first time to take part in a movie,” he said.

Belonging to the re-enactment group is a family affair for Blanchard, wife, Janice, and daughter, Ann. Janice Blanchard, in authentic laundress garb, said she was enjoying the movie process, but mentioned there was a lot of “down time between takes.” Ann had seen more action, filling in as both a laundress and as a woman in soldier’s garb during a battlefield scene.

According to Kelly Blanchard, each member of the volunteer re-enactment group is responsible for their own gear, equipment and supplies, which helped the props department on the film tremendously. He showed off his tent, cot and nearby supplies including several “regular issue” boxes of Army bread – otherwise known as “worm castles, teeth grinders, sheet metal crackers, or just plain old hardtack.”

Blanchard pulled a piece out of a cloth bag to share. “It’s just flour, salt and water,” he said. “Each man was issued 10, 3-by-3-inch crackers each day. Try it.” I did and then tried to figure out how grown men could survive on 10 lousy-tasting crackers a day.

By Sunday afternoon it was over. Albright acknowledged a sentimental moment as the soldiers broke camp and the crew put away their equipment. “That’s not unusual when you have a happy crew,” said Albright. “This was the best crew I’ve ever worked on. They were amazing.”