Strange Camera

A camera will show what the person behind it wants you to see. They portray their vision of the
picture or footage on to those who are willing to base a book on its cover. In a documentary film by
Elisabeth Barret, Barret shows how back in 1967 this misinterpretation got one film maker killed. In
Appalachia Kentucky some film makers were making a film on poverty in America. Appalachia was a
coal mining town with a smaller population. With the coal companies trying to make the most money
they could they may have monopolized the community. A lawyer by the name of Harry Caudill wrote
an article about how the town was dependent on the coal companies because they owned everything.
Some news agency got a hold of this and decided to visit this small town. They started making films on
the poor side of town. They showed how people in America were living in shacks with barely enough
to eat. They stayed away from the wealthier part of town to only show what they knew would make the
most headlines. Once these pictures of poverty in America got out the president at the time made a
point to go to Appalachia to help his fight against poverty. After the president was their Appalachia got
over whelmed by reporters. They were all there to show the world the poor parts. Local companies and
people felt threatened by all the people coming to “change” the area. One man by the name of Ison
who's family worked hard for the land they owned. He lost his job as the Post Master and had to sell
right of way through his land to the railroad. He lost many of his businesses when some of the coal
companies closed. When some film makers started filming his tenants on his property he told them to
get off. Things escalated and Ison ended up shooting one of the film makers. Ison got thrown in jail.
Some of the community wanted to post his bail. They thought Ison was in the right and a local hero for
what he did. Women would bake him cakes. The courts had to try him in a different place because they
couldn't get a jury. He was sentenced to 10 years but was paroled after only 1. Some have said that this
would have never happened if they would have just asked Ison for permission to film on his property. Film makers just need to show the whole picture not just what helps their cause.