The Pathfinders Videos
The Great Lie by the Pathfinders
The Pathfinders set out to discover the truth behind the story of tobacco growing in Hampshire, England, and in the process uncovered ‘The Great Lie’.
Interesting snippet: The Pathfinders used Ai software (SUNO) to create the opening and closing music. Various other Ai utilities were also used to sharpen, rescale and colourize some of the older images.
Title: The Great Lie
Award: 3 Stars
This is a very interesting and a well-researched documentary giving many facts we
didn’t know about Tobacco growing in Britain. The opening drone shot is a good start as we begin high and home in on the presenter, Jim Reed.
Immediately the panel was intrigued by detailed facts that were completely unknown to us. Such historical documentaries have to rely largely on black and white photographs and we have a good selection here showing the Tobacco plants grown by Arthur Brandon.
The voice over commentary is well written and clearly spoken and the addition of other characters reading letters from the time, made the story come alive. The music was well chosen and was never intrusive.
“Action” was added by moving graphics whenever possible, easing the static nature imposed on the film by its very nature. The judges made individual observations here.
One thought the graphics a bit too gimmicky. A comment was made that we were given too many facts and too many dates without any “breathing space” and some gaps would have helped us to take it all in. One commented that it became a touch too political in the closing comments of the narration.
But without a doubt, this was a very well made and well researched film with good
photography and clear sound recordings. The makers are to be commended for a
polished production which records a little known part of the history of Tobacco growing in this country.
Ken Wilson FACI
on behalf of Judging Panel:
Jill K. Bunting CPAGB-AV LACI
Richard Scarsbrook AACI
Ken Wilson FACI
Those who live locally to Farnham in Surrey probably know that much of the land in the surrounding area was used in the past for growing hops. But not too many know that, according to some locals, tobacco was grown in the fields nearby in Church Crookham, Hampshire.
Could that really be true, or is it just the wild imagination of some of the locals?