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Rollins Instructor in PBS Documentary about Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Rollins’ own Leslie Kemp Poole, adjunct instructor in environmental studies, makes her screen debut in the PBS documentary, “In Marjorie’s Wake.” The one-hour documentary retraces a 1933 trip on the St. Johns River taken by Pulitzer-Prize winning author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings and her good friend, Dessie Smith. The trip was chronicled in the chapter "Hyacinth Drift" in Rawlings’ novel “Cross Creek.” The documentary is scheduled to air in Orlando on WMFE-TV on April 14 at 9:00 p.m. and on April 23 at 11:00 p.m.

Leslie Kemp Poole (far right) and Jennifer Chase interview Lou Terborg for “In Marjorie’s Wake.”

Intrigued by Rawlings since she read “The Yearling” as a teen, Poole’s project from the heart was years in the making. A fourth-generation Floridian, Poole has lived in Central Florida for nearly 30 years and appreciates the state's natural beauty. A former Orlando Sentinel reporter, she actually recreated this famed trip down the St. Johns River 11 years ago and wrote about the experience for the Sentinel’s Sunday magazine.

“Since the article was published, I've had many people express their admiration for Rawlings and tell me that they always wanted to take the same trip,” said Poole. “Through this documentary, I hope to ‘take them with me’ to see the natural beauty of the river and come to a greater understanding of its environmental, historical and cultural importance to the state and its people.”

Poole is a member of the board of directors of Equinox Documentaries, the film production company that brings “In Marjorie’s Wake” to the screen. The company was created by veteran producers and writers who care deeply about our natural world—particularly Florida and the wider region in which we live.

“I regularly use Rawlings' work in my classes, which usually creates great enthusiasm among the students," said Poole. "I also am pursuing my Ph.D. in American History at the University of Florida where I plan to research the role of women in Florida's environmental movement in the last century. This documentary is a natural outgrowth of my love of Rawlings, history and all things ‘Florida.’”

Leslie Kemp Poole

Poole embarks on the journey with Jennifer Chase, a Jacksonville playwright and teacher. The two visit with authors, artists and others along the way. They even interviewed Rawlings’ dear friend Dessie Smith, who has since passed away. A highlight of the filming for Poole and Chase was the scattering of Smith’s ashes in her beloved river at the end of the film.

“In Marjorie’s Wake” will be distributed state-wide this month with national distribution scheduled for February 2008. The documentary has been selected to be shown during the Orlando Film Festival. It will be shown on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 3:30 p.m. at CityArts Factory followed by a question-and-answer session with Poole and the film's producers, Bob Giguere and Bill Belleville. CityArts Factory is located at 29 South Orange Avenue (at the corner of Orange Avenue and Pine Street) in downtown Orlando. The doors open 30 minutes prior to screening. Admission is free on a first-come, first-served basis.

To learn more about the Orlando Film Festival visit www.orlandofilmfest.com.

Click here to learn more about “In Marjorie’s Wake."

Photo credit: Photos from the production of “In Marjorie’s Wake” provided courtesy of Bill Randolph.

Story written by Ann Marie Varga.

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