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Notes from the Video Creator: David Buck

For my 2026-2026 Youth Leadership Team capstone project, I created a video series for the Battle of Wises Fork. To create this series, I first had to build the historical connections needed to make a project like this possible. I started by reaching out to the board of the CSS Neuse II and the CSS Neuse Museum. Two board members from this institution helped me connect with Rachel Kennedy and Chadwick Stokes, and without them, these relationships would have been much harder to establish.

Eventually, I was introduced to two very important members of the Wyse Fork Battlefield Commission, Skip Riddle and Dennis Harper. These two men were instrumental in helping me advance my project and gather the resources needed to make it a reality. Through them, I was also connected with historian and author Wade Sokolosky. Wade provided the audio recordings and historical information that became the foundation for the videos.

To create the video, I began with the backing audio Wade provided, which helped create the Ken Burns-style effect I was aiming for. From there, I developed a script, deciding what I would say, what shots I needed, and which archival resources would best support the narration from both Wade and myself. After writing the script, I clipped and organized the audio recordings before piecing everything together into a rough timeline.

Next came selecting archival materials for the videos. The ºÚÁÏÉç was vital in providing many of these resources. Once the materials were selected, I layered them over the audio, added final edits and polishing touches, and completed the project. In the end, it was incredibly rewarding to step back and watch the finished product come together after all the work and collaboration that went into it.