David Royle
Producer / Director
One of America’s most experienced non-fiction filmmakers and has an international reputation for quality filmmaking that reaches broad audiences. A nine-time Emmy winner, he oversaw filmmaking at National Geographic and most recently served as the Chief Programming Officer for the Smithsonian Channel.
DAVID ROYLE (Producer/Director) is one of America’s most experienced non-fiction filmmakers and has an international reputation for quality filmmaking that reaches broad audiences. A nine-time Emmy winner, he oversaw filmmaking at National Geographic and most recently served as the Chief Programming Officer for the Smithsonian Channel – a joint venture between CBS and the Smithsonian Institution – for 15 years.
David began work on this feature documentary more than 30 years ago when he filmed exclusive interviews with Black Mountain students and faculty, including John Cage, Jacob Lawrence, Norman Weston, and Arthur Penn. He also captured a world premiere musical performance by Lou Harrison as well as Dorothea Rockburne’s creation of the giant Northern Sky, Southern Sky murals in the Sony Tower/AT&T building in New York. He is excited to be completing this documentary at a time when there is an enormous growth of interest in Black Mountain and a recognition of its extraordinary influence.
David’s many production credits include America in Color (Smithsonian), Hockney (BBC/Smithsonian), Inside Gorbachev’s USSR (PBS), Search for the Afghan Girl (National Geographic), TV Nation (NBC/BBC), Senator Sam (PBS) and Reclaiming History: Our Native Daughters (Smithsonian).
Christine Fitzpatrick
Co-Producer
Christine has been directing, writing, and producing nonfiction films for a national audience for 16 years. She has worked on numerous films and series for broadcasters like National Geographic, Disney+, Smithsonian, the History Channel, and NFL Films.
CHRISTINE FITZPATRICK (Co-producer) Christine has been directing, writing, and producing nonfiction films for a national audience for 16 years. She has worked on numerous films and series for broadcasters like National Geographic, Disney+, Smithsonian, the History Channel, and NFL Films. Her many credits include Protecting Paradise: The Story of Niue, Explorer, The Watch: America’s Nuclear Mission Revealed, Cult of the Wild, and Bloomberg’s The Spark. She is an Emmy Award-nominated researcher with specialized expertise in archival projects.
Larry Wheeler
President - Black Mountain Film Legacy Project
The Director Emeritus of the North Carolina Museum of Art. During his tenure, he transformed it into a leading art museum for the 21st century. He tripled its operating budget, nearly doubled the size of its exhibit space and garnered numerous international awards.
LARRY WHEELER (President of the Black Mountain Film Legacy Project) is the Director Emeritus of the North Carolina Museum of Art. During his tenure, he transformed it into a leading art museum for the 21st century. He tripled its operating budget, nearly doubled the size of its exhibit space and garnered numerous international awards. Previously, he served as the assistant director of the Cleveland Museum of Art in Ohio for nine years. From 1977 to 1985, Wheeler was the deputy secretary of the NC Department of Cultural Resources.
Larry has long recognized the importance of Black Mountain College for its seminal influence on the direction of American modern art and its position as an extraordinary cultural moment in North Carolina’s history. He has gathered an extraordinary group of North Carolinians who are passionate about Black Mountain College and recognize the importance of sharing this story with a broad audience. Their support and advice have been crucial to the development of this feature documentary.