Food at the Hütte: Helvetia, W.Va.

Last time we were back in West Virginia, we met up with our friends, Jonathan and Clara (Coat of Arms Post), to help film at the Swiss restaurant, the Hütte, in Helvetia. Jonathan and Clara have been working on a documentary project about Helvetia--Clara's hometown--for a while now. I'm excited to see what they come up with. Kerrin shot some sweet slow motion on the FS7 and flew his drone about...I collected audio and photos and explored the many books, photographs and artifacts in the tiny restaurant. If you haven't been to the Hütte to eat yet, go! It's delicious. Just imagine: homemade, fresh baked bread, mounds of swiss cheese and frothy hot chocolate. YUM.

Hutte Restaurant in Helvetia, WV

Hutte Restaurant in Helvetia, WV

Hutte Restaurant in Helvetia, WV

Hutte Restaurant in Helvetia, WV

Hutte Restaurant in Helvetia, WV

Hutte Restaurant in Helvetia, WV

Hutte Restaurant in Helvetia, WV

Hutte Restaurant in Helvetia, WV

Hutte Restaurant in Helvetia, WV

Hutte Restaurant in Helvetia, WV

Hutte Restaurant in Helvetia, WV

Hutte Restaurant in Helvetia, WV

Hutte Restaurant in Helvetia, WV

Hutte Restaurant in Helvetia, WV

Hutte Restaurant in Helvetia, WV

Hutte Restaurant in Helvetia, WV

50 People Who Are Changing the South

I'm so incredibly honored to be put on this Southern Living magazine list of the 50 People Who are Changing the South in 2015. You gotta check out the lineup...they're some seriously awesome people on the list.

Being from West Virginia--weird Appalachian middle ground between the South and North--I've never really considered myself Southern. Nevertheless, I am very happy to rep the Mountain State!

Thanks to Southern Living for including me and for taking the time to get to know HOLLOW.

Photo by: Elle Effect

Magnum Foundation Photo Ex: HOLLOW discussion

Thanks to the Magnum Foundation for having me as a guest back in October 2014. They just released the recorded presentation and following Q&A. If you're interested in learning about the process of making HOLLOW, check it out!  

[vimeo 112433263 w=450 h=253]

Also, check out all the other speakers on Magnum's Vimeo Channel.

These roots run deep: my family tree

My mom sent me this treasure the other via a text message. I was going about my day, but this made me stop. Wow...I thought. What an amazing document to just be texted into your life. It's your blood line. Your family tree. Your roots. The people that made you...well you. I continue to be fascinated by my family's roots in Appalachia. Kudos to my Great Uncle Roy who created this beauty. I think I might update it soon...more to come.

Screenings, Updates and T-Shirts

We sold out of the first 100 t-shirts and have ordered more! If you place your order now, expect your t-shirt to arrive in 3-4 weeks.

The Revivalist gives their thoughts on the [app-uh-latch-uh] tees

Luckily, there’s no need to correct anyone’s pronunciation anymore. Just slip into this instructional t-shirt the next time you’ll be around folks who insist on saying Appalachia that other way, and they’ll get the picture pretty darned fast.

MEDIUM: Inside the World Press Photo Multimedia Jury

Including some great tips for storytelling and a mention of HOLLOW

The Hillville writes about [app-uh-latch-uh] t-shirts

For many citizens and natives of Central and Southern Appalachia, watching the meteorologists on the Weather Channel pronounce the name of our mountain range is a cringe-worthy experience: “There’s a storm system making it’s way across the midwest and will hit the Appa-LAY-shun mountains of Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia.”

HOLLOW will be exhibited at the American Museum of Natural History

The project will be in the Grand Gallery from October 23-26 for the Margaret Mead Film Festival.

HOLLOW is a finalist in the Online Journalism Awards

Winners will be announced in Chicago on September 27.

We moved to Miami!

Just a personal update, Kerrin and I moved to Miami Beach last week. We will be based here through January working on our next documentary and interactive project. More to come! Follow my Instagram for daily snaps.

Kudzu and Friends in McDowell County

We decided to take a Saturday drive through McDowell to visit with my second family. Ed got to meet baby August and Alan played us his new banjitar. Kudzu has covered nearly everything and more buildings have collapsed. I love that county and the people it holds.

"This baby is made of lead," Ed exclaimed as he struggled to get a grip on August.

Photos: Hollow screening at the U.S. Capitol

We had over 250 people (including 10 McDowell residents) at our viewing, discussion and reception at the U.S. Capitol. Thanks to Senator Manchin for hosting such a fantastic event.

PHOTOS by Kerrin Sheldon here.

Family Hike

family hike (4 of 6)

family hike (5 of 6)

family hike (1 of 6)

Press Release: “Hollow” to be screened at U.S. Capitol on July 22

View screening details and download press release HERE.

Celebrating 4th of July in #WV

Enjoy this short film I shot and edited of my adorable niece experiencing sparklers for the first time. 

Men and Mountains from Elaine McMillion Sheldon on Vimeo.

Hollow-updates

Attend a special screening D.C. at the US Capitol with Senator Manchin on July 22. RSVP here HollowEvent@manchin.senate.gov

MORE NEWS

• HOLLOW mentioned in Wired.UK

• Interview with Grant Scott, of the United Nations of Photography

• Interview on WMMT (Whitesburg, KY)

Hiking in the Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park

Beautiful morning in the Shenandoah National Park.

Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park

Happy 151st Birthday To An Old Friend #WV151

Today is West Virginia's 151st year of statehood. While most Americans don't celebrate their native land's statehood, we West Virginians do. We're proud and weird people.

Last year, the Hollow team and I launched this baby into the world. It says everything I want to say about this state, so for today I will share some of my favorite (winter) photos of this place we call home.

This road didn't exist when I lived in Logan. When I drive through West Virginia I try to imagine the work involved to create roadways through these mountains.

Here I got my first fish, took bubble baths, wrecked my Barbie car, celebrated my 4th birthday, watched my baby sitter eat a whole jar of pickles, swam in the back of a pickup truck filled with water and built igloos when the snowed trapped us on the hill.

Downtown Logan, West Virginia.

Williamson, West Virginia.

Morgantown, West Virginia.

The building that used to stand here burned to the ground. Inside of said building was Saks Jewelry, my mom's place of employment. Today, they have relocated and a gravel lot occupies the space.

There really is nothing like a West Virginian sunset.

It's nice to take a moment and see the details.

Mom.

My uncle built this house in the 1970s. He is one of the most intelligent and creative people I have ever known. He has never been married, never had a driver's license and lives alone. The house is built on, and in between, a huge rock cliff in Nicholas County, W.Va. He used to have a dark room in the house but has since converted it into his computer room. Times change.

Great Uncle Roy (said uncle of story above).

I'm named after this sweet woman. Great Aunt Eva Elaine Russell. Known in the county as a fantastic school cook for decades.

My Paw Paw Doy's woodstack.

Silver and blue.

Paw Paw Doy taking a break from the swarms of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The newest grandchild.

One day I will learn how to play the fiddle from this man.

My favorite view.

And one from summer. My favorite season is fall but something about these winter photos felt appropriate for WV's 151st.

Happy Birthday, West Virginia.

Share your photos of #home today!

Tomorrow marks ONE YEAR since we launched Hollow.

Since then, many of you have contributed to a gallery of 1,011 photos of "home" by tagging your Instagram photos with the #hollerhome tag.

We want to THANK all of you who have been part of this journey and encourage you to help us reach 1,500 images of "home" by tagging your photos for our one-year celebration! #hollerhome 

See the gallery here: http://hollerhome.hollowdocumentary.com/holler-home/

Hollow On Stage at The Peabody Awards!

The full, uncut ceremony is now online. We are in Part 2 (below) starting at 44:09 [vimeo 97143901 w=700 h=394]

Part 1: https://vimeo.com/album/2904052/video/97117122

Part 2: https://vimeo.com/album/2904052/video/97143901

Part 3:https://vimeo.com/album/2904052/video/97118627

Thanks to the Peabody Awards for this amazing honor!

Server Issues with HOLLOW, Alternative Viewing Experience via #Vimeo

Hello Hollow visitors, I wanted to write a short post and let you know that we are experiencing some issues with our server. These issues range from extremely slow load times, videos not playing, images and buttons being missing and redirect issues with Firefox and Internet Explorer.

We recently relocated the project to a new server and with that issues have presented some challenges to our users when trying to view content. We ask that you please be patient with us during this time.

Interactive storytelling projects are extremely frustrating and expensive to maintain. Issues with the website can change and occur at any moment without us knowing and we are now trying to figure out how to resolve some new bugs.

We invite you to visit our VIMEO page to view the video content in the meantime.

We have created channels for each sequence of the interactive doc. Some of the videos are still uploading but head on over and check out what is there!

THESE ROOTS: https://vimeo.com/channels/theseroots FOR EACH OTHER: https://vimeo.com/channels/foreachother FOR THE LAND: https://vimeo.com/channels/fortheland WHEN COAL WAS KING: https://vimeo.com/channels/whencoalwasking AROUND THE BEND: https://vimeo.com/channels/aroundthebend

Thanks for sticking with us,

Elaine elaine@hollowthefilm.com

Easter Weekend in #WestVirginia: Blue Skies on the Farm

Blue skies and green grass for Easter weekend on the Sheldon farm.

Emeline in the evening light

Two of my favorite things: 1.) My niece, Emeline Jane

2.) Evening light and lens flare

Guys....we won a Peabody

PRESS RELEASE: Peabody Award For Hollow

It was announced yesterday, but I am still grasping the reality.

What an amazing honor for our team and project to be recognized for this award.

Hollow wins 3rd Prize in World Press Photo Multimedia Awards

I am so excited to announce we have won 3rd Prize in the World Press Photo Multimedia Awards in the Interactive Documentary category. It is such an amazing honor to be chosen for this award as an independent filmmaker and journalist. Congrats to the whole Hollow team and McDowell County community. Check out the winning projects here. Below, a jury member reflects on why Hollow was chosen for 3rd Prize:

"Some of the most impressive elements of Hollow are the depth of the content, the richness of the content. The characters that are portrayed are totally believable and I think it's these small stories told in a big way...it's not a large production piece but it has that feeling, it feels very much as if it was created by people who care about the subject that they are documenting." [vimeo 89865336 w=500 h=281]