Lincoln and Lee at Antietam – The Cost of Freedom focuses on the single bloodiest day in American history. The film is narrated by Ronald F. Maxwell, director of Gettysburg and Gods and Generals.

ORDER DIRECT FROM JANSON MEDIA

LENGTH:  Main program, 90 Minutes; Total, over two hours
MSRP: $24.95
CATALOG #: 20412
UPC #: 6-4603204129-3
ISBN #: 1-56839-362-8
RELEASE YEAR: 2010
PRODUCER: Inecom Entertainment Company
STARRING: James M. McPherson, Allen C. Guelzo, Dennis E. Frye, Paul V. Chiles, Patrick Falci, Stanley Wernz and Ben Black
TECHNICAL NOTES: Widescreen Version, Enhanced for 16 x 9 TV, Dolby Digital 2.0, Closed-captioned

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Rent or Download to Own from Amazon – Lincoln and Lee at Antietam – The Cost of Freedom

Download from iTunes – Lincoln and Lee at Antietam

It’s September 17, 1862 and President Abraham Lincoln needs a victory in order to issue the Emancipation Proclamation and end slavery in the South. But Robert E. Lee has other plans – invade the North. When Lee’s strategy falls into the hands of the Union Army, the result is the single bloodiest day in American history at the Battle of Antietam in Sharpsburg, Maryland. The Battle of Antietam results in more casualties than the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Mexican War and the Spanish American War combined. In fact, the bloodiest day of World War II, D-Day, amounts to only one quarter of the casualties suffered at Antietam.

Narrated by Ronald F. Maxwell, director of the epic Civil War films Gettysburg and Gods & Generals, and written, produced and directed by Robert Child, Lincoln and Lee at Antietam – The Cost of Freedom vividly brings to life the story of America’s fight for freedom in a battle that changed the course of the Civil War.

Lincoln and Lee at Antietam – The Cost of Freedom features commentaries from renowned historians such as Pulitzer Prize winning author James M. McPherson (Battle Cry of Freedom and Crossroads of Freedom:Antietam);two-time Lincoln Prize recipient Allen C. Guelzo; National Park Service historian at Harpers Ferry; author of Antietam Revealed and associate producer of Gods & Generals, Dennis E. Frye; actor/performing historian Patrick Falci and National Park Service historian at Antietam National Battlefield Park, Paul V. Chiles. Each explains the significance of this first Civil War battle fought on northern soil. Also appearing in the film is Stanley Wernz, President of the Association of Lincoln Presenters, as Abraham Lincoln.

Through first person accounts, an original music score from composers Steve Heitzeg and Nicholas Palmer and scarce Antietam commemorative battle footage from the 125th, 135th and 140th Antietam Reenactments, this film tells the tale of the 14-hour epic Battle of Antietam.

► SPECIAL FEATURES:
► On-Screen Interview with Ronald F. Maxwell
► Feature-Length Commentary Track with Robert Child and Ronald F. Maxwell
► Original Music Score from composers Steve Heitzeg and Nicholas Palmer
► Trailers for other Janson Media history DVDs

Reviews

 

“This incredible, no-nonsense Civil War documentary is an unforgettable journey into the bloodiest one-day battle ever fought on American soil.” – Miriam Di Nunzio , Chicago Sun-Times

“A must for every student of the Civil War.” – Kristie Poehler, Battlefield Journal

“Does a fine job of illuminating Antietam’s significance.” – Louis R. Carlozo, Chicago Tribune

“Might be described as the definitive work on America’s bloodiest battle. A very valuable addition to school collections.” – Dwain Thomas, School Library Journal

“This moving, beautifully shot program includes thoughtful commentary and authentically staged reenactment footage.” – Candace Smith, Booklist

“Articulate and gut-wrenching, Lincoln and Lee at Antietam is a must for any history buff.” – Jordan Riefe, ABC Radio Network

“A compelling documentary…Highly recommended.” – Video Business

“This excellent documentary draws on vintage photographs, archival letters and journals, and interviews with historians and other Civil War experts to bring this remarkable story to life. Highly recommended.” – T. Keogh, Video Librarian

“Vintage still photos, live-action reenactments and a striking original musical score combine for an informative and entertaining production.” – Dwain Thomas, Library Journal

“A collection of highly regarded historians offer educated insight into the bloodiest day in American history.” – Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

“A blessing for history buffs, this film is a clarifying and codifying slice of educational entertainment.” – Brent Simon, Now Playing Magazine

“You need this DVD for your collection. Great extras, on-screen interview with Ronald F. Maxwell, commentary and so much more.”  – Tex Hughes, DVD Tipsheet

“Intriguing documentary.” – Gary Dretzka, Movie City News

“Takes an event in history and breaks it down into understandable information. Look at, study and recommend this DVD.” – www.JackieKCooper.com

“Use of old photographs, actors portraying the major personages and reenactment of the battle holds audience interest.”- Frank Behrens, Eagle Times

“An informative, insightful and well-formulated project of great scope and close to the heart for all parties involved, and it shows. Recommended.”- Louis Howard, DVD Talk

“This authoritative, impeccably researched DVD is a worthy addition to anyone’s Civil War collection.”- Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

“An informative, entertaining viewing experience presented with a neutrality that we could use more of in our history books. I highly recommend this documentary to every American.”- Aric Mitchell, UpcomingDiscs.com

Awards

CINE Gold Eagle Award, 2006
39th Annual WorldFest – Houston Film Festival, 2006 “Special Jury Award”

Biography, Director/Producer/Writer Rob Child

A multi-award winning, twenty-year television veteran, Robert Child began writing and directing independent productions in 2001. Of the 23 filmmaking awards he has won in the last two years, six were for outstanding directorial achievement.  At the spring 2004 New York International Independent Film & Video Festival Child won both the Best Director and Best Historical Program awards. This topped a year in which he was awarded his second consecutive Platinum Remi Award for Best Historical Program at the Worldfest Houston Film Festival for Gettysburg: Three Days of Destiny. The film has gone on to win eight national awards and garner much critical acclaim in screenings at major U.S. film festivals.

In early November 2004 he was signed by veteran Canadian producer Dick Nielsen to direct and co-produce Nielsen’s forthcoming Canadian theatrical release, Hill 195. The project which begins filming in Canada in 2006 is a multi-million dollar World War II era action-feature which showcases the heroic actions of a single Canadian regiment just weeks after D-Day.  During fall 2005, Child completed two commissioned story treatments, Hollywood Dream Car Designer: George Barris and The Paul Winchell Story.

Production Notes from Producer/Director Rob Child

The project began as a follow up to my earlier Civil War program for PBS, Gettysburg: The Boys in Blue & Gray. The battle of Antietam seemed to be such a mystery and much overshadowed by Gettysburg. Through my research and subsequent scripting of the film, not only did I discover that Antietam is as pivotal a Civil War battle as Gettysburg but also as important in how it indelibly altered the course of American history.

The film was written, developed and produced over more than a one year period as I intended to include visual elements which only occur at certain times of the year. For instance, I filmed battlefield landscapes in mid-September to historically match the time of the battle, and even more importantly, I knew I wanted to close the program with the Antietam Battlefield Illumination. This solemn ceremony is only held once a year on the first Saturday in December. My production team was granted rare permission by the National Park Service to film at dusk on the battlefield illuminated by 23,000 candles which spanned across thousands of acres.

As I stood on the field that cold December night, I don’t believe words can adequately match the feelings I had. The epic scope of the tragedy of this battle and the Civil War in particular could not have been illustrated more powerfully.

This story had to be told in the most resonant way in the writing as well as in the inclusion of the historians. I had never utilized on-camera scholars in my earlier films but this project demanded it. In my opinion, I assembled the very best – quite simply the finest Civil War historians in America today. They are without peer in their knowledge of this battle and this time in history. Not only does their insight add to the drama but also serves to set the record straight on many facts including President Lincoln’s feelings towards slavery. This was intentional. This man’s legacy should not be up for debate when the record is clear. Allen C. Guelzo, America’s only two-time winner of the Lincoln prize, is the foremost authority on Emancipation, and his comments beautifully illustrate Lincoln’s personal struggle with this issue.

Rounding out the film visually are archival Civil War photos, illustrations and reenactment footage. My approach to use of archival images is of great respect for the power these images hold in and of themselves. Although there are many surviving images of the dead on the Antietam battlefield, I use them sparingly and only when they will be most poignant or powerful. I never forget that they are images of people, long dead but people none the less, who lived and died for their cause.

In a film focused on the battle of Antietam, one must attempt to show the battle as vividly as possible. To that end I employed footage from previous Antietam commemorative battle reenactments. I contacted the producer of those programs and secured the footage seen in the production. My use of Antietam reenactment footage serves to capture what this epic battle could have looked and sounded like. Again, the footage is used in its most powerful way matched to first person accounts of Civil War soldiers who actually took part in the battle.

To close, as with all of my films, I enlisted the music talents of composer, Nicholas Palmer. There is no substitute for an original score when you want to heighten the power of the narration or the visuals. There are times in the film when the images are so moving that no words can describe the scene adequately; that is when the original music score aids the cinematography. The Antietam Battlefield illumination ceremony is one of those times. After working with me for several years, Nicholas knows the emotions I want to convey in each scene. It is a great working partnership where we actually push each other to be better. In previous films if a scene did not live up to his musical score, I would re-edit the scene to make it more powerful. It is all a quest to push elements to be the very best they can possibly be.

The selection of Ronald F. Maxwell as narrator was the crowning jewel. I had not worked with Ron previously, but of course, knew his theatrical Civil War films Gettysburg and Gods & Generals. Beyond his name recognition, his deep knowledge of the Civil War era, his acting prowess and emotional inflection raised the narration to a command performance.

After several months of writing, directing and producing this project, I humbly believe it is my finest effort to date

Related Titles:

1. Best of Civil War Minutes: Confederate
2. Civil War Minutes: Union 2 – Disc Set
3. Best of Civil War Minutes: Union

Humans have relied on horses since the dawn of time, but there is no stronger bond than between a horse and rider on the battlefield.

ORDER DIRECT FROM JANSON MEDIA

LENGTH:  56 Minutes, plus extra features on one disc
MSRP: $19.95
CATALOG #: 20425
UPC #: 6-4603204259-7
ISBN #: 1-56839-325-3
RELEASE YEAR: 2010
PRODUCER: Inecom Entertainment Company
TECHNICAL NOTES: Widescreen Version, Enhanced for 16 x 9 TV, Dolby Digital 2.0, English Subtitles

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Rent or Download from Amazon – Horses of Gettysburg – Civil War Minutes IV Public Television Edition

Download from iTunes – Horses of Gettysburg

Narrated by Ronald F. Maxwell, director of the epic film Gettysburg, the Horses of Gettysburg [Public Television Edition] features the exciting version of the film that aired nationally in HDTV on PBS stations nationwide. Horses of Gettysburg captures the relationship between soldiers and their horses while celebrating these forgotten heroes of the Civil War and their critical role in shaping the United States of America that we live in today.

► SPECIAL FEATURES:
- 22-minute interview with Ronald F. Maxwell on working with horses in movies
- 5-minute interview with Doug Sloan, head wrangler for Gettysburg and Gods and Generals.

Reviews

“The quality is excellent. Highly recommended.” – Library Journal

“A compelling look at the role that horses played in the war — a refreshing change of pace from the typical “talking head” documentary format employed by so many filmmakers.” – The New York Times All Movie Guide

“The focus on horses and mules in battle is a great idea. Interesting.” – Louis R. Carlozo, Chicago Tribune

“Illustrates the dash and daring of war on horseback.  There is much of interest in this DVD.” – Christine M. Kreiser, America’s Civil War

“A unique ride with the largely unsung heroes of a battle that helped define America.” – American Profile

“I would highly recommend this educational and interesting film on DVD.” – Carly Williams, Horsemen’s Corral

“Delivers a trough of trivia and stories on steeds.” – Deborah Deasy, Tribune-Review

“Brilliantly uses a combination of live action, old photographs, sketches and engravings to illustrate its many points. Excellently done.” – Frank Behrens, Brattleboro Reformer

“Fascinating.” – Howard Benjamin, The Interview Factory

“Great looking anamorphic widescreen picture and excellent 5.1 sound mix — a must for your DVD collection.” – Tex Hughes, DVD Tipsheet

“This enlightening and entertaining DVD captures the sight and sound of charging horses in battlefield sequences with incredible authenticity. A must-see.” – Betty Jo Tucker, ReelTalkReviews.com

“This great DVD is dense with excellent content, intellect, entertainment and great quality. Horses of Gettysburg is one film you do not want to miss.” – Nate Goss, Fulvuedrive-in.com

“A fascinating, well-made and informative film.” – www.JackieKCooper.com

“The beautiful cinematography inspires. The unique perspective informs.” – Randy Chadwick, Gettysburg-acw.blogspot.com

“We have DVDs covering Civil War battles, its leaders, prison camps, etc. It’s about time the animals of the Civil War got their due.” – Mike Koepke, Mike’s Civil War Musings�

Ronald F. Maxwell – Producer/Director/Narrator

Ronald F. Maxwell is the son of a World War II veteran and a French war bride. He grew up in New Jersey where he graduated from Clifton High School. During his high school years, Maxwell founded the Garden State Players where he wrote, produced and directed dozens of plays and musicals. Maxwell enrolled as a theater major at New York University College of Arts and Sciences where he was a member of the Hall of Fame Players and the Green Room Honor Society. At NYU, Maxwell acted in plays and musicals, including the title role in Hamlet. His work in NYU’s theater program earned him an invitation and scholarship to attend the New York University Graduate School of the Arts, Institute of Film and Television. In 1970, Maxwell completed his graduate film thesis, writing and directing an adaptation of Albert Camus’ The Guest. Upon graduation, he worked in Spain as Charleton Heston’s personal assistant in Heston’s directorial debut, Antony and Cleopatra.

In 1974-1978, Maxwell worked at WNET-13, in New York City, and was one of the producers of the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning series Theatre in America. At WNET he produced Sea Marks, starring George Hearn and Veronica Castang. In 1978, he produced and directed Sissy Spacek, William Hurt, Sally Kellerman and Howard da Dilva in Verna: USO Girl, for which he received an Emmy nomination for Best Director. Maxwell was then “drafted” to Hollywood where his first theatrical film, Little Darlings, opened at #1 on Variety Magazine’s Top Hundred Grossing Films and has since become a classic of the genre. Subsequently, he directed The Night the Lights Went out in Georgia, Kidco and Parent Trap II.

Maxwell wrote and directed the landmark film Gettysburg which has been hailed as one of the greatest war movies in the history of film when it was released in 1993. In the summer of 1994, it was broadcast over two nights on the TNT Network where it established the all-time highest rating for a dramatic film on cable television. The video and DVD have sold millions of copies. Since then, Maxwell has produced, written and directed the film Gods and Generals, the prequel to Gettysburg. Gods and Generals was released in theaters February 2003, and the film was released to the home video market on July 15, 2003 as the #1 selling video in America, with over 600,000 sales in its first week.

Production Notes from Producer/Director Mark Bussler

“We are very pleased with our previous film Gettysburg and Stories of Valor and it seems like viewers and critics are too. I think the “no talking heads” style, high production value and cinematic panoramas of the battlefield worked well to tell the stories of the men who fought in the Battle of Gettysburg. In Horses of Gettysburg we set out to make an even better film. We wanted to out-do ourselves with more high-definition cinematography, more action and even bigger sound. This is a documentary about the partnership between a horse and rider, between a mule and driver – the main focus always remaining on the animals and their roles in this epic battle.”

Bussler says, “The idea for the film started with questions like how many horses were involved in the Battle of Gettysburg, who fed them, how were they trained, what happened to them during the battle?” Civil War historians and writers Michael Kraus and David Neville exploded with ideas of horse-related stories and the little known details about how the immense army of horses was kept productive in the field. “Making this film was an incredible and unique experience for me. Not only did I get the opportunity to work with these wonderful animals, but I also learned about the 72,000 horses and mules that were involved at the Battle of Gettysburg. We uncovered amazing details about the animals who served in the war, and through the film we visually tell their stories. The courage portrayed by the horses, mules and soldiers while in the chaos of battle is inspiring.”

For Horses of Gettysburg, the Bussler, Kraus and Neville team changed their style of storytelling to fit the subject. “This is the first time we looked at the battle in chronological order, starting with cavalry on the first day’s fight and ending with Pickett’s Charge and the equestrian monuments at the Gettysburg National Military Park. The viewers learn about the three-day battle as well as the cavalry and artillery horses’ roles in it. The film is broken down into individual segments, with each episode containing a different story.”

Bussler imagines that his experience working with live animals closely resembles the stories in the film about the soldiers and their horses working as a team. “This is an independent film with a tight budget and needed a lot of horses! We spent two full days filming the animals and recreating some of the battle scenes from the script. At first I thought directing the animals might be a challenge and that we wouldn’t get all the footage we needed for editing, but I soon learned that well-trained horses take directions very easily from their riders. No matter what was asked of the horses, whether it be multiple charges, passes by the camera or turns and stops, they performed flawlessly! Sure enough, the union between the horse and rider that we cover in the film is apparent.” The mule on the other hand, typical to its nature, was stubborn at first, but eventually warmed up to writer Michael Kraus. “Once the mule trusted Kraus, like the mules in the film trusted their drivers during the Civil War, he was a character on camera. I actually believe he enjoyed being filmed.”

Production for this documentary was organized and meticulously planned out. Shooting took place over four seasons so the battlefield and monuments could be captured in different angles of the sun. “When filming the Gettysburg battlefield, lighting is the key element. In order to capture the absolute best footage of the battlefield today, multiple shoot dates are required with close attention paid to the weather.” says Bussler.

Since the documentary was filmed in high-definition, the clarity of each of the monuments and statues is far greater than what is visible to the naked eye. Bussler was able to zoom in and capture the detailed sculptures with telephoto lenses and macro close ups, thus bringing the statues that are normally 30-feet high to eye level with the audience revealing details the casual tourist would never see.

“We set out to make a documentary honoring the brave horses and mules that fought at the Battle of Gettysburg and served throughout the Civil War, and I believe we accomplished that goal. We hope the viewers enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it.” �

Related Titles:

1. Horses of Gettysburg [2-Disc Collector's Edition]
2. Gettysburg and Stories of Valor – Public Television Edition
3. Gettysburg and Stories of Valor 2-Disc Set

Humans have relied on horses since the dawn of time, but there is no stronger bond than between a horse and rider on the battlefield.

ORDER DIRECT FROM JANSON MEDIA

LENGTH:  116 Minutes, Plus over 3 hours of Additional Extra Features on 2 discs
MSRP: $39.95
CATALOG #: 20424
UPC #: 6-4603204249-8
ISBN #: 1-56839-374-1
RELEASE YEAR: 2010
PRODUCER: Inecom Entertainment Company
TECHNICAL NOTES: Widescreen Version, Enhanced for 16 x 9 TV, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, Closed-Captioned

BUY DVD from Amazon

Rent or Download from Amazon – Horses of Gettysburg – Civil War Minutes IV Volume One

Download from iTunes – Horses of Gettysburg

Narrated by Ronald F. Maxwell, director of the epic films “Gettysburg” and “Gods and Generals”, “Horses of Gettysburg” captures the relationship between soldiers and the horses that they so desperately depended on for survival.

Filmed in high definition with charging horses, battlefield panoramas and no “talking heads,” this cinematic documentary tells the story of the estimated 72,000 horses and mules that fought at the Battle of Gettysburg and uncovers the strategies employed to ensure that the millions of animals in service with the North and South remained healthy and well-trained for action.

“Horses of Gettysburg” celebrates the honor and courage of these four legged warriors and their critical role in shaping the United States of America that we live in today.

From the producer and director of “EXPO – Magic of the White City” narrated by Gene Wilder and “Gettysburg and Stories of Valor” narrated by Keith Carradine.

► DISC 1:
- 116-Minute Director’s Cut from the high-definition master
- Commentary Track with Ronald F. Maxwell, Mark Bussler and Doug Sloan, head wrangler for Gettysburg and Gods and Generals
- Commentary Track with writers Michael Kraus and David M. Neville and director Mark Bussler

► DISC 2:
- 22-minute interview with Ronald F. Maxwell on working with horses in movies
- 45-minute documentary with Eric Campbell, Gettysburg National Military Park Ranger and the author of A Grand Terrible Drama, From Gettysburg to Petersburg : The Civil War Letters of Charles Wellington Reed
- 40-minute Making of Horses of Gettysburg documentary
- 60-minute personal interview with Ronald F. Maxwell on his history in filmmaking
- 15-minute Horses of the White City documentary about the role of horses in the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair
- 5-minute interview with Doug Sloan, head wrangler for Gettysburg and Gods and Generals
- Trailers of other Janson Media Documentaries

Reviews

“The quality is excellent. Highly recommended.” – Library Journal

“A compelling look at the role that horses played in the war — a refreshing change of pace from the typical “talking head” documentary format employed by so many filmmakers.” – The New York Times All Movie Guide

“The focus on horses and mules in battle is a great idea. Interesting.” – Louis R. Carlozo, Chicago Tribune

“Illustrates the dash and daring of war on horseback.  There is much of interest in this DVD.” – Christine M. Kreiser, America’s Civil War

“A unique ride with the largely unsung heroes of a battle that helped define America.” – American Profile

“I would highly recommend this educational and interesting film on DVD.” – Carly Williams, Horsemen’s Corral

“Delivers a trough of trivia and stories on steeds.” – Deborah Deasy, Tribune-Review

“Brilliantly uses a combination of live action, old photographs, sketches and engravings to illustrate its many points. Excellently done.” – Frank Behrens, Brattleboro Reformer

“Fascinating.” – Howard Benjamin, The Interview Factory

“Great looking anamorphic widescreen picture and excellent 5.1 sound mix — a must for your DVD collection.” – Tex Hughes, DVD Tipsheet

“This enlightening and entertaining DVD captures the sight and sound of charging horses in battlefield sequences with incredible authenticity. A must-see.” – Betty Jo Tucker, ReelTalkReviews.com

“This great DVD is dense with excellent content, intellect, entertainment and great quality. Horses of Gettysburg is one film you do not want to miss.” – Nate Goss, Fulvuedrive-in.com

“A fascinating, well-made and informative film.” – www.JackieKCooper.com

“The beautiful cinematography inspires. The unique perspective informs.” – Randy Chadwick, Gettysburg-acw.blogspot.com

“We have DVDs covering Civil War battles, its leaders, prison camps, etc. It’s about time the animals of the Civil War got their due.” – Mike Koepke, Mike’s Civil War Musings�

Ronald F. Maxwell – Producer/Director/Narrator

Ronald F. Maxwell is the son of a World War II veteran and a French war bride. He grew up in New Jersey where he graduated from Clifton High School. During his high school years, Maxwell founded the Garden State Players where he wrote, produced and directed dozens of plays and musicals. Maxwell enrolled as a theater major at New York University College of Arts and Sciences where he was a member of the Hall of Fame Players and the Green Room Honor Society. At NYU, Maxwell acted in plays and musicals, including the title role in Hamlet. His work in NYU’s theater program earned him an invitation and scholarship to attend the New York University Graduate School of the Arts, Institute of Film and Television. In 1970, Maxwell completed his graduate film thesis, writing and directing an adaptation of Albert Camus’ The Guest. Upon graduation, he worked in Spain as Charleton Heston’s personal assistant in Heston’s directorial debut, Antony and Cleopatra.

In 1974-1978, Maxwell worked at WNET-13, in New York City, and was one of the producers of the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning series Theatre in America. At WNET he produced Sea Marks, starring George Hearn and Veronica Castang. In 1978, he produced and directed Sissy Spacek, William Hurt, Sally Kellerman and Howard da Dilva in Verna: USO Girl, for which he received an Emmy nomination for Best Director. Maxwell was then “drafted” to Hollywood where his first theatrical film, Little Darlings, opened at #1 on Variety Magazine’s Top Hundred Grossing Films and has since become a classic of the genre. Subsequently, he directed The Night the Lights Went out in Georgia, Kidco and Parent Trap II.

Maxwell wrote and directed the landmark film Gettysburg which has been hailed as one of the greatest war movies in the history of film when it was released in 1993. In the summer of 1994, it was broadcast over two nights on the TNT Network where it established the all-time highest rating for a dramatic film on cable television. The video and DVD have sold millions of copies. Since then, Maxwell has produced, written and directed the film Gods and Generals, the prequel to Gettysburg. Gods and Generals was released in theaters February 2003, and the film was released to the home video market on July 15, 2003 as the #1 selling video in America, with over 600,000 sales in its first week.

Production Notes from Producer/Director Mark Bussler

“We are very pleased with our previous film Gettysburg and Stories of Valor and it seems like viewers and critics are too. I think the “no talking heads” style, high production value and cinematic panoramas of the battlefield worked well to tell the stories of the men who fought in the Battle of Gettysburg. In Horses of Gettysburg we set out to make an even better film. We wanted to out-do ourselves with more high-definition cinematography, more action and even bigger sound. This is a documentary about the partnership between a horse and rider, between a mule and driver – the main focus always remaining on the animals and their roles in this epic battle.”

Bussler says, “The idea for the film started with questions like how many horses were involved in the Battle of Gettysburg, who fed them, how were they trained, what happened to them during the battle?” Civil War historians and writers Michael Kraus and David Neville exploded with ideas of horse-related stories and the little known details about how the immense army of horses was kept productive in the field. “Making this film was an incredible and unique experience for me. Not only did I get the opportunity to work with these wonderful animals, but I also learned about the 72,000 horses and mules that were involved at the Battle of Gettysburg. We uncovered amazing details about the animals who served in the war, and through the film we visually tell their stories. The courage portrayed by the horses, mules and soldiers while in the chaos of battle is inspiring.”

For Horses of Gettysburg, the Bussler, Kraus and Neville team changed their style of storytelling to fit the subject. “This is the first time we looked at the battle in chronological order, starting with cavalry on the first day’s fight and ending with Pickett’s Charge and the equestrian monuments at the Gettysburg National Military Park. The viewers learn about the three-day battle as well as the cavalry and artillery horses’ roles in it. The film is broken down into individual segments, with each episode containing a different story.”

Bussler imagines that his experience working with live animals closely resembles the stories in the film about the soldiers and their horses working as a team. “This is an independent film with a tight budget and needed a lot of horses! We spent two full days filming the animals and recreating some of the battle scenes from the script. At first I thought directing the animals might be a challenge and that we wouldn’t get all the footage we needed for editing, but I soon learned that well-trained horses take directions very easily from their riders. No matter what was asked of the horses, whether it be multiple charges, passes by the camera or turns and stops, they performed flawlessly! Sure enough, the union between the horse and rider that we cover in the film is apparent.” The mule on the other hand, typical to its nature, was stubborn at first, but eventually warmed up to writer Michael Kraus. “Once the mule trusted Kraus, like the mules in the film trusted their drivers during the Civil War, he was a character on camera. I actually believe he enjoyed being filmed.”

Production for this documentary was organized and meticulously planned out. Shooting took place over four seasons so the battlefield and monuments could be captured in different angles of the sun. “When filming the Gettysburg battlefield, lighting is the key element. In order to capture the absolute best footage of the battlefield today, multiple shoot dates are required with close attention paid to the weather.” says Bussler.

Since the documentary was filmed in high-definition, the clarity of each of the monuments and statues is far greater than what is visible to the naked eye. Bussler was able to zoom in and capture the detailed sculptures with telephoto lenses and macro close ups, thus bringing the statues that are normally 30-feet high to eye level with the audience revealing details the casual tourist would never see.

“We set out to make a documentary honoring the brave horses and mules that fought at the Battle of Gettysburg and served throughout the Civil War, and I believe we accomplished that goal. We hope the viewers enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it.” �

Related Titles:

1. Horses of Gettysburg [Public Television Edition]
2. Gettysburg and Stories of Valor 2-Disc Set
3. Gettysburg and Stories of Valor – Public Television Edition