Breaking Branches Pictures

01/04/2026

Big thanks to Carolyn Chiffelle for her latest donation and support through the years. 😊🙏 It’s very interesting how folks originally from this town who live on the West Coast want to support this project. I truly appreciate it.

Visit firstmillvillage.com to learn all about SLATERSVILLE. … Christian de Rezendes de Rezendes needs your support for Complete SLATERSVILLE Film Series

01/04/2026

My talk on SLATERSVILLE this Monday 1/5 @ Blackstone Public Library has been POSTPONED because I’m sick. 😢 It will be rescheduled soon. 😊🙏

01/02/2026

This Monday, January 5th at 6:30PM, I will be presenting about the making of Slatersville: America's First Mill Village at the Blackstone Public Library. Visit their website, and register for the event. I look forward to seeing you there :-)
https://blackstonepubliclibrary.org

01/02/2026

I made a BOO-BOO in a post last week about the January date below. Please take note that these are the CORRECT dates:

JAN 30
FEB 6
FEB 13

These are the 3 days SLATERSVILLE will RETURN to Ocean State Media. For the first time, these episodes will air for 3 FRIDAYS in a row @ 8PM.

1.30.26 | Episode 6: They Will All Be My Friends (73 mins.)

2.6.26 | Episode 7: The War Years (68 mins.)

2.13.26 | Episode 8: The Power of Nostalgia (76 mins.)

***For those who use DV-R, remember to set your recorders for 90-minute blocks, as all of these episodes run over one hour.***

Watch, Learn & Support Slatersville: America's First Mill Village at firstmillvillage.com

12/30/2025

I’m afraid to say this, but we MAY have filmed our LAST interview for Slatersville: America's First Mill Village today. I say “may” for several reasons. But if I’m right, then it was apropos to film Peter Mandeville, up from Pennsylvania for a holiday visit. The fact that I graduated high school with him in 1993 and that we’ve known each other since the age of 4 brings everything full circle. 😊🙏 Also, since Peter and I suffer from having gone to the same f’d up barber, Irina saw that he needed a little make-up to kill the glaring spotlight on his head. 🤣 Thankfully, his wife’s make-up bag was in the car. That came in handy. Big thanks to Peter, Co-Producer Gail Denomme and Irina Slovtsova on camera. A fine job by all. Happy New Year!! 🎊 Visit firstmillvillage.com to learn, watch and support!! 😊🙏🎄🎁

12/28/2025

In looking back at 2025, this was one of the coolest events for Slatersville: America's First Mill Village. I got to talk about the series in-depth with the guys at Cumberland Unfiltered. So with gratitude, this is my encore post. 🙂 Thank you Caleb Minson & Co.

Fifteen years in the making — this is the story of a filmmaker who turned obsession into legacy.Through Slatersville: America’s First Mill Village, Rhode Isl...

12/24/2025

MARK YOUR 2026 CALENDARS!! Slatersville: America's First Mill Village is RETURNING TO Ocean State Media (formerly RI PBS).

For the first time, these latest episodes will run for 3 FRIDAYS in a row at 8PM.

1.31.26 | Episode 6: They Will All Be My Friends (73 mins.)
2.6.26 | Episode 7: The War Years (68 mins.)
2.13.26 | Episode 8: The Power of Nostalgia (76 mins.)

***For those who use DV-R, remember to set your recorders for 90-minute blocks, as all of these episodes run over one hour.***

Watch, Learn & Support Slatersville: America's First Mill Village at firstmillvillage.com

12/18/2025

SLATERSVILLE REVIEW:

“I grew up in Union Village, my parents both worked in mills… What truly amazes me in watching your films is that you tell the truth about our small town. It is very clear that you love the town, the people and its history, but you never waver from telling the truth about how we all treat each other, the various classes and populations, and how we measure our gains. Through your love of Slatersville, and the apparent integrity you have within you, you are sharing a history that feels real and very timely. Thank you for your work. I look forward to further installments and watching other projects.”

- Mark LaRiviere

To my knowledge, I have never met Mark. Nor had I known about him until he wrote this. He resides in New York now. Receiving comments like this are absolutely wonderful. 😊🙏 Thank you, Mark!!

If you have not taken the time to see Slatersville: America's First Mill Village and its entirety (8 episodes to date) now would be a great time to catch up!! 😊 Visit firstmillvillage.com to learn how.

Slatersville: America's First Mill Village is a historical documentary series filmed in the US and the UK focusing on the 250-year history of the first industrialized mill village in northern Rhode Island.

12/16/2025

🎄 Christmas TIME!!! 🎄 So I still have a few SLATERSVILLE blu-rays in stock from this round and ornaments. If you’ve wanted to get them, NOW is the time!! 😊 🙏👍 Order soon, and I might be able to get them to you in time for 🎄🎄🎄 Visit our SHOP at firstmillvillage.com to purchase these items today!!

12/16/2025

I want to take this opportunity to thank 2 generous donors who have played roles in helping us to make progress on Slatersville: America's First Mill Village through the years.

The first is David Choate of the Choate Family in South Carolina. He and his brother Culver appear in the series along with their late sister Nancy and their (now 107 year-old) mother Genevieve. The donation was made in Loving Memory of their father, Paul Choate, who worked for the Kendall Company for 60 years.
Below is David with his mother and Santa. 🙂

The second is from Muriel Halloran, in Loving Memory of her husband Daniel Halloran, one of North Smithfield's former Town Councilmen. Muriel appears in the final season of the series, which we are actively in post-production on. There is Muriel below (antlers) singing alongside my mom.

Much of the time, we have been able to make progress, because people have voluntarily stepped in to aid what has been a super-low budget docu-series in motion for a decade and a half. The generosity shown by these two families is truly appreciated. Without supporters like them, including John Butler and so many more, we would never have gotten this far. I am forever grateful for all the support that has come our way.

THANK YOU ALL!!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

If you want to make a donation, visit firstmillvillage.com to check out our GoFundMe page or to learn of other ways to give. More coming soon...