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Reviving the West Baden Colored Church: A Labor of Love

This documentary tells the story of the First Baptist (Colored) Church in West Baden Springs, IN. It portrays the beginning, growth, decline and rebirth.

Beginning in the early 1900s, there was a large thriving community of African Americans who worked at the resorts. The community established the church under Jim Crow laws and persevered under those conditions with courage, strength, and the persistence of hope over hate. Over decades the church remained as the cornerstone of the African American community until its decline. The film chronicles the challenges of the extensive restoration that took place over five years leading to its revival.

  • David Gudaitis
    Director
  • Elizabeth Mitchell
    Director
    Reverend Marvin Chandler: Open to the Moment, Gudaitis production, Bloomington, IN.
  • Elizabeth Mitchell
    Producer
    Reverend Marvin Chandler: Open to the Moment, Gudaitis production, Bloomington, IN.
  • Alan Backler
    Producer
    Reverend Marvin Chandler: Open to the Moment, Gudaitis production, Bloomington, IN. And Justice for All: Indiana’s Federal Courts,Gudaitis production, Bloomington, IN. The Fall Creek Massacre, a video documentary, Gudaitis production, Bloomington, IN. .Mary Bateman Clark: A Woman of Colour and Courage, Gudaitis production, Bloomington, IN. Leading Difficult Conversations, instructional designer, DVD and facilitator guide. Agency for Instructional Technology/Solution Tree, Bloomington, IN. Saving Places: Preserving Indiana’s Architectural Heritage, Gudaitis production, Bloomington, IN. Assertive Discipline: Positive Behavior Management in Today’s Classroom Agency for Instructional Technology/Solution Tree, Bloomington, IN. Leaderships in Professional Learning Communities at Work: Learning by Doing, Agency for Instructional Technology/Solution Tree, Bloomington, IN Collaborative Teams in Professional Learning Communities at Work: Learning by Doing. Agency for Instructional Technology/Solution Tree, Bloomington, IN Rev. Ernest Butler: Rebel with a Cause, Gudaitis production, Bloomington, IN.
  • Larry Laswell
    Producer
    The U. S. Constitution with Bill Moyers (3 episodes) (documentary) Producer/Director Agency for Instructional Technology Geography in U. S. History (educational) Producer Agency for Instructional Technology Life of Lincoln (documentary) Producer/Director Indiana Historical Society Frontier Indiana (documentary) Producer/Director Indiana Historical Society Pioneer Indiana (documentary) Producer/Director Indiana Historical Society Hoosiers All (documentary) Producer/ Director Indiana Historical Society Who Do You Think You Are? (documentary) Producer/Director Indiana Historical Society Mary Bateman Clark: A Woman of Color and Courage (documentary) Writer/Director Gudaitis Production The Fall Creek Massacre (documentary) Writer/Director Gudaitis Production Saving Places: Preserving Indiana’s Architectural Heritage (documentary) Writer/ Director Indiana Landmarks Gudaitis Production And Justice for All: Indiana’s Federal Courts (documentary) Writer/Director U. S. District Courts for the Southern District of Indiana Gudaitis Production
  • David Gudaitis
    Producer
    Reverend Marvin Chandler: Open to the Moment, Gudaitis production, Bloomington, IN. And Justice for All: Indiana’s Federal Courts,Gudaitis production, Bloomington, IN. The Fall Creek Massacre, a video documentary, Gudaitis production, Bloomington, IN. .Mary Bateman Clark: A Woman of Colour and Courage, Gudaitis production, Bloomington, IN. Leading Difficult Conversations, instructional designer, DVD and facilitator guide. Agency for Instructional Technology/Solution Tree, Bloomington, IN. Saving Places: Preserving Indiana’s Architectural Heritage, Gudaitis production, Bloomington, IN. Assertive Discipline: Positive Behavior Management in Today’s Classroom Agency for Instructional Technology/Solution Tree, Bloomington, IN. Leaderships in Professional Learning Communities at Work: Learning by Doing, Agency for Instructional Technology/Solution Tree, Bloomington, IN Collaborative Teams in Professional Learning Communities at Work: Learning by Doing. Agency for Instructional Technology/Solution Tree, Bloomington, IN Rev. Ernest Butler: Rebel with a Cause, Gudaitis production, Bloomington, IN.
  • Rev. Dr. Bruce Rose
    Key Cast
    "Pastor of Second Baptist Church, Bloomington"
  • Steve Rondinaro
    Key Cast
    "Former Marketing Mgr, French Lick Resort"
  • Elizabeth Mitchell
    Key Cast
    "Historian"
  • Jeff Lane
    Key Cast
    "Orange County Historian"
  • Larry Laswell
    Writer
    The U. S. Constitution with Bill Moyers (3 episodes) (documentary) Producer/Director Agency for Instructional Technology Geography in U. S. History (educational) Producer Agency for Instructional Technology Life of Lincoln (documentary) Producer/Director Indiana Historical Society Frontier Indiana (documentary) Producer/Director Indiana Historical Society Pioneer Indiana (documentary) Producer/Director Indiana Historical Society Hoosiers All (documentary) Producer/ Director Indiana Historical Society Who Do You Think You Are? (documentary) Producer/Director Indiana Historical Society Mary Bateman Clark: A Woman of Color and Courage (documentary) Writer/Director Gudaitis Production The Fall Creek Massacre (documentary) Writer/Director Gudaitis Production Saving Places: Preserving Indiana’s Architectural Heritage (documentary) Writer/ Director Indiana Landmarks Gudaitis Production And Justice for All: Indiana’s Federal Courts (documentary) Writer/Director U. S. District Courts for the Southern District of Indiana Gudaitis Production
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    56 minutes 45 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 8, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    3,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    1920x1080 HD
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - David Gudaitis, Elizabeth Mitchell

David Gudaitis, Ph. D. will serve as producer, videographer, and video editor for this project. He spent several years in commercial film and video production, as a senior editor and producer, before moving
into the field of instructional video. He joined the Agency for Instructional Technology (AIT), in Bloomington, more than 30 years ago as executive producer, videographer, editor, director and project officer. Since then he has produced more than 100 outstanding and award-winning instructional media products in video, videodisc, software, Internet resources, and print.
He has produced for organizations such as U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Association for Educational Communication and Technology (AECT), Phi Delta Kappa, SouthWestern Publishing, Solution Tree, Wisconsin Public Television, WTIU, Indiana Landmarks, Sunrise Publishing, Marion County (IN) Prosecutor’s Office, Citibank, Internal Revenue Service, Indiana University, and Habitat for Humanity. He earned a Ph. D. in Instructional Systems Technology from Indiana University.

Elizabeth Mitchell is a multi-award winning journalist and historian who has been able to pursue her passion of researching and sharing her knowledge about African American history after retiring from working for thirty-five years at the United States Postal Service.
Elizabeth, along with Dr. Gladys DeVane and Ms. Danielle Bruce conceived and created Resilience Productions, the women research, write and produce live performances. The trio has presented many performances in and out of Monroe County. Their Remarkable Women series are always sold out to a full house at the Monroe County History Center.
Elizabeth orchestrated the Bloomington “Colored School” and “Banneker School” Historic Marker installations to recognize the once segregated elementary schools in Monroe County. She is one of the founding members of “Bring It On” a radio show for WFHB Public Radio Station.
Her previous feature length documentary in Heartland was “Rev: Marvin Chandler: Open to the Moment.” (2019)

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Director Statement

"A labor of Love" is a common cliche, but the words really do describe this film. The original church was built over a hundred years ago by black volunteers who needed their own spiritual home. Over the decades it served the West Baden community until it couldn't. The neglected church deteriorated to the point where it needed to be saved, and it was the love by the local community that kept it from collapsing. Finally, with a huge investment of love and labor from Paster Bruce Rose, Liz Mitchell, and many other volunteers, the church was brought back to life. The restoration is not just of the church building, but of the spiritual life that resides within. A revival. As Liz says, "the walls are talking now."