Drury professor receives film grant

The Kirby Foundation has awarded Drury University visiting assistant professor Monty Dobson a $10,000 grant for the production of a documentary film about the Native American culture near St. Louis.

Dobson's production company ShovelReady Productions is creating the 30-minute documentary titled "Cahokia: Native American City of Mystery." The film examines the Cahokia Mounds, providing history of the Mississippian culture that was prevalent there between 800 and 1400 A.D., according to a Drury news release.

The Cahokia Mounds is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Site in Collinsville, Ill.

"We are terrifically excited by the opportunity this generous grant from the Kirby Foundation offers to bring attention to the truly unique nature of the Cahokia site,” Dobson said in the release.

Dobson has partnered with Patrick Mureithi, Drury's artist in residence, to produce the film.

The film, scheduled to be released later this year, is currently in the post production stage, with editing, sound and animation being done, according to Dobson's Web site.

ShovelReady Products also is offering executive producer, producer and co-producer credits for those that make tax deductible contributions of $5,000, $2,500 and $1,000, respectively, to the project.

Dobson is an assistant professor of history and an archaeologist. He earned his Ph.D. in archaeology from the University of York in York, England.[[In-content Ad]]