A Bridge to the 19th Century

If you happened to hear cracks of gunfire and booming cannons in the central Arkansas area earlier this month, there’s no need to be alarmed. A full-scale Civil War re-enactment of the Battle of Reed’s Bridge took place on September 11 and 12 in Jacksonville.

On August 27, 1863, Union soldiers clashed with Confederates as they marched toward Little Rock. Today, nearly two years of restoration work have helped make it look as it would have at that time. Recent updates include a new information stand, two Civil War era cannons and a walking trail. The largest addition is a small 19th century homestead, consisting of a barn, family cabin and a kitchen cabin and garden. The Reed’s Bridge battlefield is on the National Register of Historic Places and is considered the best-preserved Civil War site in Arkansas.

Visitors were able to explore the camp and battlefield and learn from re-enactors what it was like to live as a Civil War solider. Demonstrations of military drills and musket training were given, and examples of everyday life, such as cooking and crafts, were provided throughout the weekend.

This year’s battle was a great success and the event received some notable media coverage in Little Rock. The event was featured on both KTHV’s “Amazed by Arkansas” and on KARK Channel 4. Two stories on Reed’s Bridge also ran in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. The Reed’s Bridge Battlefield is located on Highway 161 South in Jacksonville. It is open and free to the public to visit, so if you missed the battle this year, be sure to check it out soon!

See Fayetteville in Stop-Motion

We just completed a new TV spot for Fayetteville and it involves some pretty eye-popping special effects. Using a stop-motion effect and computer-generated background, the focus is on a woman ready to get away. Through the magic of hand-drawn construction paper illustrations, live action and still photography, she takes a journey through Fayetteville. By the end, she experiences cycling, water skiing, dancing and pretty much everything else you can do in the city.

Production included a very long day for Terry Gilchrist, who spent about 10 hours lying on a green screen contorting herself into various poses. The wizards at Rizon Films made all the magic happen and Laura Kuykendall served as both broadcast producer and art director. Watch it for yourself. Better yet, watch it several times to see what you missed the first time.