Freedom's Path
Freedom's Path is a 2022 American historical war drama film written, directed and produced by Brett Smith in his feature length debut. It stars Gerran Howell, RJ Cyler, and Ewen Bremner. Based on the American Civil War, it won multiple film festival awards in 2022 and had a limited theatrical run from February 3, 2023.
Synopsis
A Union soldier is rescued by a free Black man and his friends, who run a portion of the Underground Railroad. Meanwhile, a ruthless slave catcher is looking to bring them down.Cast
- Gerran Howell as William
- RJ Cyler as Kitch
- Ewen Bremner as Silas
- Harrison Gilbertson as Lewis
- Mia Tucker as Nora
- Carol Sutton as Caddy
- Afemo Omilami as Ellis Freeman
- Steven Swadling as Jake Nilsson
- Thomas Jefferson Byrd as Abner
Production
The film is based on a short of the same name that Brett Smith released in 2015. The feature length film was produced by Rocket Soul Studios and 1812 Films, with Soulidifly Productions, Rock Hill Studios, Room In The Sky Films and Chicago Media Angels. Producers were AJ Winslow, Jim Pidgeon, Neko Sparks and Steven Swadling. The film has a promotional partnership with Allen Media Group.Filming
Principal photography took place in October 2019. It was largely filmed in and around Fayetteville with filming locations including Prairie Grove Battlefield Park, War Eagle Mill, Lincoln, and Cane Hill.During filming, assistant director David Halls was fired after a firearm discharged unexpectedly on set, wounding a crew member. He would later work as assistant director on the set of Rust, and he became a principal character in the shooting incident that killed Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza.