Now streaming on Vimeo!
The Magic Stump from Bob Dolgan on Vimeo.
"The Magic Stump" is a Turnstone film that tells the story of an Illinois tree stump that's attracted a phenomenal variety of wintering raptors through the years, including two rare Prairie Falcons. The goal of "The Magic Stump" is to draw attention to the story of raptors that winter in our highly altered agricultural landscape. The plan is for this film to be the first in "The Prairie State" series that will feature the landscape that once dominated Illinois. The film is directed by Bob Dolgan and edited by Sharon Filipkowski. Videography is by Mitchell Fransen and Mitchell Wenkus, and original music is by Empidonax.
2022-2023 premiere showings
Sept. 24
Charleston, Fall Féte with Grand Prairie Friends (more info)
October 2
Chicago, Uncommon Ground Edgewater (tickets)
October 4
Willow Springs, Imperial Oak Brewing (register)
October 13
DuPage Birding Club (more info)
October 27
Chicago Ornithological Society (register)
Nov. 1
Lake-Cook Audubon (register)
Dec. 2
Mattoon, Douglas-Hart Nature Center (register)
Dec. 3
Decatur, Rock Springs Nature Center (more info)
Dec. 15
Springfield Audubon Society, Adams Wildlife Sanctuary (more info)
Jan. 12
Will County Audubon Society (more info)
Jan. 31
Waukegan Public Library in partnership with Sharing Our Shore-Waukegan (register)
Feb. 12
Chicago, Fort Dearborn Audubon Society, Notebaert Nature Museum (register)
Feb. 19
Champaign, Virginia Theatre (register)
Interested in setting up your own screening? Contact us here.
Thank you to our sponsors!
This project is partially supported by an Individual Artist Program Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events, as well as a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state agency through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.
11/17/21: Press for Marsh Hawk Red Ale and The Magic Stump! Birdwatching Magazine recently featured our partnership with Imperial Oak Brewing.
9/1/22: The Journal Gazette featured the upcoming premiere of "The Magic Stump," in an article, "Coles County on the birding map with new movie"
9/26/22: "The Magic Stump" is a must-see documentary, by Andrew Morkes of Nature in Chicagoland
9/29/22: "Magic Stump" documentary highlights Illinois raptor hotspot, by Matt Mendenhall of Birdwatching Magazine
9/30/22: Cine-File says "If you can’t travel to the Magic Stump, Dolgan’s beautifully edited film is the next best thing."
10/7/22: Following Bob Dolgan's path to documentary "The Magic Stump," by Dale Bowman of the Chicago Sun-Times
10/12/22: There's a magic stump in Illinois and it will change the way you look at farmland, by Patty Wetli of WTTW.com
11/15/22: How Bob Dolgan's documentaries capture the magic and mystery of Illinois birds, by Jeff Reiter of the Daily Herald
9/1/22: The Journal Gazette featured the upcoming premiere of "The Magic Stump," in an article, "Coles County on the birding map with new movie"
9/26/22: "The Magic Stump" is a must-see documentary, by Andrew Morkes of Nature in Chicagoland
9/29/22: "Magic Stump" documentary highlights Illinois raptor hotspot, by Matt Mendenhall of Birdwatching Magazine
9/30/22: Cine-File says "If you can’t travel to the Magic Stump, Dolgan’s beautifully edited film is the next best thing."
10/7/22: Following Bob Dolgan's path to documentary "The Magic Stump," by Dale Bowman of the Chicago Sun-Times
10/12/22: There's a magic stump in Illinois and it will change the way you look at farmland, by Patty Wetli of WTTW.com
11/15/22: How Bob Dolgan's documentaries capture the magic and mystery of Illinois birds, by Jeff Reiter of the Daily Herald