January 15, 2014

This Machine goes to the movies. This issue is all about film, and at the center is This Land Films’ first feature-length documentary, This May Be the Last Time, which premieres at the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 19. The film chronicles the Muscogee (Creek) people’s history and the Christian hymns they adopted as their own—songs that just may prove to be the first American music. This issue features a story about those songs, an interview with our filmmakers, and much more. HAM: A slice of life from Sam Harris’ forthcoming memoir.

MADE IN OKLAHOMA: A list of the 24 best films shot in the state.

THE SOUNDS OF ENDURANCE: Holly Wall traces the history of the Muscogee (Creek) hymns, the subject of This Land Films’ first feature-length documentary, premiering this month at the Sundance Film Festival.

OKLAHOMA IS FOR LOVERS: Alexander Yates participates in This Land’s flash fiction series, “Imaginary Oklahoma,” with a story about love and heartbreak in the Sooner State.

IN THE FIELD: A poem by Michael Madonick.

MEET THE FILMMAKERS: This Land Audio Producer Abby Wendle interviews filmmakers Sterlin Harjo and Matt Leach about their documentary This May Be the Last Time.

ORIGINAL OKIE: Brian Hearn is the film curator at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, which screens more than 300 films a year.