The Howard Thurman Film Project

It was early in my career that I resolved to do a film on Howard Thurman. I was captivated by Thurman’s story. He was a black man who was of the generation of my grandparents. Thurman had such an inner freedom of spirit and mobility. He was a man who traveled and worked globally during a period in which it was rare and seemingly impossible for most black Americans, like my grandparents, to do so. But mostly I was moved by the story of a man with a profound and deep spirituality whose words touched not only me, but countless universally, across the chasms of race, faith or culture.

Over a decade ago, I felt called to tell the stories of those who through their personal faith, empowered, transformed and heartened not only their lives, but the lives of others. The true lights. Howard Thurman then became the perfect subject. Through all the trials and travails, I anticipated in producing a documentary, I believed that I would and could find continual inspiration, and never tire in completing a film on Howard Thurman. Thurman’s words, his insistence on commitment and on pursuing the divinely inspired vision and dream, would never allow me to quit.

What about his story called you?

God knows how much I am attracted to the stories of the visionary. Thurman’s story is as much about a dream, the visionary and the creative, as the religious, spiritual and intellectual giant.

Thurman’s sensibilities and experiences as a “creative and visionary” so resonate with my experiences. I could truly intuit to his seeking joy in the journey, thinking and living “outside of the box,” moving through inspiration from God, even beyond immediate circumstances or the expectation of others. His love and reverence for life and commitment to his purpose and call and quest, are so akin to my spirit and approach to living


What do you hope the public will gain from the documentary?

I hope to enlighten audiences as to the broad and enduring influence of a black American on spiritual life and thought both in the US and around the globe—one whose inspiration transcends black congregations and churches and the Christian faith. As well I want audiences to become aware of a influential black religious leader other than the often quoted and noted, Martin Luther King, Jr.

I hope to bring forth a voice and thought that is critical in today’s discussions concerning faith, multiculturalism and community. Particularly in a world when religion and faith are often divisive rather than uniting resources.

I as well hope to touch and move the heart and spirits of audiences by an artistic rendering and interweaving of music, words and story. To dream is a very universal experience. So I hope to inspire and hearten the dreamer that is within the souls of our audiences.


How long have you been working on this film?

I have been working on this film nearly all of my adult life. I met Thurman through his words on page and later, briefly, face to face--6 months before he died. Those experiences really impelled my desire to complete a film on him. Even when I did not formally commence work on the film, I continued to read books for and about him. Over a decade ago, when I struck out as an independent filmmaker with a mission and a calling to make film using my spiritual and intellectual sensibilities, Thurman was my number one choice to profile.

I love history and revel in telling meaningful stories about people which instill and inspire hope. I delight in providing windows into history through the use of archival photos, footage and sound. Thurman’s story and journey, epic in scope, just calls out for a cinematic rendering in sight and sound. And for these things I am both excited and compelled to make this film.

What are some of the struggles that you have faced along the way?

I can most readily say, raising the money to do the film, has been the most challenging aspect. But if you speak to any independent documentary filmmaker, that so comes with the work. The dollars are limited for making documentary film, particularly from the traditional grant making entities. The larger entities, though approached and approached again and again, either saw the project conflicting with existing work or have flat out said that they have no interest. “Who needs a story about another black preacher,” said one!

Another challenge has been in shaping the story for film. Thurman lived such a vast and busy life, condensing all the information and interesting facts into a more focused and simple story has provided what can be called a “delightful dilemma.” I can spend years in his archive or among his papers and continue to seek a definitive and comprehensive sense of the scope of his life and work.

And finally as a creative, I had to contend within to become confident of the sensibility and creativity that I would and could bring to making the film and not succumb to the popular, trendy or traditional modes of doing biographies. Sue Bailey Thurman told once told her daughter, Anne, after being approached by many, that I am the person to do this work on her husband. She felt that I had gift and inner awareness, to tap into the essence of Howard Thurman and present it in film. I’ve had to learn to trust that and run with it.


What has kept you dedicated to this project all these years?

I feel I am fulfilling a purpose and call in completing the film. I am answering to a higher power, my God in terms of this work--the journey towards making it, as well as its completion. Some of the other “whys,” I do know—to inspire, bring new light, beauty and truth—others I do not. With a sense of obligation, even though I do not know all of the reasons, I continue to press on.

I come from a culture of people, where giving up, because it is hard, is really not an option. I come from a lineage of people who worked hard and long, and often for little praise or adequate compensation. So my faithfulness and commitment to any endeavor has come honestly.

I need only to reflect upon my grandmother, who in the early decades of the 20th century washed floors in Los Angeles though she was a credentialed college educator in Texas. They would not license her in Los Angeles after she migrated there because of her skin color. She, along with my parents labored hard and long so that I could fulfill my dreams and not have to work below my capacity, or outside of my purpose. I mustn’t stop now.

My early experience in developing and making the film included visits and stays at the Thurman home with Sue Bailey Thurman, Howard Thurman’s widow. We always joked about me thanking her, preferably on earth, for her support in completing the film. She has passed away, but I always feel that she is a part of the cloud of witnesses in heaven, who cheer me on beyond that latest rejection letter from a foundation or any inner doubt.

As well, there have been supporters here on earth—large and small donors, advisors, the production team, the interns, all who have devoted time and money to make this work. I gotsta stay faithful to the vision that we have all invested dearly in. And yes, bottom line, the world needs to know this man, know about this man, and hear his words. And too, we need hope and need to hear stories of hope. Stories told with beauty and that touch the mind, heart and soul. These are the things that keep me going!

How do you balance work and family while being involved with such a consuming project?

I’ve raised two daughters as a single parent, while developing and making this film. The one decision I made early on was that their lives would not be put on the sacrifice table for my work. So in essence, their care and well-being came first. But also the reality as a single parent was that I could not be there for everything. So I was very prayerful and intentional about prioritizing what we did together. I made sure that as I traveled away from home, that they were in the hands of folks who cared. Members of my church in Boston, Bethel AME also stood positively in the gap to help care for, train, and guide my daughters.

Often, family activity was Thurman film related activity. We combined school and family vacations with research and production trips, or even film related meetings and conferences. My daughters helped to prepare visuals and distributed material for my presentations regarding the film. They proofread, screened footage, filed and labeled images among all sorts of things. For the most part, in growing up, Howard Thurman to them was like another sibling who required attention and care.

Through all of this, I am hopeful that my daughters, now in college, will see the value of their work and major contributions in the completed work. My greatest hope, however, is that they are inspired to listen intently to God and, follow the calls and the dreams of their lives!

Do you have any advice for documentarians out there?

First and foremost, do not lose heart. Persist; believe in your story and your mission to tell it. Look to other mediums for inspiration. Pursue the truth and maintain a commitment to share it. Believe your work is worthy and of value. Surround and involve yourselves with a community outside of the documentary as it broadens your insight and the lens that you bring to your work.

How did you research Thurman’s life?

I began by rereading Thurman and by reading scores of books and publications about Thurman. I also read and reread many of his meditations to obtain a better sense of his inner journey. Because there is no definitive biography on Howard Thurman, I‘ve conducted a lot of primary research.

The most helpful research resources have been the Howard Thurman Archives, Boston University and the Howard Thurman Papers Project, now housed at Morehouse College. Through these resources, I’ve been able to, among many things, uncover sermon transcripts, old scrapbooks, correspondence, travel notes and itineraries, and listen to hours of audio interviews and of Thurman messages. I have also, through these and other collections been able to listened to Thurman audiotapes and view video, to obtain both an aural and visual sense of Thurman’s speaking and preaching.

I have also consulted with and have taped interviews and pre interviews with several of Thurman scholars, friends, former congregants and students and colleagues. Most helpful were my interviews with Ms. Sue Bailey Thurman and his daughters, Anne and Olive. The Thurman family as well, as provided me exclusive access to their archival photo collection.

I traveled to Thurman’s birth home in Daytona, Florida and placed my back against the famous backyard oak tree--his childhood companion. I visited some of the major spaces and places of his ministry to get a special sense of Thurman, the air he breathed and the lecterns and pulpits he spoke from These included Atlanta’s Spelman and Morehouse Colleges, Boston University, Howard University, and San Francisco’s The Church for the Fellowship of All People.

I, along with the production team, have also read several books which provide historical, social and religious context to Thurman’s life and work Since Thurman’s story is told principally through archival materials, hours have been spent perusing archival collections throughout the US and around the globe, to obtain rare visuals, documents and period sound that depict Thurman, his word, and times in which he lived.


How did I gain the skills to make a documentary? Did you have mentors along the way?

To hunger for new insight and truth, is something that cannot be taught. One just has to have it.

I grew up in Compton, CA in the shadow of Hollywood and watched lots of movies as a young girl. My sister and I would create and put on our original “movies without film” using our dolls as actors and the wooden floor of our closet as the soundstage.

My professional experience has been grounded in the base skills of research, writing, directing and producing. These skills were cultivated early in my career during my work in local television in San Francisco and Atlanta and later during work on a national PBS series in based in Washington DC.

I lament that I have never had a formal mentor, but there have been several men and women at each phases of my development who have counseled, shored up and opened doors for me. Also critical have been those colleagues and friends who are not in film, special folk who provide new insight and fresh encouragement when my well of inspiration grows dry. Because of this I am intentional about supporting, counseling and mentoring emerging filmmakers with the passion and commitment to make documentaries.

~ Arleigh Prelow, October 2006