During the first production get-together, Campbell Walters, Dark Corner Films’ Director, related that his and Bryan’s vision for the documentary was one which would get completely away from the traditional treatment. Rather than a scripted approach, they envisioned fresh, spontaneous and conversational oral history segments with knowledgeable  people captured on videotape. This would allow up-close facial expressions and body language to be an integral part of the story each person would tell.

Moonshine, of course, would be a major part of the documentary, since it was the one thing that  most people away from the area had heard about. Vivid mental images of strong, independent-minded, Scots-Irish and borderland England settlers making their “white lightning”were conjured up by folks outside the Dark Corner. They had brought their whiskey-making skills with them across the ocean. Once in the young American colony, however, they used the native corn (maize) of the  American Indian more than traditional rye, barley and other European grains.

But moonshine wasn’t the beginning of the story of this unique, mountainous area.

How far back in time should the documentary go? Most people are aware of the Cherokee Indians’ impact on this area of the country. Who was here before them? Wes Breedlive, top archelogical researcher in the area, could tell of the Archaic Indians who can be traced to 11,500 years ago and more. The Cherokees have only been here for about 1,000 years. So, the documentary began with the Archaics.