National Geographic Channel tonight (Thursday, May 10)

[Remise]

Thanks to a tip from Julio Zagroniz, I just realized that for those of you who have cable and the National Geographic Channel, the below is on tonight. Remembering, as many of us do, the disaster known as "The Unfinished Civil War," I will still, like a moth to the candle, be drawn to this. Apologies if it has been mentioned before, and I missed the post:

09:00 PM to 10:00 PM Extreme Civil War Reenactors
NGC embeds with a handful of the most hard-core Civil War reenactors, who eat, sleep and breathe the gun smoke of history. From the firing on Fort Sumter to the iconic battlefields of Manassas/Bull Run and Gettysburg, the mecca of reenacting, find out how far theyre willing to go to relive history.

========
Hopefully, by "extreme," they mean Rob Hodge, not The Indian, or the guy I saw at a Gettysburg event (you know which one) several years ago, wearing a poncho, sombrero, and bandoliers.

B.C. Milligan
Remote Control Mess

[gentofthesouth1861]

The program was most disappointing on so many levels alas.

[Remise]

I realize there is no point in arguing over an opinion, as opinions are just that. I could only compare it to all the other horrible things I have seen on TV, or in movies, about our hobby, and it was the first I can ever remember that actually presented the hobby with a modicum of respect for what we do, and why we do it. Maybe real authentic campaigners -- and I winced every time I heard those words -- were disgusted with what they saw here, but the average non-reenactor, I would think, got a very favorable impression, and to me, that's a plus.

B.C. Milligan
Company K, First Penna. Reserves

[gentofthesouth1861]

Maybe real authentic campaigners were disgusted with what they saw here.

Exactly.
_________________

[J. Donaldson]

I thought that was a well produced, even handed treatment of the hobby, perhaps the best representation of the hobby I've seen on television.

[Sharps_user84]

Not a bad show, the kid kind of upset me with his whinning at Bull Run, but other then that at least they didnt portray us as a bunch of wack jobs which I have seen in the past.
Jason

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Not a bad show, the kid kind of upset me with his whinning at Bull Run, but other then that at least they didnt portray us as a bunch of wack jobs which I have seen in the past.
Jason

There was a lot more whining at Bull Run/Manassas than just his - from every spectrum top to bottom, including me. I whined like a little beyotch at times, but I was lucky enough to not have the camera around when doing so. I agree with the sentiments shared thus far - I've seen far worse treatments of reenactors in the media.

[gwagner]

Not a bad show, the kid kind of upset me with his whinning at Bull Run, but other then that at least they didnt portray us as a bunch of wack jobs which I have seen in the past.
Jason

If you weren't there, you have no room to be upset about Travis dropping out. Manassas 2011 was the most miserable I have ever been reenacting, or in 10 years of USMC service. Several members of the 2nd Miss went to the hospital...at 9:30 battle time, it was about 110, with 60% humidity.

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

I see my brother Galen posted at the same time - we were both together in the 2nd Miss and yeah, it was brutal....

[zouavecampaigner]

I see my brother Galen posted at the same time - we were both together in the 2nd Miss and yeah, it was brutal....

Amen, fellows. People at Manassas had every right to complain, drop out, etc. I honestly don't have memories of large portions of my 2 days at the event, but I have the photos and the sweat-stained frock to prove I was there! :-P

I am glad that this wasn't a redux of The Unfinished Civil War, and I wish those who worked on this one all the best. How did they handle the "hardcore" and "mainstream" issues on the show? (I don't get NatGeo.)

Regards,

[lincolnsguard]

Some parts very well done, some parts made my eyes bleed. But, me too: "it was the first I can ever remember that actually presented the hobby with a modicum of respect for what we do, and why we do it."

[Remise]

There was a lot more whining at Bull Run/Manassas than just his - from every spectrum top to bottom, including me. I whined like a little beyotch at times, but I was lucky enough to not have the camera around when doing so. I agree with the sentiments shared thus far - I've seen far worse treatments of reenactors in the media.

My proud battalion fielded about 180 guys on Saturday at Bull Run, and for a variety of reasons, there were only eight of us remaining, on Sunday morning.

And I agree with a couple of other people -- including myself, of course -- I have seen far worse, and if I were not a reenactor, but had some interest in the Civil War or history at all, I would certainly want to learn more about the hobby, after having seen this program.

B.C. Milligan
No Names Pleez Mess

[Frederick14Va]

I thought the program was fairly well done. So many programs in the past leave the viewer with a less than favorable opinion of reenactors in general.

For those that may have missed or not able to view it... It took a couple selected reenactors and followed them through home life, why or how they got into the hobby, prepping for an event, and follow through several events... Including Manassas 150th. The one primary young guy in question Travis was fairly new to the hobby and it followed his "plunge" into hardcore reenacting.

There was very little if any Campaigner vs Mainstream aspects in the program that I recall. It focused on these particular reenactors themselves, and their own personal reasons and activities. It was not a rehash nor an opinionated overview of the entire hobby itself.

I was there at Manassas 150th for four days, and yes it was quite brutal. In 34 years of reenacting I can say that was one of the most severe heat wise that Ive encountered. The 125th Manassas was quite toasty, but nothing like that.

I was with the Brigade staff that was camped directly beside the boys of the 2nd Miss. I work for another film production company so also chatted with the film crew present there. I had also assisted with another NatGeo program that ironicly was aired just before this one did. Travis came over and hung around our camp for a good while on Saturday and we talked for a couple hours there. He's young and still learning and admittedly so. But was impressed that he was genuine and devoted to the hobby and striving to the absolute best he personally can.

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

I waited a little bit today to go into more detail of my thoughts because I knew a lot of people in this show. Of the three featured reeanactors, I know Zach Forsyth from reenacting in Florida for a few years (and being one of the handfull of campaigners in the state), Art Stone, who I knew by reputation and was privileged to meet and live beside for a couple of days at Manassas, and I met Travis in passing at Manassas. National Geographic picked a good cross section of people to represent the "campaigner/authentic/progressive" set, and they all came across as genuine, without the slanted editing you get from "reality" shows on most networks. I was initially concerned with the title "Extreme Reenactors" and braced myself for the slanted onslought of focusing on "wierdos", or worse yet a treatment like "The Unfinished Civil War" from History (the network formally known as The History Channel). I believe that those of us who consider ourselves serious reenactors already know that we're not wired "normally" and we do tend to take things to extremes - research, material culture, living in the field, marching, etc., and so I no longer have a problem with the title of the show. I think people outside of the hobby who may or may not have had a preconception of what makes us tick may have had some impressions given or changed after watching this that are quite positive. Like many of you, I had friends and coworkers watch this, and a couple came to me and said they had no idea we were this serious. I had to remind them that there are several factions within the hobby, this just being one of them. Overall, I applaud NatGeo. I've worked with them before, and not very favorably ("Swamp Men" at Big Cypress Reservation), but as always, it depends upon the film crew and production company and not necessarily the network. I was also happy that they were able to show the country that not all reenactors from Florida are bad -there are certainly quite a few goods ones, and I'm pleased to call them pards and friends, particularly the two civilian women on the porch of the house, Lara Sowa and Lauren Ehas.

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

I watched it this afternoon.

While we all see things through our own eyes, and our eyes have glasses over them created by our personal experiences...

I thought that, all in all, that Nat Geo did a reasonably fair and balanced presentation. And, one certainly unlike ones in the past where reenacting and reenactors were presented as freaks or deviants NUG for comedic entertaiment.

I also had to keep in mind that things are perceived diferently when one is on the outside of the aquarium looking in, or on the inside looking out. In my biases, I would view "extreme" as the Civil War Community's fringe element of immersion, emulation, and the time warp/time machine approach whereas outsiders can look at "campaigning" or even just mainstream reenacting as being "extreme."

While not as perfect as it could have been, IMHO, the show was not bad at all, and certainly many levels up from Hollywood's and the Media's depiction or reenactors and reenactments that have come before.

Plus, it was fun to see pards and lads we know... :)

And only one time did they flop tehhimage to change which side of the screen the lad was shooting towards (as in opposing lads shoting from the other side), making a left-handed gun.

Others' mileage will vary...

Curt
Extremist Mess

[Remise]

Hallo!


And only one time did they flop the image to change which side of the screen the lad was shooting towards (as in opposing lads shoting from the other side), making a left-handed gun.

Others' mileage will vary...

Curt
Extremist Mess

I was wondering if I was just getting sleepy, when I noticed that in the shot to which you are probably referring, everybody was wearing their cartridge box, and had their canteen slung, on what we would normally think of as the wrong side!

B.C. Milligan
Company K, First Penna. Reserves

P.S. They did, in fact, feature a genuine "extreme" reenactor (Joe Bordonaro, who carried the VI Corps flag from Fairfax Court House to Little Round Top in an epic 120-mile, eight-day march), as a customer in a sutler's shop, but unfortunately nobody realized who he was, so he didn't get a chance to talk about it.

[sorebelly]

Hey Gents,

All & all I thought they did a very nice job on this project....In the beginning I was not sure of what Nat Geo wanted to make a film of so I told them I would help them to portray an acurate account of what we do in this hobby of ours. 5 months of shooting, 4 events later we got a 45 min film. I tried to push as many of my pards in front of the camera as I could and tried to give spectators in TV land a real taste of what we do in this world of portraying soldiers of the CW. Joey B. was at my house not a sutler shop, they only show a few seconds of it but it's the best kept secret in the hobby! I've been getting feedback and most of it is in a good light, so it was worth while doing.
I am genuine Sir!
Thanks Ross, had a great time with you all at the great skaddle!

Regards,

Art Stone

[Remise]

Hey Gents,

All & all I thought they did a very nice job on this project....In the beginning I was not sure of what Nat Geo wanted to make a film of so I told them I would help them to portray an acurate account of what we do in this hobby of ours. 5 months of shooting, 4 events later we got a 45 min film. I tried to push as many of my pards in front of the camera as I could and tried to give spectators in TV land a real taste of what we do in this world of portraying soldiers of the CW. Joey B. was at my house not a sutler shop, they only show a few seconds of it but it's the best kept secret in the hobby! I've been getting feedback and most of it is in a good light, so it was worth while doing.
I am genuine Sir!
Thanks Ross, had a great time with you all at the great skaddle!

Regards,

Art Stone

Mr. Stone -- I have no doubt you are genuine! I was just suggesting that maybe Joe would have been a good person for them to speak to, if they wanted a real "extreme reenactor." Your assistance obviously made for a much better program.

Touch the elbow,

B.C. Milligan
Company K, First Penna. Reserves