What would you be looking for in a documentary about reenactors?

[WarDance]

Hello Everyone!

My name is Nick, and I am creating a character-driven documentary about Civil War reenactors and living historians. The film is titled The Reenactors and we will be casting and entering the lives of 5-6 Civil War reenactors in order to learn about why they reenact, and the diverse realm of people who participate in living history. Our selected cast will be attending the 1st Manassas in July.

I have close friends who reenact, so I want to make sure I'm clear that I'm not looking to make a film about the extremes of the hobby.

My question to the folks at CWreenactors is what do you think about this type of documentary? Is it something that would interest you? What would you like to see in a documentary like this?

Some reenactors oppose the idea. Some are jumping at the chance to be in the film. Some people who don't reenact don't understand it. Some think they do.

You can learn a little about us on our blog thereenactors.tumblr.com (http://thereenactors.tumblr.com) or our website www.wardancepictures.com.

Thanks for your input!

-Nick Scofield, War Dance Pictures

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Any reenactor/living historian is going to always have "The Unfinished Civil War" from the History Channel in the forefront of their mind when approached about this topic. Many of us have done film work before, either as extras or as principal players in films, documentaries, commercials, and event videos, and the experiences run the spectrum. From my experience, I've been lied to, underpaid, not paid, underwhelmed, and overworked, and haven't had one decent experience in a Civil War realm (had good experiences in other periods). Mine is probably not typical, as I know several pards who constantly work on projects and love it. My advice to you is don't make promises you can't or won't keep, don't say you're not working for the History Channel if you are, and remember that some reenactors are more serious in this business of history than others. I like the fact that you plan to use a variety to follow, just don't use the extremists - the ones that don't know the war is over (on either side). To get back to your original question of what we'd like to see, at least for me I'd like to see rational, sane people who are historians first, who show equal signs of educating and performing. I'd like to see more people who treat reenacting as a further advancement of the academic world and not a chance to play "cowboys and Indians" with real guns and blanks. I'd like to see reenactors shown as what they are - a microcosm of society, with doctors, lawyers, ditch diggers, day laborers, teachers, fire fighters, police officers, unemployed, underemployed, high school dropouts and PhD's. I'd like to see how one goes about the research of an accurate impression and why thats important to what we do. What I don't want to see is one reference to urination and brass button patina.

[WarDance]

Ross,

Thank you for your input! I'd like to here more, but I would also like to discuss the film with you all a little more as well.

One of the biggest obstacles we've had to overcome in making this film is "The Unfinished Civil War." Most serious Civil War living historians we have talked with have mentioned this film as a serious blow to their relationship with the media. As a result, we are making sure to do our research thoroughly and will be participating in some smaller events this spring to really get involved in the community.

One last thing - I believe your line "I'd like to see reenactors shown as what they are - a microcosm of society" sums up the thesis of our film better than I possible could. As we are casting, we have recruited and discovered people from all walks of society. I sincerely hope to make the film you have outlined above.

Thank you and I hope to hear from some other folks!

Best,
Nick

[Justin Runyon]

Answer...For it not to happen.

Sorry, it's nothing personal and I'm sure you have the best of intentions, but we've traveled this road before and it's never worked out for us.

JER

[Spinster]

Yep. What Ross said. And More. He's a nicer feller than I am.

My first AND second thoughts are "Run Away, Run Away"

I'm not interested in having my image and experience used and misued for someone else's agenda, however articulate, well-meaning, or noble. What starts out as an educational documentary quickly has clauses in the releases that become stock footage for everything including the latest zombie movie.

About the only thing I'll make an exception for is a dedicated shoot for a historic site.

[hanktrent]

Our selected cast will be attending the 1st Manassas in July.

What I'd like to see is some indication that you've deliberately chosen an event which tends to attract mainstream-to-farb reenactors, or that tends to bring out mainstream-to-farb tendencies in reenactors who otherwise might try to be more accurate if an event expected them to be. And I'm not talking about the Rob Hodge kind of hardkewl "accuracy," either.

But, honestly, if you're looking for representation of broad segments of the hobby, you'll probably find the best examples at 1st Manassas.

It's why I never tell people I'm a reenactor if I can avoid it.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com

[OVI]

To add to what Hank said..

Rule of reenactor thumb #1 The larger the reenactment/event...the lower the authenticity.

Kent Dorr - Spring? in Ohio.
"Devils Own Mess"

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

It boils down to the fact that those who would be the best people to use are mostly unwilling/unable to help due to what has occured in the past. That only leaves the cringe-worthy who always seem to be willing and able. Just like watching the broadcast news on TV - Channel 8 never interviews the man on the street with a Harvard MBA who is knowledgable and articulate, they get the woman in the housecoat in front of the trailer with a PBR and smoke in her hands....

[billwatson2]

I suggest reading his blog on his Web site. He's enthusiastic, idealistic, and full of energy.

Meanwhile, Nick, you have a private message. No, folks, I'm not volunteering. As Ross and Miz Terre said, some of us have simply had a pot-licker full, to quote that buffoon we all had to listen to on the TNT Andersonville set. Nobody knew what he meant, including him, but it made it into the movie....

[hanktrent]

I suggest reading his blog on his Web site. He's enthusiastic, idealistic, and full of energy.

I did, and that's the scariest part. Until one develops some cynicism and ability to sort out the various factions and motivations, it's all just peachy keen cool, since the comparison is between modern life and reenactments, rather than between one reenactment and another. I mean, the Manassas blue-gray ball will give a thrilling sense of history come to life, just as much as any other activity at any other event, right?

The blog pretty much states they're trying to do a film version of Confederates in the Attic.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com

[TB1861]

I would be looking for the embarrassing bits, screaming yellow farbisms, condescending treatment, and people I know. Not any advice but the question was what I would be looking for.

[DamYankee25]

Answer...For it not to happen.

Sorry, it's nothing personal and I'm sure you have the best of intentions, but we've traveled this road before and it's never worked out for us.

JER

Yup. Well put. I've been used and abused before and I've had great experiences with the movie/documentary types. It's a crapshoot.

Do you understand there are different sects of the hobby? I find that a lot of these documentaries pigeonhole us and none of us want to go thru that again. This isn't us vs. them, as a whole we're all different and I don't think a documentary can capture the different aspects of this hobby, even something as simple as infantry, cav, artillery, medical, etc. There are so many different areas of concentration that doing any of them justice has just not been possible.

[LibertyHallVols]

The blog pretty much states they're trying to do a film version of Confederates in the Attic. [/EMAIL]

...and that was called, "The Unfinished Civil War". No Thanks.

Rather than re-post excerpts, I thought I'd post the text of an email I sent earlier this year in response to an inquiry about posting this on the A-C:

Nick,

It is said that for every hour an airplane spends in the air, it spends 20 or so hours on the ground undergoing maintenance or flight preparation. The same could be said for reenacting. I don't mean to sound unkind or condescending, but when I read...

"The Reenactors" is a documentary about the people underneath the uniforms and period attire. It's about the fact that outsiders - like myself - don't understand who you are and what you are trying to accomplish.

...I wonder how you plan to convey "the people underneath the uniforms" if you, the documentarian telling the story, don't understand us.

Let's go back to that airplane analogy for a moment:
Would you make a documentary about, say, what it takes to run an airline by buying a ticket and rolling the cameras from the cabin during flight? If your plan is to go to Manassas and let the cameras roll and strike video gold, then I think you are, in effect, "sitting in the cabin" and missing the real story. What happens in the control tower? Who are those guys? What does it take to buy a plane, or maintain one for that matter? How are pilots trained? The airplane taking flight is really the END of the story, not the beginning. It is the result of a gargantuan effort by thousands of people.

If you only film reenactments, you won't get it, and neither will your audience. You need to consider who puts on reenactments and why, and recognize that there are different types of reenactments and different types of reenactors. We are each motivated by different things. Even the most blatant farb is attempting to emulate or experience something... there is something in the hobby tripping his trigger, keeping him coming back. Most mornings, I'm up looong before work, reading, writing correspondence, or sewing clothing to prepare for events long in advance. At 6:00 most mornings I've been at it for at least an hour. Me and many others like me sweat every stitch in an effort to get the fit "just right" and the small details correct. We are always scouring fabric stores, antique shops, pawn shops, anywhere we can find just the right fabric, buttons, and any of the other endless doo-dads that it takes to reasonably portray a person from the past with a realistic depth and complexity. Why do we do that? What makes a person consider doing that? What makes a person cross the line from being a spectator to being a participant?

If you want to explain us to the general public, then YOU must understand us yourself.

We always keep in-mind the fact that the dead can no longer defend themselves when they are misrepresented, so we work hard to get it right. That is why we are very sensitive to film makers, writers, or journalists who seek to cast us in a certain light. Which leads me to...

...the fact that you are trying to drink from a poisoned well. The television special "The Unfinished Civil War" that aired on the History Channel in 2000 or 2001 spoiled what had been a good working relationship between the hobby and the media during the 1990's. Like your project, it was also presented to us as a documentary to "explore the men beneath the uniforms". It was supposed to show how a passion for history drove hobbyists. However, it was a big "bait and switch". That show portrayed us as everything from freaky geeks divorced from reality to racists who wished the other side had won the war. What you are trying has been tried before and it angered the entire hobby.

So, there you have it. If you are wondering why you're getting a cool reception, that is it. Here is my advice to you, if your effort is sincere and you are serious about this project:
1) Read more... always more. If you want to know my thoughts and opinions, they are all over this website, including the article ("Coda...") on the front page of the site. If you want to get an overview of the hobby, its all here online between the Authentic-Campaigner and cwreenactors.com.
2) Get to know us yourself. You won't get your story unless you can gain the trust of the hobby. You won't get our trust, if we don't know you and know your motives and know that you know what you're talking about and have the skill to convey your thoughts and ideas to others.
3) Get beyond reenactments. The reenactment (aka - the "event") is the airplane taking flight... the END of the story. Get the full picture of the participants in all their various forms (unless you are going to narrow your scope somehow), the event planners, the leaders, the businesses that make the stuff that we use.
4) (this is a personal request) Use this project as a spring-board to talking about the real Civil War soldiers. Its not about US, its about THEM. I don't want people to look at me and what I'm doing... I'm just a dude with a disposable income and too much freetime.
5) Forget Manassas - You're too late. If you read everything I've written above, I think it is obvious that you don't have the time to get it all done. Think Gettysburg or Appomattox. Then dig in, make some contacts, get a good kit together and go to some events... farbfests, megas, authentic events, living histories for the National Park Service, and events that the public can't see.

I hope that I have either inspired you to either dig deeper and make a more meaningful film or convinced you to give up.

Best Regards,

John Wickett

[Spinster]

Thank you Mr. Wickett. Quite articulate.

You know, I really hate being a Blue Meanie on this project, and its not personally directed at this bright eyed enthusiastic young man.

But I'm little more than 3 feet off camera in sections of the Unfinished Civil War--and that experience taught me a lot. I know personally some folks depicted in a poor light in Confederates in the Attic-- including one who was at the time a full professor at an all black college where I worked, and a professor greatly respected by his students.

There are a number of good historical reasons that I wear a slat bonnet at most events. But film cameras and the reporters with them are why I pull the brim forward and tie the strings firmly.

[WarDance]

Hello All,

I'd first like to say thank you to everyone for your input. I really do like the criticism, mostly because it gives me an opportunity to learn what not to do, and how not to tell a story. Thanks to all of you that have taken the time to explain your reasoning. John, you've taught us a lot.

What I hope we can all agree on is that when these thousands of living historians step foot on Pageland Farms in July to revisit the 150th Anniversary of an unprecedented loss of American lives, we are witnessing something of great cultural substance. Yet, Manassas isn't really our story. In fact, we plan the event itself will make up 10 percent of the film, and we are still debating if we ever want to see a shot fired. Our story is the individuals we select and what has attracts them to reenacting. Unlike Horwitz, we are not touring the country to explore the residual effects of the Civil War, but instead we are looking for what resides in those who set out to revisit it.

Now while I wouldn't be so naive to say that I understand exactly where you are coming from, but I will venture to say that I respect defending something that you are passionate about. I respect the idea that when you put care into every stitch, but are represented by a less-than-eloquent guy in polyester, that you might get a little upset. That's why we are having conversations like this, and that's why we have close reenacting friends who are acting as advisors.

We do have a lot of support for this film. The people are communicating with for casting so far are well educated, well balanced people – no bathrobes and PBR yet. I urge you all to follow the blog, and to keep in contact with me. I will make sure to post the events I am going to so that we can talk and I can share the latest details.

Thank you, and please keep sharing!
Nick Scofield
thereeanctors@gmail.com