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| Working on a CW film | Rating: 
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| Posted: Wed Aug 1st, 2012 07:45 pm |
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1st Post |
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CalvryTeam Member
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Hello. I am working on a Civil War film set in Berkeley County, West Virginia, and Frederick County, Virginia. I have a limited budget, but I am fortunate enough to be working with some well-versed historians to develop a script. We're scouting for locations now and reaching out to re-enactment units. We're not making a documentary, but I want the film to be accurate and the story to flow well. I thought this might be a good place to discuss CW films in general with members who interested in films. I'd like to get opinions about some of the strengths and weaknesses of other films or CW film-making in general.
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| Posted: Thu Aug 2nd, 2012 07:19 am |
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2nd Post |
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Hellcat Person 
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Could I suggest getting some reenactors involved in the scripting process if it's not already done? Course for all I know the some of historians you're working with could be reenactors. I know you're looking to get some units involved in the project, but that sounds to me they'll be in the film and maybe not have much to do with the script. These are the men and women who spend a lot of time studying the way life was during the war, they might have some helpful insights for the script that the historians might not think of.
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| Posted: Thu Aug 2nd, 2012 01:13 pm |
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3rd Post |
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Mark Member
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I would suggest that you focus on getting the overarching historical themes in your work correct before worrying about exactly what buttons someone should be wearing. One of the constant gripes about historical movies (from an academic point of view) is that they get the details right at the expense of the larger historical framework. "Gods and Generals" is the most recent example of this. "Glory," I think is a good example of the better way of doing historical film making. Yes, there are some details that are wrong or were changed to fit the film, but the overarching historical themes were superbly done. I think you are on the right track by getting historians and reenactors involved early. The historians should be able to point you in the right direction for the historical themes and many reenactors are fanatical about the details of their characters. Best of luck! Mark
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| Posted: Thu Aug 2nd, 2012 02:33 pm |
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4th Post |
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CalvryTeam Member
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At this point, we are developing a script from a true story. The historians have been researching various accounts of the story to make sure that our interpretation is as close as possible to being accurate. We are just now contacting reenactment units because we wanted to have a better understanding of the actual story first. As far as developing the actual script, what we have now follows the story from official reports, and we're filling it in with dialogue from some of the accounts and some original dialogue where there is none. That's also been part of the historians' role: making sure the dialogue is reasonable for that time period. I plan on making the script available to the reenactors well in advance, and working with them to create their own interpretation of their characters for the original dialogue, mannerisms, etc. Personally, I'm pretty flexible and open to them bringing their own knowledge to the table - as long as it doesn't alter the actual documented story. But any original dialogue or any parts that were written by us to connect pieces of the documented story are open to their interpretation. I'm going to tell them: I am not necessarily taking sides in this film. Each of you has the opportunity to win over the audience with your portrayal, within the accurate framework of the real story.
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| Posted: Thu Aug 2nd, 2012 02:35 pm |
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5th Post |
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CalvryTeam Member
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By the way, the example of "Gods and Generals" - can you be more specific about some of the ways that it missed the larger historical framework? I've studied the film and various critical reviews, but I'm always interested in hearing more perspectives. I'd rather know too much than know too little!
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| Posted: Fri Aug 3rd, 2012 05:52 am |
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6th Post |
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Hellcat Person
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Look, my huge criticism of that film is it didn't remain as faithful to the source material as Gettysburg did to The Killer Angels. I wasn't expecting the book word for word, there's going to be changes made going from book to movie. But people have said that the movie Gods and Generals is more like a Stonewall love fest. It focuses more on Jackson than Shaara did in the book. Jackson was one of the main characters in the book, there is no doubt about that, but he's not the focus of the book. I was hoping for more of a set-up to the war like happens in the book, a little more of why the various characters ended up entering the war and a focus spread among all the main characters of the book. Also the directors cut added a scene of Booth that has nothing to do with the original story. The book has a lot with Hancock and his frustrations with those in command that seem missing in the movie. Lee's time in Texas and dealing with Custis' passing before the war are gone as is Chamberlain's hunting which has him questioning his life. At least the Director's Cut added back in Antietam (Sharpsburg) whichhad more of an appearance in the book than in the theatrical release. But the movie just never felt to be about the characters like Gods and Generals the book was. Gettysburg seemed to focus as much on the characters as the battle and felt like it was more faithful to The Killer Angels in doing that.
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| Posted: Fri Aug 3rd, 2012 01:45 pm |
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7th Post |
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Mark Member
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The biggest problem from my point of view is the near complete removal of slavery from the picture. Yes, I know they portray Martha the generally faithful house slave in Fredericksburg, but her character (who doesn't appear in the book) does not correspond to the current research on slavery. Indeed, given the centrality of slavery to southern society its nearly impossible to avoid notice of it in contemporary accounts by both Federals and Confederates. Yet, I don't believe there is a single reference to the Emancipation Proclamation or "contrabands" in the entire 3 hour film. Hope that helps. Mark
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| Posted: Sat Aug 4th, 2012 02:58 am |
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8th Post |
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CalvryTeam Member
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It's great to hear these perspectives. With "Gettysburg" and "Gods and Generals", there really seem to be two issue - the accuracy of the adaption of the books, and then the larger historic issues such as slavery. With "Gods and Generals", I noticed that it just opens with individuals choosing sides. Jackson does give some exposition about his loyalty to Virginia, but there's not much of broader look at why these men are facing this decision to begin with. If it were strictly a Jackson bio, then his perspective would be central and that would make sense. But the film really does try to cover a lot of material. The "Gettysburg" covered one battle, while "Gods and Generals" glosses over the entire war leading up to that battle - and obviously leaves out a lot. This really isn't a true Jackson bio, as his entire Valley campaign is skipped. For the story I'm working with, the families involved were not directly involved because of slavery. They are involved because of their location. I'm trying to tell a specific story about their experiences, not cover the entire war or the politics behind the war. The audience knows much of that already. I feel like my responsibility is to accurately show the perspectives of the people being depicted as they were, not so much to introduce broader concepts that weren't part of their daily struggles. Of course, their situation is part of a broader context. And I will try to make that point. But I've searched the diaries and property records for mention of slaves, and I'm just not finding that information in this case.
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| Posted: Sat Aug 4th, 2012 05:38 am |
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9th Post |
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Hellcat Person
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Right now the only mentions of slavery I can rembember in Gods and Generals the book is actually at the very start of the book and it deals in part with Lee having to deal with being the executor of Custis estate. Which means he's had to take time off to put his late father-in-law's affairs in order. Something there as I recall about a former slave seeking to purchase the freedom of some relative or other. And then the deal with Harper's Ferry. And that's about all I can recall of slavery in the book. You bring up perspective of the people being depicted, CalvryTeam. I think a lot of people look at a war movie today and their not interested in the perspectie of the people taking part, they just want to see action. But I think the perspective of the main and even secondary characters puts the action into a focus that may be more easy to relate to or at least more easy to understand why folks may have done what they did. Or maybe it's just easier to get what their mindset may have been, or is if their a compeletely fictional character in a work that is itself completely fictional. It ceases being a case of "Well I'm going to go fight this battle because I'm a soldier and that what I do" or even being "A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do." It more becomes an in-depth why. In doing that the characters become more real, and if their historical figures they become more alive.
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| Posted: Sun Aug 5th, 2012 11:17 pm |
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10th Post |
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Mark Member
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Your characters may not have owned slaves, however, that dos not mean they were not affected by the institution or racial perceptions of the time. Everyone was. If I am not mistaken Harpers Ferry is very near your setting. Surely your characters must have had strong opinions on the John Brown raid. Perhaps you might take a look at the local newspapers and see what they were reading. Acknowledging the racial reality of the times will give your characters depth and a realism that is lacking in so many Civil War movies. I think it could also help your movie communicate some of the more important values of humanity. Mark
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| Posted: Mon Aug 6th, 2012 04:03 pm |
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11th Post |
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CalvryTeam Member
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I'm sure they had opinions about slavery, but I don't think the ownership or opposition of slavery was the main motivation for their involvement. In most cases, they were dragged into the situation because their homes were raided or they had goods or services to provide. I am trying to include the element of slavery to the degree that it would have been present in this case. Their opinions probably would have been in reaction to reports from other areas, more than in their own small community. I guess most of them were generally opposed to the institution of slavery, but at the same time the ones who remained at home did not enlist to fight because of it. One of the communities that I'm looking at was known to be loyal to the Union, because Confederate soldiers would raid their property and take animals and supplies. But the Federal troops did the same. However, the Federal troops would pay neighbors for animals or supplies rather than take them. So neighbors would steal from neighbors to sell to the Federals. The neighbors would fight amongst themselves, while each remained loyal to the Union. On a day to day basis, that was the type of conflict that they faced. I have another diary that may mention specific opinions about slavery from a pro-Confederate civilian perspective; after I look through it, I may have some better insight. I'm starting to work with two historians and a reenactment leader to begin developing the script. Logistically, the hardest part is going to be getting enough horses.
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| Posted: Mon Aug 6th, 2012 08:46 pm |
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12th Post |
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pender Member 
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I agree CalvryTeam. I have done extensive research of my hometown and County. I have gathered over the years numerous letters and journals of the men that fought for the South. Also a couple that fought for the Union. Slavery was one subject I was really interested in. Not saying that they did not have an opinion of it. It is just not mentioned, all the way from 1861 to 1865 I only found one mention of slavery, and that was in regards to the South enlisting black soldiers to fight for the South in March 1865. In all the letters I have examined the Southern soldiers from my area seem to mention winning Independence from the Union as their cause for fighting. But I must mention that in my area there were not many slaves. I think it to be something like 96% were not slave owners, that bear arms for the Confederacy. It was a subject I was interested in, it just isn't mentioned. As my history teacher used to say, you have the overall history, then your local history. Pender
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| Posted: Mon Aug 6th, 2012 09:18 pm |
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13th Post |
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Mark Member
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I'm not saying make the whole presentation about it, I'm just saying not to ignore it. Good to see you again Pender! Mark
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| Posted: Mon Aug 6th, 2012 10:10 pm |
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14th Post |
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CalvryTeam Member
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My tentative plan is to have fictional segments in between the factual events. These segments will be local folks hanging out at a shop, discussing various issues. And they will most likely be arguing about politics, rumors they've heard about the war, solutions to the issues, etc. And slavery will be one of those topics, among others that they never quite get finished debating.
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| Posted: Fri Nov 2nd, 2012 06:08 pm |
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15th Post |
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CalvryTeam Member
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Well, I've been filming for about 2 months off and on, basically scenes that have corresponded with the actual seasons. I filmed a lot of individual characters throughout the summer and early fall, and in the past few weeks I began filming larger scenes with reenactment groups, with more to follow. The reenactors were great. They took my basic script and brought it to life - I presume accurately, but definitely excellent either way. They're all excited about filming again, so I should be able to get a majority of the filming done more quickly from this point forward. Most professional films have a production schedule, but they are not much working around day jobs and other obligations. My approach was to carefully and slowly film a few individual scenes with characters, just to have something to show to reenactors. After they saw the material and became interested, we were able to knock out three scenes in one afternoon with a large group. We'll probably maintain that pace for the rest of the filming, of course waiting until winter and spring for certain scenes.
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