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PBS dramatic documentary depicts ‘The War That Made America’

By Frances Borsodi Zajac 8 min read

Lt. Col. George Washington, his men and Indian allies slip quietly through the woods in the early morning at Jumonville Glen in May 1754 as they approach an unsuspecting French party encamped against the rocks. Gunshots are fired. Within a matter of minutes, the skirmish is ended. But as Washington examines papers of this diplomatic party, the Seneca chief Half-King takes an ax and kills Ensign Joseph Coulon, Sieur de Jumonville, the French commander.

The significance of this event that took place in the Fayette County mountains is depicted in the opening moments of a new PBS dramatic documentary on the French and Indian War called “The War That Made America.’ Narrated by actor Graham Greene, the four-hour series will premiere Wednesdays, Jan. 18 and 25, from 9 to 11 p.m.

“Our goals were to create a first rate work of art and to help affect the way American history is taught and understood,’ said Deborah Acklin, executive producer for “The War That Made America’ and executive vice president and general manager at WQED in Pittsburgh. “The French and Indian War is a key piece about how American character was formed.’

Stylish and dramatic but with the strictest attention to historical accuracy, the program is being presented by Pittsburgh public broadcaster WQED Multimedia and is a collaboration between WQED and French and Indian War 250, headquartered in Pittsburgh, which is leading the national commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the war.

Press materials for “The War That Made America’ state: “This is the first PBS documentary to introduce television viewers to the early military career of George Washington, which began on a dangerous frontier where tensions festering between French traders, British colonial settlers and Indian nations finally erupted. It was here that France and England found a new battleground for their centuries-old rivalry. However, in their war for empire, the European superpowers had a third power to contend with – Indian nations well aware that they could tip the balance of power by forming strategic alliances.’

Illustrating how this war helped form the basis for the Revolutionary War, the program begins and ends on the eve of the American Revolution as Washington reviews his troops and remembers back to the French and Indian War.

Local residents should be well aware that the start of the French and Indian took place in their own back yard with the skirmish at Jumonville Glen and the battle of Fort Necessity in 1754 as well as the 1755 Battle of the Monongahela in which British General Edward Braddock was fatally wounded and buried here in Fayette County. Jumonville Glen, Fort Necessity and Braddock’s Grave are all part of Fort Necessity National Battlefield, the national park in Farmington.

This local history is included in the first hour of the program, but western Pennsylvania history also is included in the second night as British Gen. John Forbes carves a road through the wilderness, protected by a series of forts, and takes Fort Duquesne, the site of present-day Pittsburgh.

The program also ventures into the Virginia backcountry, fortifications at Ticonderoga in New York, the western outposts of Michigan and north into Canada where the British beat back the French.

Conflicts in the war circled the globe, and Acklin noted, “Winston Churchill called it the first world war.’

The program, written, produced and directed by Eric Stange and Ben Loeterman, aims at being historically accurate and makes use of recent scholarship that emphasized the critical power the Indian nations exerted in the conflict.

This is achieved while revealing a very gripping tale.

Acklin noted, “It’s a fantastic story with all the elements of a true epic: great characters and the untold story of a great hero – George Washington. It’s a wonderful clash of cultures.’

But there were difficulties in telling the story.

Acklin noted, “There are few artifacts, no photography and few people painting in the wilderness then.’

The creators overcame these obstacles, however, producing a beautiful piece that bridges the gap between Hollywood film and traditional documentary.

“We had to come up with new language – a dramatized documentary,’ said Acklin. “The emphasis is on drama.’

The result makes for compelling programming. Actors are fully engaged in their parts, often addressing the camera as they speak the thoughts of their characters. Action is prevalent. Tension is felt. But so is the history with background and maps presented so skillfully that it never takes away from the drama of the story.

“Normally, on these programs, you see a few moving feet that’s meant to represent an army. In our film, you see the army,’ Acklin said. “In other programs, you see a portrait of George Washington. In our case, you see George Washington speaking his own words.’

The program also did away with the traditional documentary tool of using historians on camera.

“We wanted viewers to immerse themselves in the 1700s,’ she said. “We wanted them to feel the history.’

They came up with the idea of an on-camera presenter, a person who could say this is what happened, this is why it’s important and this is what happened next. The company chose actor Graham Greene, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance in the highly acclaimed drama “Dances With Wolves.’ Graham is an Oneida Indian.

“His ancestors would have fought in this war,’ said Acklin. “…It was a great fit all around.’

“The War That Made America’ was filmed in high definition, with full-scale battle scenes and computer-generated special effects. For example, computer imagery took a scene in which a few boats with soldiers set out on a lake and turned it into a lake filled with boats and soldiers.

Filming took place in Westmoreland and Somerset counties. “I think at some point we were in Fayette County – we were all over the mountaintops,’ said Acklin.

The film crew didn’t work at historic sites in order to preserve the integrity of these places. But filming was done not far away.

“At one point, we found a weathered sign that said Old Forbes Road – it was the actual road that Forbes cut in his push to get through. I realized many of our locations were just a few miles from that road,’ said Acklin, who called it a “goose bumps moment – there were a lot of them.’

The project also proved financially beneficial for the area.

“The business manager on the project indicated to me that by her calculations, we poured between $3 (million) and $4 million into the local economy,’ said Acklin, noting this meant purchasing supplies as well as overnight stays at local motels and dinners at local restaurants. In addition, the company donated leftover supplies to local entities, such as the Mountain View Playhouse.

Talking about goals for the project, Acklin said, “I hope this will inspire teachers to expand the amount of time they spend on the French and Indian War when they’re teaching history.’

She noted the company also has an education component for teachers and is doing an outreach that involves museums and libraries. Information on both can be obtained by visiting the Web site at www.thewarthatmadeamerica.com and checking the education and outreach section.

Acklin also hopes the project will help Americans realize the significance of the French and Indian War.

“Here’s a great story about our early founding and you can still see and experience the sites where it happened,’ she noted. “…You can walk on the ground and feel the history.’

And what should local residents think about when they watch “The War That Made America?’

“I’d love for them to keep in mind this series that puts western Pennsylvania in the spotlight is done by locals at WQED,’ said Acklin. “This is not Hollywood. We’re not HBO or Paramount. This is your local PBS station. It’s done by people who live and work here and love this place.’

“The War That Made America’ will be available on DVD and video by calling Shop PBS at 1-800-645-4727 or visiting the Web site at www.pbs.org

. A companion book called “The War That Made America: A Short History of the French and Indian War’ by acclaimed author and historian Fred Anderson, who served as principal advisor on the project, is available through online retailers and local bookstores. “The War That Made America’ soundtrack, which is produced, orchestrated and arranged by Grammy-winning producer Brian Keane, features original and period music, including traditional Iroquois and Six Nations music, is available at www.valley-entertainment.com

Web site. For more information on the project, visit www.thewarthatmadeamerica.com

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