Clarence Felder as Captain Henry Felder in the movie All for Liberty Clarence Felder received an email a few years ago from someone in Mississippi asking him if he was a relative of Henry Felder of Orangeburg, a key player in the role played by South Carolina during the American Revolutionary War. He didn't know, but after some research, found that he is a direct descendant of that historical figure. Henry Felder was his sixth generation great grandfather.

A renewed interest in an all but forgotten part of our country's history led Clarence Felder down a road of discovery about his own history as well. His extensive research culminated in

his writing the play, Captain

Felder's Cannon. He says, "This project has led to the rediscovery of historical sites including Captain Felder's homestead, his grave, and hiding in plain sight, his two cannons in the middle of Orangeburg square."

Clarence Felder was born and raised in St. Matthews, S.C. He performed in community theater at Columbia College, and USC before traveling to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where he received his first paycheck as an actor in the outdoor

A scene from the movie All for Liberty drama The Lost Colony.

He moved to New York City in 1963 living and working as a leading actor for 22 years on Broadway, playing various roles, acting in most of Shakespeare's plays, and performing with such stars as Glenn Close and Meryl Streep.

In late 1984, Felder and his wife, actor/director Chris Weatherhead, moved to Los Angeles where he worked in television and films. His numerous appearances include a two-year run on ABC's hit series "Hooperman" with John Ritter, and films such as The Last Boy

Scout , Ruthless People,

and After Hours.

Felder "came home" to his native South Carolina in 1994 when his mother became ill with lung cancer. He now lives and works in Charleston. A prolific writer, Felder co- founded the Actors Theatre of South Carolina.

Upon reading

Felder's play, Captain

Felder's Cannon, his wife told him it was too big to be a play, it needed to be a movie. So began the five- year- long film project,

Al l for Liber ty, starring Clarence Felder as Captain Henry Felder, directed by his wife, Chris Weatherhead.

All for Liberty is the historically accurate story based on the life of Captain Henry Felder, the German- Swiss son of a mercenary brought to America in 1735 to fight against the Cherokee in Charleston. The story focuses on the price Captain Felder, his family, and community paid for their convictions as they fought against British tyranny during America's Revolutionary War. Captain Felder abandoned working with the British courts after unpunished crimes and massive taxation against his family, and at Governor Rutledge's

request, wrote the Articles

of Separation from the English King in 1776, months before Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence.

The film was shot on location in South Carolina and Georgia using 12 historical sites as well as 14 others, such as the Felder Farm in Calhoun County, owned by Clarence and his brother.

In Al l for Liber ty,

Clarence Felder says he wants to "make it very clear that our American Revolution was fought and won by ordinary people who were not fighting for themselves, but for their families, their children, and for posterity." He says these were "real people, not models, and were a very diverse group, including many nationalities. For example there is a Ukrainian character, Native American, and a freeman among Captain Felder's men." Felder also wanted to show the important roles women played in our young nation's struggle for freedom - feeding the troops and caring for the wounded, keeping homes, farms, and businesses going while their men were at war, and in many instances, fighting alongside the men.

All for Liberty, starring Clarence Felder, has received several awards at film festivals in Beijing, Houston, and Charleston, and will premiere in Columbia, September 26 at the South Carolina State Museum. There will be two screenings at 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm. Tickets are $25 and are available by calling 803-779-8763. Proceeds from the premiere will go to benefit the Sandlapper Society, an educational organization that produces the Sandlapper

magazine, publishes books, and promotes the positive aspects of life in the Palmetto State.