The Renowned Filmmaker reflecting on His Monumental War of Independence Film Series: ‘This Is Our Most Crucial Work’
Ken Burns has become more than a documentarian; he represents an institution, a one-man industrial complex. Whenever he releases documentary series heading for the PBS network, everyone seeks a part of him.
He participated in “countless podcast appearances”, he remarks, wrapping up of his extensive publicity circuit featuring numerous locations, 80 screenings plus countless media sessions. “I think there are 340.1m podcasts, one for every American, and I’ve done half of them.”
Fortunately Burns possesses boundless energy, equally articulate in interviews as he is prolific during post-production. The 72-year-old has traveled from historical sites to mainstream media outlets to discuss a career-defining series: this historical epic, an extensive six-episode, twelve-hour film project that consumed a substantial portion of his recent years and arrived this week on PBS.
Defiantly Traditional Approach
Similar to traditional cooking in today’s rapid-consumption era, this documentary series intentionally classic, more redolent of traditional war documentaries than the era of digital documentaries new media formats.
For the documentarian, whose entire filmography documenting American historical narratives spanning various American subjects, its origin story is not just another subject but foundational. “As I mentioned to directing partner Sarah Botstein recently, and she concurred: this represents our most significant project Burns contemplates by phone from New York.
Extensive Historical Investigation
Burns, co-directors Botstein and David Schmidt and screenwriter Geoffrey Ward referenced thousands of books plus archival documents. Numerous scholars, representing diverse viewpoints, provided on-air commentary in conjunction with distinguished researchers covering various specialties including slavery, Native American history plus colonial history.
Signature Documentary Style
The style of the series will feel familiar to fans of historical documentaries. Its distinctive style included gradual camera movements through archival photographs, abundant historical musical selections featuring talent voicing historical documents.
That was the moment Burns established his reputation; years later, presently the respected veteran of historical films, he can apparently summon numerous talented actors. Appearing alongside Burns at a New York gathering, renowned playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda noted: “When Ken Burns calls, you say ‘Yes.’”
Extraordinary Talent
The decade-long production schedule also helped concerning availability. Filming occurred in recording spaces, at historical sites and remotely via Zoom, a tool embraced during the pandemic. Burns recounts the experience with performer Josh Brolin, who made time while in Georgia to voice his character portraying the founding father then continuing to other professional obligations.
The cast includes Kenneth Branagh, Hugh Dancy, Claire Danes, established Hollywood talent, emerging and established stars, household names and rising talent, accomplished dramatic artists, Damian Lewis, Laura Linney, Tobias Menzies, Edward Norton, David Oyelowo, Mandy Patinkin, small and big screen veterans, plus additional notable names.
Burns adds: “Honestly, this could represent the finest ensemble gathered for any production. They do an extraordinary service. Selection wasn’t based on fame. I got so angry when somebody said, ‘So why the celebrities?’. I responded, ‘These are performers.’ They’re the finest actors in the world and they animate historical material.”
Multifaceted Story
Still, no contemporary observers remain, modern media compelled the production to lean heavily on historical documents, combining individual perspectives of nearly 200 individual historic figures. This methodology permitted to present viewers not just the famous founders of the founders along with multiple crucial to understanding, numerous individuals never even had a portrait painted.
Burns additionally pursued his personal passion for maps and spatial representation. “I have great affection for cartography,” he comments, “and there are more maps throughout this series versus earlier productions throughout my entire career.”
Worldwide Consequences
The production crew recorded at numerous significant sites across North America and British sites to document environmental context and worked extensively with living history participants. Various aspects converge to tell a story more violent, complex and globally significant compared to standard education.
The documentary argues, represented more than local dispute concerning territory, taxes and political voice. Conversely, the project presents a blood-soaked struggle that ultimately drew in multiple global powers and improbably came to embody termed “the noble aspirations of humankind”.
Brother Against Brother
What had begun as a jumble of grievances leveled at London by far-flung British subjects across thirteen rebellious territories rapidly became a vicious internal war, setting brother against brother and turning communities into battlegrounds. In one segment, the historian Alan Taylor observes: “The greatest misconception regarding the Revolutionary War involves believing it represented a unifying experience for colonists. It leaves out the reality that colonists battled fellow colonists.”
Historical Complexity
For him, the revolution is a story that “for most of us is overwhelmed by emotionalism and wistful remembrance and is incredibly superficial and doesn’t have the respect the historical reality, all contributors and the widespread bloodshed.”
It was, he contends, a movement that announced the transformative concept of fundamental personal liberties; a bloody domestic struggle, pitting Patriots against Loyalists; plus an international conflict, continuing previous patterns of conflicts between Britain, France and Spain for control of the continent.
Uncertain Historical Outcomes
Burns also wanted {to rediscover the
