SOUTHERN COURAGE:
Civil War Women of Loudoun County, Virginia

What was on the mind of a plantation mistress or a Confederate housewife? How would a slave woman answer the Union soldier who asked what life was like for her and her children? This 43-minute living history documentary brings to life fifteen true stories of women living in a divided Virginia county during the most turbulent time in American history. Taken directly from diaries, letters and other primary historical documents, the women reveal strikingly modern thoughts and feelings. The monologues were woven together within a concise overview of Loudoun County, Virginia Civil War history, a deeply divided border county said to be the Civil War writ small. Apropriate for viewers age eight to adult, "Southern Courage" was created to support the Virginia Standards of Learning in for War and Women's Studies for middle schools and high schools.

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THE WATERFORD NEWS:
Message from the Underground
Professionally videotaped two-hour performance of the 2000 production at Waterford's Old School Theatre, Waterford, Virginia. Loudoun history comes to life in "The Waterford News," which traces the Civil war-time escapades of three young women, Lida and Lizzie Dutton and Sarah Steer, who created a pro-Union newspaper out of Confederate Virginia. Using wit, humor and tenacity, they dealt with foraging rebel troops and burning raids, cared for wounded soldiers, assisted with the Underground Railroad, and managed to smuggle at least eight volumes of "The Waterford News" across the Potomac River for printing. Directed by Sara Gomez. Period music by Morning Star Consort. Videotaped by Stonewall Video, Frederick, MD. Edited by Meredith Bean McMath and Stonewall Video.

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WALKING FOR WATER
Written and produced by Meredith Bean McMath, this 8-minute promotional video was created on behalf of the non-profit Wisdom Springs, Inc., whose "Walking for Water" program raises enough money each year to build 5 to 7 wells in Burkino Faso, Africa. "Walking for Water" was organized by Kristen Karinshak of Leesburg, Virginia after she heard a woman from Burkina Faso give a talk: in the presentation, Sobonfu Some talked about her country and how during most months of the year the area is so dry that the women have to walk 8 to 10 miles a day to fetch water from the scattered wells. Kristen decided that if the women of Burkina Faso had to walk for water, so could she. She designed a walk in Leesburg, Virginia in which participants gather business and individual sponsors, and the program has been a huge success. The video is used to promote the Walking for Water and is free. Video editing by Nate Juraschek; voice overs by Morgan El-Shafey and Ben Huntington.

FREE FOR VIEWING: To see the video, click here.

HAVING A BALL:
Ballroom Costume, Etiquette and Dance in the Midst of the Rebellion
This 44-minute documentary was created from a living history presentation given by Meredith Bean McMath at Oatlands Plantation in the fall of 1997. Photographs, illustrations and living history vignettes were added to bring the subjecct to life. The documentary aired on THE HISTORY CHANNEL several times between 1998 and 2000. Due to copyright restrictions, this video is not available for purchase. For more information on the Victorian Ballroom, go to McMath's "Inquire Within: A How-to Book of Victorian Entertainment."

AVAILABLE FOR PRESENTATION ONLY:
Contact Meredith Bean McMath for information

WATERFORD'S WAR

Currently in post-production, the independent Civil War film "Waterford's War" follows the true story of Quakers Lida and Lizzie Dutton and Sarah Steer as they published a pro-Union newspaper from the heart of Confederate Virginia.  The film was based on McMath's play, All for the Union, and is being produced with cinematographer Peter Buck of Waterford Productions, LLC.  Directed and produced by McMath, the majority of filming was done at Clermont, an18th century estate in Berryville, Virginia listed on the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. 

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