Visit Review Site
This week we look at Tony Malanowski's first installment in his new series.
AMERICA: HER PEOPLE, HER STORIES - THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL
NEW DVD SERIES HAS PRO-US AGENDA!
If you ever wondered what happened to the teaching of U.S. History in schools today, you are not alone. Tony
Malanowski, a film industry veteran and father of two recently asked himself the same question...then he decided to do something about it!
Using his own resources and contacts, Tony has produced a new historical series - one that is designed to be both Pro-US and to restore the concept of American Exceptionalism. The series is called AMERICA: HER PEOPLE, HER STORIES, and the first installment, THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL is now available on DVD!
"I chose Bunker Hill because it was the first major military engagement of the American Revolution, so it seemed like a good place to start," Tony told us from his office in Simi Valley, CA. "And we used a DocuDrama style because that is what people are used to seeing today from watching the shows on The History Channel and Discovery."
THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL, is totally financed and distributed by Tony's company Light A Candle Films. It is the first in a proposed series of DocuDramas which cover great events in the life of the United States, told in a positive, traditional way. The idea is to be an alternative to the revisionist, anti-American "history" being taught in many of our schools. The goal is to show all the young people of America that the United States is still a great and noble Nation, and to give them the information they need to be both proud of their country and to learn more of what America is all about.
But, there are several noticeable differences between this series and what you may have seen previously.
"I wanted to give this show a classic look...a more epic feel," explains Producer/Director Tony Malanowski. "So we shot on motion picture film instead of video or digital, and I took the extra care to add a complete 5.1 Dolby Surround Stereo mix. That includes all of the sound effects and backgrounds that a viewer would expect from a film that you see in a movie theater."
And Tony promises that you can expect more from the "drama" in his DocuDrama!
"We wanted to make sure that we cast real actors for the dramatic scenes, so we held auditions over several days. And you'll see units of re-enactors making up the forces of the British and the Colonials who were also very realistic and professional...even in the 110 degree heat in August!"
Being historically accurate was crucial for the project, even given the budgetary restraints.
"Also, it was important to have a strong, factual script. Bill Chemerka gave us a solid foundation with his screenplay for BUNKER HILL."
And we're happy to report that Tony refused to bow to Political Correctness in another important area. The part that God played in the forming of our Republic is definitely apparent.
"We made sure to include mention of the Lord and Prayer in a way that was historically accurate for the period, as well as uplifting for people of today," Tony notes. "God is a huge part of the fabric of our nation, and no one will ever change that!"
But the "icing on the cake" for this production is the fantastic symphonic score written for the DVD by William Stromberg and John Morgan.
"They were my only choice to score BUNKER HILL," Tony notes. "We had done several pictures together, and they knew the kind of large scale sound the show needed - especially in the action sequences! The music is easily one of the high points of the production."
And there is alot to like on this DVD. The DocuDrama runs 60 minutes, and weaves commentary with 3 Historians and outstanding vintage images into the dramatic scenes. There is an informative 30 minute Historical Perspective (which breaks the American Revolution down into 11 segments), as well as an entertaining Behind the Scenes look at the making of the film, along with other pieces. And presented in the Great Presidential Moments segment, is the entire Farewell Address of President Ronald Reagan. In this speech, the late President states emphatically, "..we've got to teach history based not on what's in fashion, but what's important."
"If the support is there, and people buy enough copies of this DVD, then we'll continue the series next with a production on GUADALCANAL," Tony concludes. "And we want to branch out into biographies of Great Americans and state histories as well!"
Patriotic Americans can all agree on that!