Hanelle M. Culpepper is bringing Ellen and William Craft’s story to the big screen. The history-making “Star Trek: Picard” director has been tapped to helm “1000 Miles,” a Big Beach-produced drama inspired by an enslaved couple in 1800s America. A press release announced the news.
Based on the Crafts’ 1860 memoir “Running A Thousand Miles For Freedom,” the pic will recall how Ellen and William launched a “thousand mile escape to freedom from Georgia to Boston by hiding in plain sight — Ellen disguised as a white male slave owner and her husband, William, passing as her slave — all while fighting the terror of discovery, the dangerous men on their tail, and the complications the ruse brings to their relationship,” the film’s synopsis details.
Peggy Preacely, a descendant of the Craft family, will serve as a consultant and associate producer. Selwyn Seyfu Hinds (“The Twilight Zone”) is penning the script.
“It’s simply astounding to think about a black woman experiencing what it’s like to be a white man in the middle of the 1800s. The Crafts’ escape is a gripping, emotional journey that explores identity through the lens of race and gender, and is so relevant to modern times,” said Culpepper. “Wrapping that story into an action thriller was very appealing to me,” she emphasized.
Big Beach producers Peter Saraf and Daniele Melia added, “We are thrilled to be working with Selwyn and Hanelle to bring the Crafts’ extraordinary story to screen. Ellen and William Craft are heroic characters in our nation’s history whose narrative has not received the widespread recognition it deserves. Big Beach is humbled to provide the space to explore the Crafts’ inspiring journey and the challenging racial and gender dynamics they navigated. Through the support of the descendants of the Craft family, we are determined to tell the most authentic version of their story.”
Culpepper directed the first three episodes of CBS All Access’ Patrick Stewart-starrer “Star Trek: Picard,” making her the first female director to launch a new “Star Trek” series in the franchise’s 53-year history. Her other small screen credits include “Supergirl,” “Empire,” and “Parenthood.”
Asked about how she felt to become the first woman to direct a “Star Trek” pilot, the co-chair of the DGA Women’s Steering Committee said, “I feel the same way it probably felt for the person who got to direct the pilot for ‘The Next Generation’ or ‘Deep Space Nine,’ when you’re given the reigns to something that’s so special to so many people. The only difference is that I put more pressure on myself to make this a series that shines and the fans will love. I know if it didn’t, then the ‘black female director’ part of it can be used for blame,” she explained. “Obviously, we’re making great strides in this industry.” Culpepper stressed, “I just want to be the one who continues to pave the way for other people, and not be the excuse. ‘See what happens when you use the black woman to launch a new series in a franchise? We’re not going to do that again!’ I had that extra pressure.”
