Welcome to our MINI MIME STORIES

Linda has a diverse, creative visionary background. Dennis began her career in product development for the Arts and Craft Industry for consumers interested in needlecrafts. Ribband, a ribbon to cross stitch, developed in 1982, still sells today, and was named following Linda’s love of history: “And Moses said – apply Ribband to your borders of skirts”. During her “art and crafting” years, produced booklets on needlecrafts, general crafts and magazines for Wolf Camera, and PRIMEDIA. She served on the board of ACCI for ten years in Chicago, providing how-to workshops and stage events, helping to promote the arts and craft products to retailers. Following the sale of Ribband to Bucilla, she volunteered as the “Magazine Lady” at Fast Forward/Hand Middle School, in Columbia, SC, was discovered by members of AUSA and asked to visit Fort Jackson, SC. Dennis then began a second career supporting military families and their children at deployment and coming home events. Dennis produced events for the families of Pentagon employees for two years: “Going to work with your parent day”. Following participated in the GI Film Festival, the local theater and provided support for the National Guard and Army Reserve Families at their Deployment, Yellow Ribbon events and at the annual Youth Symposiums.

 
In 2014, upon coming home, following a Tuesday night visit with Mayor Riley, invited into the Charleston Promise Neighborhood, and other schools, and developed an afterschool program: Backpack Journalism”, photojournalism with the help of APPLE Education. Dennis added in iPad Storytelling, and filmmaking. For the past eight years, researched, supported by professional actor (Randy Neale), a Low country Civil Rights Heroes stage event. Offered a Film Educational Experience at the Gaillard, and a performance during Piccolo and at the Dock Street Theatre. During the Pandemic, with all schools shut down, Dennis had time to explore her personal bookshelf – and the rest is now history: Bringing the Art of Pantomime to the students here in the Lowcountry, so inspired by the beautiful silent films of Charlie Chaplin the next step. 

 
An artist with Engaging Creative Minds, Dennis has taught the Art of Pantomime, integrating into the reading of a book to 600 students in the low country, and continues in the upcoming year. An interesting outcome? Students showed an increase in reading comprehension and writing! During this past year a MIME TROUPE entertained seniors at Sandpiper Cottages and appeared in two local Christmas parades.

The inspiration for the Mount Pleasant, SC Film Festival featuring the Films of Charlie Chaplin has come in full of viewing his works on line and seeing the laughter and enjoyment it brings all who watch - especially children! 

Making the World Smile Again!

Linda has a daughter and three grandchildren, with a grandson and one of his friends, helping to bring the image of THE TRAMP, the iconic character that Chaplin developed, alive here in the lowcountry!

Dennis Wilkinson - Board Vice Chair. Marketing 

 Denny, one of 10 children, was born and raised in the Chicagoland area. After high school, Denny attended Princeton University and earned a degree in Sociology. Upon graduating , Denny embarked year long journey throughout the US and Europe. Upon returning to the US, Denny started a career in Advertising residing in NYC. After 3 years in NYC Denny was transferred to San Francisco continuing his advertising career. After 5 years in SF, Denny took a sabbatical to attend The Program for Managemen Development at Harvard University School of Business.

Upon completion of the program, he returned to San Francisco. 

After an extensive career in advertising, Denny moved into TV, starting with The Home Box Office back in NYC and then moving to Philadelphia to help start the nation’s first satellite TV service, Primestar. After a successful start, Primestar was sold to DirecTV. After the sale, Denny embarked on a career in media technology. Denny led several startup companies that provided technology services to the TV industry, focusing on video advertising on the internet. 

One of the companies Denny led was Princeton Video Image, the company that created the “Virtual First Down Line” now used in every NFL telecast.

 
Denny and his wife Kathy moved to Charleston 7 years ago and reside in Mt. Pleasant. They have four children and four grandsons. In his spare time, Denny likes to travel, having visited all 50 US states and six out of the seven continents. 

He also enjoys boating, hiking, movies and especially spending summers. in Maine.

 
Editor’s note: Denny has volunteered and supported the Backpack Journalist program serving students in the Charleston Neighborhood and the Sanders Clyde School, and the City Of Charleston, SC for muitple years.

Trinity has been a resident of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina since birth! Her love of films and editing has been since elementary to middle school and was one of the attendees at the Backpack Journalist Film Making Experience at the Gaillard Center in Charleston. Since middle school and to Wando High School, her interest intensified and after graduating she enrolled in the Trident Technical College with a major focus on Multimedia and Filmmaking. She is to graduate this year, however her talent and abilities has shown through! She worked as set designer for the filming of Outer Banks, works part time as a film editor for an advertising agency and is always supporting the works, as film and editor of the MIME Experiences and previously the Backpack Journalist!

From Trinity: I am very interested in filmmaking and storytelling. The fact that The Mime Experience is inspired by Charlie Chaplin and shares stories through movement is something I want to help support and be a part of. I think it is important that his legacy lives on and that children are able to continue to learn and use their imaginations by expression of movement. Being able to tell a story through movement is something that helps you connect and exercise body and mind. It would be an honor to be on the board and help support the mission

 
.

An Adjunct History Professor - The Citadel and Charleston Southern University

Published Author: Multiple titles - African American History - from The History Press &  Tour Guide - Storyteller - Tour of Charleston

From Damon:

"I became interested in Charlie Chaplin around 1977 at age 12, when I was at the Village Library in Mt. Pleasant SC. I read his autobiography and was moved and inspired by his story of growing up in poverty in England with alcoholism and mental illness in family to becoming the most beloved figure of his time. I would later enjoy his Keystone, Essenay, and Mutual Films on various television shows of the era, but was hooked after seeing "Tillie's Punctured Romance" at age 15. In college, I saw "The Great Dictator,: "Modern Times," and "City Lights," at the campus theater, which added to my appreciation. As an historian and aficionado of early film comedy as well as an author and public speaker on historical subjects, I would be more than happy to assist in educating younger generations to the art of people such as Chaplin."

 
 .