SC250 Series // Revitalizing History – A Wide Awake Films Documentary Premiere

Against all odds, outnumbered and outgunned, the heroes of the Battle of Sullivan’s Island on June 28th, 1776, are once again getting their moment in the spotlight of America’s history with its 250th anniversary. Not only did this battle cement South Carolina in the history of the American Revolution to be perpetually celebrated as Carolina Day, but it brought us heroes ranging from Col. William Moultrie and Sgt. William Jasper, and the Carolina white-on-blue palmetto tree and crescent moon flag. On the eve of the 250th anniversary of America’s independence and Carolina Day, be the first to experience the new Battle of Sullivan’s Island film by Wide Awake Films. As part of our SC250 partnership, join us for a lively discussion moderated by Executive Producer and SC250 Board member, Rob Shenk, along with SC250 Chief Executive Officer Molly Fortune, Director and Founder of Wide Awake Films Shane Seley, and Historian Doug MacIntyre.   

About Molly Fortune

Prior to joining SC250, Molly Fortune was Executive Director at the world-renowned performing arts center, the Newberry Opera House. Under her leadership, the Opera House hosted 150+ events each year, greatly impacting Downtown Newberry. As Director of Restoration and Operations at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, Molly was influential in the development and implementation of new strategic initiatives such as the Fox Theatre Institute, an outreach and consulting division for which she served as the Director of Restoration Consulting. And even before her work at the Fox, Molly was employed by the Department of Defense as a Cultural Resource Specialist in Historic Preservation and Programming. Molly received her BFA in Interior Design from Converse College with a minor in Physics; she received an MFA in Historic Preservation from the Savannah College of Art and Design, Summa Cum Laude with Distinction. Molly is married to LTC (ret) Christopher Kemper and has two daughters and three dogs.

About Doug MacIntyre

Doug MacIntyre is a retired business executive and a student of the American Revolution. His research led to the creation of Thomson Park to commemorate the battle at the Breach. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and served five years as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army. Doug earned an MBA from Boston University and completed advanced management programs at Harvard, Wharton, and Stanford business schools. He was chair, president, and CEO of public and private information technology companies and served on the boards of local and national industry and civic organizations. In retirement, he has promoted South Carolina’s technology economy, natural resources, and history. 

About Shane Seley

Shane Seley has transformed a lifelong passion for history and storytelling into an award-winning film career. He co-founded Wide Awake Films, which has evolved into a full-service production and post-production studio for award-winning filmmakers and museum experience developers. Wide Awake Films crafts historical content and tells stories that keep the past engaging, relevant, and insightful. Shane’s clients include CuriosityStream, American Battlefield Trust, George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the National Park Service, the National Museum of the US Army, Rosa Parks Museum, and others. Living in Kansas City, Missouri, Shane is a proud father, husband, 19th-century living historian, and steward of old houses, as well as a reader of history.

About the Moderator

Rob Shenk is a board member of SC250 Charleston, a local nonprofit established to support commemorative events and educational programs in the Charleston area, and serves as the Chief Content Officer for Wide Awake Films, a leading producer of history-centered films and museum interactives.  Rob previously held senior executive positions at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the American Battlefield Trust, and E*TRADE.  Rob’s projects have earned various industry awards, including a Thea Award for Be Washington, a Webby Award, a SEGD Global Design Award, and numerous Telly Awards.  As a former US Naval officer, Rob has a strong love of American and military history. He and his wife, Tracey, live in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.

About Wide Awake Films

Wide Awake Films – Wide Awake Films is an award-winning team dedicated to creating films, museum interactives, and virtual reality productions that breathe new life into the stories of our past. The company was founded in 1999 on the hard work of two local Kansas City entrepreneurs with an idea to take their love of history and film and start a business honoring those two passions. Twenty years later, they are still creating content rooted in passion, authenticity, and craftsmanship though the team has grown from two friends in an attic to a larger team of creative professionals who take on a wide variety of film, museum, exhibit, and online projects.