BlogThree23

A wise man once told me, when something you are involved in begins to take on a life of its own, just GET OUT OF THE WAY!  My involvement with the film “Papa said, “We should never forget” has been just such a project. Below is a report from France 3 Basse-Normandie that covered a very special ceremony in Graignes, France.

This past fall, I had the great priviledge to officially present the Museum of Aviation their Southeast Regional Emmy statuette for their part in the film’s win in the “cinematography” category.  It was a great thrill to see the museum and its staff get some well deserved recognition.

The film team decided to use this event to also give one of our Emmy statuette copies to the village of Graignes, the small town in France whose people the film’s narrative features.  What better way to honor our French friends than to give something we valued back to them .. a small expression of appreciation for letting us tell their story to inspire young and old here in the states.  The news report above is the culmination of that effort in which our good friend Dominique Francois, accepted the award and carried it back to Normandy and presented it to the village of Graignes.

This past June, my wife and I had the great honor to travel to Normandy with a veteran of the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment and members of his family including his grandson, niece, and nephew.  My purpose on the trip was to essentially support the Col. and his family (and do whatever he told me!) but also to to help facilitate a showing of the film I produced and directed entitled, Papa said, “We should never forget”. The film plays daily at the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, Georgia and tells the story of a young twelve year-old girl and her small French village’s experience during the D-Day invasion. To be able to show the film in the village where the real events took place, with veterans and French citizens who participated in not only the filming but in the actual D-Day event itself was an emotionally charged screening for sure, one that I will forever cherish.

I am amazed at the impressions and feelings of traveling to Normandy with a D-Day veteran and his family. In Normandy, D-Day veterans are treated as living heroes and it thrills your heart to see these men appreciated so. On one stop in particular, we were able to visit in the home of the twelve-year-old girl (now an older woman), featured in the film. She, along with her older sister and other villagers bravely assisted the 507th D-Day action in the small village of Graignes.

As old photograph albums were shown and stories told in French and English, I was struck by the notion of how deep the connection runs between D-Day veterans and French citizens there at the time of the invasion. They have appreciated each other for 65 years and it is only recently that I’ve had the opportunity to experience this bond of friendship and learned to appreciate what this generation did for me and my generation.

While there, we also were able to attend the annual commemorative parachute jump at La Fiere Causeway.  It was truly a thrill to see several thousand people gather to witness the jump and honor those who served.  I couldn’t help but think of the irony of standing freely on the very causeway that so many Airborne men fought and died to liberate in the days following the D-Day invasion.  I wondered if the folks in the crowd even knew of the connection of one of the parachute groups of men jumping that day (members of 1st Battalion, 507th Fort Benning, GA) to the men of the original 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment who landed at La Fiere 65 years ago. I think from the looks and excitement on the faces in the crowd, many of them did.

For me as a filmmaker, to pay even a small token of appreciation back to those French citizens and American soldiers who have made my life possible today is something I will always remember and treasure.  If you are ever in the Warner Robins, Georgia area please stop by the Museum of Aviation and see the exhibit, “Down to Earth”, I’m sure you will enjoy it.

[ Click here ] To see a gallery of images from the Normandy trip.

Papa said, “We should never forget” film trailer

The film I produced & directed for the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, Georgia is up and running at the museum.  The presentation originally aired on Georgia Public Broadcasting in Nov 2008 and repeated in May 2009.  Papa said, “We should never forget.” was produced at Inertia Films and shot entirely on location in Normandy, France.

The 24-minute short was made with a younger (school field trip) audience in mind.  It plays daily at the museum as part of their new WWII hangar and Paratrooper Exhibit.  I’d encourage anyone to make a visit to the museum … it would be worth your time and a great adventure for the family.