NOW IN PRODUCTION
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Based on a true story.
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The journey to Lincoln begins.
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A 10-minute cinematic preview and proof of concept for the upcoming feature film.
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In the days following Lincoln’s assassination, Ben, a former slave, risks his life to reach Lincoln’s funeral train and honor the man who gave his people hope.
An exclusive first look at the story, characters and world of the upcoming feature film set during the extraordinary journey of Abraham Lincoln’s funeral train through Indiana.
The Journey Begins Here
Before Of Tears and Iron becomes a feature film, we are producing a self-contained 10-minute cinematic preview, bringing its story, historical relevance and emotional heart to the screen for the first time.
Lincoln is dead. America is grieving. One man has a journey he must make.
01 / THE STORY
A professionally produced 10-minute film introducing the characters, setting and emotional scope of the feature.
02 / THE PREVIEW
Storytelling that reconnects audiences with Lincoln, our shared history and one another.
03 / THE MISSION
"There is no 'them'- only us."
A TRUE STORY FROM 1865. A MESSAGE FOR AMERICA TODAY.
Purpose: Lower temperature in society with knowledge and storytelling.
Vision: We take Lincoln out of the museums and into the hearts of the people.
Mission: To save our democracy in a theater rather than the streets.
Based on a True Story
Sadly, few people know much about Lincoln’s funeral train or the cities and towns it passed through or stopped in during its journey in 1865. It’s important to remember that President Lincoln was the first sitting U.S. president to be assassinated.
Think of the tremendous outpourings of public grief in recent memory: the death of Princess Diana in 1997 or the assassination of John Lennon in 1980. But President Lincoln’s death and the subsequent journey of his funeral train acted almost as a “zipper” in the aftermath of the Civil War, bringing an estimated 7 million Americans together in collective mourning on a scale unlike anything before or since.
Click on the numbers to discover fascinating facts about this incredible and TRUE event!
13
For nearly 13 hours, Lincoln lay in state in Indiana’s Old State House on the site of today’s Statehouse in downtown Indianapolis, a building that was demolished in 1877–78.
100,000
Lincoln lay in state at the Indiana State House in Indianapolis on April 30, 1865. Despite pouring rain, contemporary estimates ranged from 50,000 to more than 100,000 mourners... astonishing for a city whose population had been only about 18,600 in 1860.
5
Abraham Lincoln was assassinated just five days after the Confederate surrender at Appomattox.
7
Lincoln’s funeral train traveled through seven states—Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, on its historic journey to Springfield.
7,000,000
Estimated number of Americans are estimated to have witnessed Lincoln's funeral train or funeral procession on its journey from Washington, D.C., to Springfield, Illinois.
250
Nearly 250 miles across Indiana, from Richmond to the Illinois state line near present-day Hammond, thousands of Hoosiers gathered along the tracks to mourn their fallen president.
Lincoln’s assassination plunges freed slaves into panic as the future of their freedom and their place in America hangs in the balance. This is the story of Ben, a former slave who risks his life for one final chance to pay his respects to Lincoln.
Filming at Billie Creek Village on November 2
A big THANK YOU to the staff at Billie Creek for this honor!
Meet the Cast
Elizabeth
Erica Colson plays Elizabeth Schofield, an educated, poised abolitionist whose compassion, conviction and moral clarity give her a quiet strength. Shaped by personal loss, she carries both warmth and a steel-edged resolve, becoming one of the emotional anchors of the story.
Ben
Harold Dennis plays Ben, a formerly enslaved man deeply wounded by the brutality of slavery and the recent death of his father. Carrying years of pain beneath a quiet strength, Lincoln’s death deepens his grief and leaves Ben wrestling with what the loss could mean for the future of his people.
Samuel
Samuel Trumper, portrayed by Seth Hale, returns after four years of Civil War carrying wounds of his own. The war has changed the man he once was, leaving him to reconcile what he witnessed on the battlefield with the life, friendships and love he left behind.
The Creative Team
Christopher B. Allen is the writer, director and producer of Of Tears and Iron. A filmmaker with more than 30 years of experience, his previous work includes Quantum Leap: A Leap to Di For and A Time for the Heart. He is also the founder and executive director of The Lincoln Special. Meeting civil rights icon John Lewis became the inspiration behind the organization and its mission. Allen will also collaborate behind the camera with his son, Samuel, making the production both an educational experience and a personal one. “It’s a great way to show Sam who Lincoln was, plus get some father-son time along the way.” Allen said.
Producer
Kelley Mesterharm
Kelley brings a diverse background in education, historic preservation, fundraising and project leadership to Of Tears and Iron. With experience in curriculum development and historical research, she combines a passion for preserving the past with a commitment to making history meaningful and accessible to audiences today.
Production Consultants
Nate Savidge
Nate is a 30-year veteran of television and film production who has served as Director of Photography on more than 19 independent feature films. His decades of experience bring a seasoned creative eye and technical expertise to the visual storytelling of Of Tears and Iron.
Tom Johnson
Tom is a veteran sound engineer and production sound recordist with decades of experience in film and television. A longtime collaborator with Allen, Tom brings extensive technical expertise and a seasoned ear to the production of Of Tears and Iron.
Filming at Billie Creek Village on November 2
A big THANK YOU to the staff at Billie Creek for this honor!