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BROKEN HIP PRODUCTIONS

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Separated by time. United in calling.

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A True Story. Revisited.

In a divided America, a young actor’s passion project about a war-scarred reformer thrusts him into the center of a cultural firestorm, forcing him to confront his own fractured identity and challenging his generation to seek healing and unity through truth and grace.

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Synopsis.

A forgotten hero. A fractured time. A quest for unity.

Against the backdrop of 2020’s social upheaval, The Major centers on a college actor staging a play about a little-known Civil War figure, Major James Lide Coker, a Confederate veteran who became a forward-thinking reformer, an advocate for racial and educational progress, and the most successful entrepreneur of his day.

What begins as a simple performance becomes a personal and generational reckoning, challenging modern audiences to reexamine the past with honesty and to rediscover its potential to heal.

Told through three interwoven storylines—present day, historical flashbacks, and the onstage performance—this powerful story speaks to a world hungry for meaning, dialogue, and hope.

The Book.

The Major is a feature-length motion picture written by Joaquin Fernandez that explores the extraordinary life and legacy of Civil War Major James Lide Coker of Hartsville, South Carolina, through a powerful modern-day lens. Based on the biography, God, Guts, and Gallantry: The Faith, Courage, and Accomplishments of Major James Lide Coker, by Amazon best-selling author, Dr. Will Joslin, Coker's great-grandson, the film intertwines historical and contemporary elements to create a layered, emotionally resonant narrative.

The Major’s Faith.

The following video was created for the 175th anniversary of the church in Hartsville, South Carolina, where Major Coker and his wife Sue taught Sunday School for more than forty years, and it offers a glimpse into his remarkable leadership.

Major Coker mini-documentary

Media

Cast of Characters

MODERN-DAY NARRATIVE

Set against the turmoil of 2020, the modern characters in The Major grapple with cultural tension, personal identity, and the search for meaning in a divided world. Their relationships, doubts, and convictions collide as Jacob’s stage play forces them to confront uncomfortable truths about history, their faith, and themselves. Through their stories, we see the urgency and relevance of the film’s themes in our own time.

Jacob Cohen Pinckney

A passionate theater student whose senior play about Major Coker sparks campus controversy. Struggling with self-doubt and public pressure, Jacob’s journey becomes one of faith, reconciliation, and self-discovery.

Candy Aiken

Jacob’s girlfriend, a biracial student of sociology and dance. Torn between love, conviction, and cultural tensions, she represents the modern struggle between identity and unity.

Malcolm Washington

Candy’s older brother, a driven young professional at Sonoco—the global company founded by Major Coker. His skepticism toward Jacob’s project mirrors his own conflict between justice and forgiveness.

Juan Valdez

Jacob’s roommate and closest friend. He's a quick-witted stand-up comic who uses humor to defuse the chaos around him, yet often reveals truths others have a hard time putting into words.

Chris Aiken

Candy’s father, a thoughtful and steady presence shaped by his experience at Charleston’s Mother Emanuel AME Church. His faith-driven commitment to forgiveness gives him a quiet authority as Jacob and Candy face growing cultural tension.

Rebekah Aiken

Candy’s mother, warm-hearted and perceptive, carrying the memory of the Mother Emanuel tragedy with strength and humility. She offers wisdom and compassion to her family, helping guide Candy — and ultimately Jacob — toward understanding, healing, and unity.

HISTORICAL NARRATIVE

The historical figures in The Major reveal the real-life legacy of James Lide Coker — a man shaped by war, loss, and an unwavering commitment to rebuild what was broken. These characters reflect the struggles and hopes of a South emerging from devastation, and their lives offer a powerful counterpoint to the modern storyline. Through them, the film explores the enduring impact of courage, redemption, and reconciliation across generations.

Major James Lide Coker

Wounded in war and walking with a shattered femur, he built businesses, founded Coker University, and worked toward racial and educational progress long before it was popular.

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Sue Coker

James Coker’s devoted wife and moral compass. Her faith and steadiness sustain the family through tragedy and rebuilding in the postwar South.

York

Born enslaved on the Coker family plantation and a childhood friend of James. Their separation during war and reunion in peace embody the painful path toward reconciliation.

Tom Hart

James’s closest friend at The Citadel—loyal, principled, and steady. He becomes both a companion in hardship and a moral anchor in James’s early life.

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Hannah Lide Coker

James’s mother, a woman of strong faith and quiet resolve whose guidance shapes her son’s conscience from youth into adulthood.

Caleb Coker

James’s father, a plantation owner whose traditional views reflect the contradictions of the Old South and the legacy James must confront.

Want to partner with us?

You can be a part of movie-making history! We are currently raising funds to produce a 10-minute short film based on the feature-length screenplay for The Major, and we would be grateful for your support and encouragement.

Contact us below to partner with us!

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