ST. GEORGE -- Charles Kizer's farm in upper Dorchester County was transformed into a movie set March 15-16, and filming will continue there every weekend until June.

"Perfect Disguise," the Civil War-era film starring Heather Clark of Augusta, Ga., is based on a book by Lydia Hawke. Set in 1864, an 18-year-old woman named Willa Randle has lost her mother and brother. Her abusive alcoholic father is trying to persuade Willa to marry Edgar Dodd, who is many years older than she and is also abusive.

After Dodd beats her and attempts to rape her, Willa strikes him over the head with a whiskey bottle and escapes to join the Confederate Cavalry disguised as a young man. Willa feels safer as a solider than she did at home but finds herself in love with her unsuspecting captain, Jeff Spencer. Spencer begins to have feelings for the newest member of his troop but cannot account for those feelings.

"Perfect Disguise" author Lydia C. Filzen, under the pen name Lydia Hawke, has written several books. "Firetrail," a fictional account of the War Between the States, portrays Sherman's Army destroying everything in its path as it burns its way through South Carolina.

Director Christopher Forbes guides his cast through the paces of getting the perfect shot. Forbes is a Civil War buff who has also directed "Firetrail" and "The Battle of Aiken."

"All three movies are being told from a Southern perspective," he said. "One of the reasons people work with me in making these is I am not trying to put together propaganda. I am trying to put together a story as told from a Southern point of view."

According to the author's Web page, www.lydiahawke.us, Filzen runs an electrical contracting business with her husband, Larry. She can be found at Civil War reenactments and dog shows on weekends.

T&D Correspondent S.W. Shoptaw can be reached by e-mail at Swsx5@aol.com. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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