Synopsis: Lewis H. Latimer, American polymath, serves in the Civil War, learns the trade of technical draftsmen and assists in the creation of the telephone with Alexander Graham Bell in 1876. With his wife and life partner Mary, he builds a family, and creates a legacy as one of the founding fathers of electrical engineering working with Thomas Alva Edison. His 1881 patent of the long lasting carbon filament, creates lights that last over 1000 hours, thereby ushering in the electric light age for common folk and industry world wide.

Slides about RECLAIMING THE LIGHT film project!

Our goal is to fill a void: to create awareness about African American Inventors. In THE CURRENT WAR (2017) Lewis H. Latimer was in the shadows, a minor character. In reality Latimer is the key player in the development of the telephone, the lightbulb and the field of Electrical Engineering! The film will intercut the historical dramatic story of Latimer with interviews of contemporary BIPOC inventors and technical innovators. We want to inspire the next generation of engineers and inventors and share a missing link in our national history.

Writers: Nadine Patterson, Martha Conley

Director: Nadine Patterson

Producers: Nadine Patterson, Martha Conley, Parris Z. Moore, Marlene G. Patterson

Production Company: Harmony Image Productions ​​

Funders: Peoples Media Fund (aka Independence Public Media Foundation), RK Mellon, Pittsburgh Foundation/Arts Equity Reimagined, Individual Donors, City of Philadelphia Illuminate the Arts Fund, and Philadelphia Independent Media Fund at Scribe Video Center.

Fiscal Conduit: Fractured Atlas Our script is complete. We are currently in Pre-Production. Your support will help launch into production and edit the film in 2026! THANK YOU!

Length: 80 min.   Genre: Documentary-Drama    Budget: $1 million

Economic & STEAM Impact: $100,000 was raised to cover research, travel and hotel, writers, consultants, purchase cinema quality camera gear, audio gear, and production insurance. Financial support for our production year of 2026 will benefit local businesses such as hotel and catering; over fifty working artists and technicians in camera, lighting, sound engineering, production design, make-up, costume, and actors. Each department head will mentor paid production assistants who will learn and improve their skills in technical aspects of film production. We are committed to a culture of inclusion in front of and behind the camera.

Supportive organizations include: The Lindsay (formerly Tull) Theater and Cultural Center, The Colored Girls Museum, Women of Color Unite, Film Fatales, Filmmaker Success, and Reel Black.