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It was very cold, windy and rainy the day we set out to tape Guy Fraker. We had planned to shoot in October to capture some fall color ... we weren’t expecting fall rain and snow! As we were loading the van, I debated cancelling the shoot. Meteorologist Mike Sola warned us that conditions could get worse, but Tim and I were willing to give it a try and see what we could get done. I called Mr. Fraker and he was game, so we set out to meet in Clinton. Although the day was miserable, we got some great footage that never gave away how cold it really was. We kept warm with coffee and had Guy stay in his car as much as possible. It reminded us what Lincoln must have faced as he rode the same trails on horseback.
Mr. Fraker was amazing as he braved the wind and rain and spoke spontaneously about Lincoln at each marker. Tim Hartin’s camera angles made each location just a bit more exciting. Sometimes Tim was foiled by our equipment problems, such as a wireless microphone that refused to work. But he always managed to find creative ways to hide the 20+ feet of audio cable that chained Guy to our camera. Virginia Steffen and Julius Bolton were also a big help on these shoots. Virginia had to use some superhuman strength to help hold up the camera on a precarious perch of apple boxes at the Dewitt County/Piatt county Circuit marker. When Julius ran camera, Tim was free to direct Guy at each marker, but Guy really didn’t need much directing. He was a natural, especially when speaking about a subject that he held so dear.
Segment duration: 09:00
Story links:
- Guide to Lincoln Markers by Guy C. Fraker
- Guy C. Fraker bio and contact information
- Lincoln birthday information from the National Park Service
Producer: Alison Davis Woods
Chief Camera - Segment: Tim Hartin, Julius Bolton
This segment is filed in these categories: Historical Landmarks • Illinois Culture/History
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