Valley Talks Continues with a Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Slatersville Documentary Series
(WOONSOCKET, R.I.) – Valley Talks, a series of biweekly historical lectures, continues Sunday, Jan. 21, at 1:30pm at the Museum of Work & Culture.
Filmmaker Christian de Rezendes will present Village Shaker, Puzzle Maker: Creating the Documentary Series Slatersville, a talk exploring the decade-long process of creating his award-winning documentary series Slatersville: America’s First Mill Village, which premiered on Rhode Island PBS in the fall of 2022. De Rezendes will share his journey from inspiration to research, filming, and editing, showcasing how telling the story of this village took a village.
Admission to the Valley Talk is free, but registration is required. Guests can register online at rihs.simpletix.com.
De Rezendes is the owner and founder of the company Breaking Branches Pictures, which has produced critically acclaimed feature films, including 41, Getting Out of Rhode Island, Alzira’s Story, and more. To date, his work has received more than 35 filmmaking awards. Many of his 20-plus directing credits have been broadcast on PBS and screened internationally at film festivals. De Rezendes continues to direct, film, and edit promotional pieces for a wide variety of corporate, nonprofit, and commercial clients, as well as his own projects.
Other Valley Talks will include:
February 4: RIHS Executive Director Christiana Morgan Grefe and sculptor Gage Prentiss detail the history of gifted artist Edward Mitchell Bannister and the process of creating a public tribute to his legacy.
February 18: Civil War reenactors Denise and Paul Bourget discuss the research and dedication of living history performers, particularly when returning to one of the country’s most difficult periods.
March 3: Historian Pierre Lavoie takes a fresh look at how early 20th-century Francophone celebrities helped shape the collective identities of Francophones in Quebec and New England.
The Museum’s 2024 Valley Talks series is presented by Amica Insurance, with additional support from the Museum of Work & Culture Preservation Foundation and the Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park.
About the Rhode Island Historical Society
The Rhode Island Historical Society, the state’s oldest and only state-wide historical organization, is dedicated to honoring, interpreting, and sharing Rhode Island’s past to enrich the present and inspire the future. Founded in 1822, the RIHS is an advocate for history as a means to develop empathy and 21st-century skills, using its historical materials and knowledge to explore topics of timeless relevance and public interest. As a Smithsonian Affiliate, it is dedicated to providing high-quality, accessible public programming and educational opportunities for all Rhode Islanders through its four sites: the John Brown House Museum, the Museum of Work & Culture, the Mary Elizabeth Robinson Research Center, and the Aldrich House.
The headquarters of the Rhode Island Historical Society are located at 110 Benevolent Street, Providence, RI 02906. Information: (401) 331-8575. Website: rihs.org. Follow the RIHS on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.