Documentary Premiere: '10,000 ACRES'

“10,000 Acres” is a multimedia documentary directed by Doug Swift, a filmmaker, writer, and professor of Journalism and English at Denison University.

The Wilds is the largest endangered species preserve in North America. The project includes numerous written stories and immersive short documentaries that show what it is like to work at The Wilds and manage herds of rhinos, giraffes, and many other species living on and reproducing at the facility.

The project also tells the story about mining for coal on the land, and the operation of the Big Muskie, the largest dragline ever built. It tells the story of the farming community that existed before the mining. And it traces the origins of this community back to pioneer days.

It tells the story of the Lett Settlement, a mixed-race community that thrived in the region before the Civil War, even though they had to sue for rights to education and voting. And we learn the history of Indigenous Americans, including mound builders, who lived on these 10,000 acres thousands of years ago.

All the short documentary films are scored by West Virginia composer Matt Jackfert. Some historical films are animated with paintings by Zanesville artist Mary Ann Bucci.

Major funders for the project are the Ohio Humanities Council, the Ohio Arts Council, and Denison University.

The director will guide the audience through the website for those who are new to interactive documentaries. Several of the short films will be shown, and refreshments will be served.