After his acclaimed documentary on Florida's aquatic preserves, Blountstown filmmaker Elam Stoltzfus is capturing the history of the big river that runs through Calhoun County in his latest project, Apalachicola River: an American Treasure.

Two weeks ago, Stoltzfus gathered a group of local actors and a Calhoun County native turned Hollywood television writer to help tell the story.

"Elam's project is unlike anything I've ever done before," says Jane Atkins, a writer for the popular daytime soap, Days of our Lives, who grew up on the Chipola River and has returned here after several years in Los Angeles. Stoltzfus recently enlisted Atkins to creat a script for his film. "I've always written fiction...soaps, animation, cop shows, hospital dramas, orgininal screenplays, novels, theatre plays. Elam is shooting a documentary and most of the text of the film will be based on interviews he's done with all kinds of Florida folk....scientists, fishermen, politicians, artists, birdwatchers, environmentalists, city planners, you name it. I'm reading the transcribed material and picking out what we're actually going to use."

Atkins is actually the cousin of Dr. Andrew Ramsey, a native American from Blountstown who will be featured in the film. Brooks Ann Hayes Mierdiercks, an actress who grew up in the Blountstown now resides in Jacksonville, will portray a character loosely based on Ramsey's grandmother and Atkins's great grandmother, Alice Boggs. Young Tyler Wertenberger of Blountstown will play the part of Bogg's grandson, Delano Reed, Ray Howell, and Tammy and Slade McNeill, all Calhoun Countians, also have roles in the production. In addition, Atkins recruited a professional actor from California, Rick Hamilton to play a Spanish explorer.

Filming for the history segment of the documentary got underway November 1 nere Atkins' home on the Chipola River. For her and Brooks Anne who grew up together, it was like old home day. "Brooks Anne first performed in a play when she was two and I was 12," Atkins recalled. "She disgraced me by spotting her mother in the front row and leaving the stage to climb up in Ms. Nan's lap. Later, Brooks Ann came out to LA when I was a television writer there and she was pursuing a career as a TV/film actress. Now its come full circle. Neither of us could believe we were actually filming in our backyard on the Chipola River."

Atkins says working with Stoltzfus has truly been her pleasure. "He's sane and kind and open to collaboration....unlike so many talented, but frequently nutzoid, filmmakers I've worked with in Hollywood. He has a real vision for this piece and I'm thrilled he invited me to join the creative group he's assembled for this project. Plus, his wife Esther made us a bodacious lunch when we were filming."

Renowned landscape photographer Clyde Butcher and acclaimed photojournalist Richard Bickel are partnering on the project. The film and photography exhibit are expected to premiere early next year at the Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science in Tallahassee.