Brett Smith, director of photography with Flying Chaucer Films, sets up a camera in the Jefferson Davis room of the Old Court House Museum Monday. (C. Todd ShermanThe Vicksburg Post)

[08/12/03]It was lights and camera but not a lot of action at the Old Court House Museum Monday as a film crew set the scene to document the life of Jefferson Davis.

Producers, writers and directors were painstakingly recording images of possessions of the only president of the Confederacy that are part of the museum’s collection.

And though Davis may be best known for his role in the Civil War, that’s not what filmmakers from Flying Chaucer Films, a company based in New Orleans and Los Angeles, are trying to relay.

“We’re doing this because we seek to do a documentary that shows Jefferson Davis in his time and place,” said one of the film’s producers, Wendi Berman. “We want to focus on his entire life. He wasn’t born in 1861, and he didn’t die in 1865.”

And to emphasize the point, the working title is, “Jefferson Davis: An American President.” Davis was born in Kentucky and was living in south Warren County when he was tapped as Confederate president. A second floor museum display tells the story of Davis and his family in photos, models of his Brierfield Plantation home and by use of family artifacts.

In addition to Berman, the production team members, all history buffs, include producer Brad Pomerance, director of photography Brett Smith and director and senior producer Brian Gary, a descendent of a Confederate veteran.

The museum grounds are the site of Davis’ first political speech, in 1843. “This space played a very important role in the man’s entire life,” Berman said of the courthouse.

Brierfield, located on what is now known as Davis Island, was destroyed by fire in 1931. But Berman said she and the crew plan to visit the island, now privately owned, to record ruins.

The group has also visited Davis’ childhood home, Rosemont Plantation, in Woodville and the Briars Plantation in Natchez, where Davis and his second wife, Varina, were married.

Berman and others were fascinated with Davis’ belongings that were donated by relatives and include an illustration of his mother, his wife’s will, copies of a book he authored, his pipe and furniture.

Museum director and curator Gordon Cotton said the Davis room is one of the most important displays in the museum, but added this was the first time the museum has hosted a crew specifically for a Davis documentary.

“There is a whole lot of curiosity about him from visitors,” he said.

Cotton first met the filmmakers at a Davis family reunion a year ago.

“Being a fan of the Davis family, I said we’d do anything we can to help,” he said.

Berman said some of the crew will return in September and October for more footage and interviews for the film that is expected to be released in May. She said the documentary would be sold to cable channels and possibly be available on DVD.

“We’re very lucky to look into this man’s life,” Berman said.