DOCUMENTARY

REBIRTH ON THE RIVER is a documentary about how a diverse group of Black and white Memphians came together for a common cause after the Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike and the tragic passing of Dr. Martin Luther King in 1968. These two unfortunate events sparked a cultural and economic depression that lasted for more than a decade. The unique group of young leaders coalesced around a shared vision to help turn their city around. They created THE MEMPHIS MODEL of diverse people working successfully together. Their idea was the creation of a festival called Memphis in May, using strategies that reintroduced people to downtown Memphis. They developed annual events including the now-famous Beale Street Music Festival, World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, and the Sunset Symphony with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. They started honoring a different foreign country annually. This has led to international business relationships with other countries, starting with Japan in 1977 and has continued over a span of more than 40 years.

The documentary will begin with the roots of Memphis at the apex of the Mississippi Delta region. The river culture set the stage for Delta foods like barbecue and fried catfish, and great music — blues, soul, jazz and rock music, including the sounds of W.C. Handy, WDIA radio, Stax and SUN records, and the development of the Beale Street music scene with its many artists over the decades. The soul of the city is inextricably tied to the river, food, and development of music and the artists who created it. The film will move into the tumultuous Civil Rights era and the turnaround of the Memphis economy starting in the late 1970s.

Elements of the documentary

• Historic background of the Mississippi delta region
• The exodus, decline and devastation of Memphis after the 1968 murder of Martin Luther King, Jr.
• The development of a solution (interviews of leaders and volunteers concerning Memphis in May)
• The results of the “Memphis model” — diverse people working together (highlighted events and international relationships)
• A detailed timeline reference (evolution of Memphis from its roots through the rebirth years; successes and impacts.)
• The documentary will be premiered in the U.S. and shown in honored countries as well.