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“America: The Story of Us” is being produced by Jane Root, a veteran British television executive who knows how to do epic television: She oversaw the launch of Discovery Channel’s “Planet Earth” when she ran that network. History is casting the project, inspired by the sense of momentousness that followed President Obama’s election, as the first comprehensive television history of the country since Alistair Cooke’s 1972 series “America: A Personal History of the United States.”
“I think it’s a sign of amazing confidence in themselves and the audience,” said Root, now an independent producer.
The project aims to explore the various tipping points that shaped the country’s trajectory, with each hour covering five events. Along with the usual interviews with historians, the series is making heavy use of CGI technology to re-create events such as the construction of the Statue of Liberty and the expansion of the railroad across the Rockies. “We want to tell it in a way that draws people in the way a movie would,” Dubuc said. “It’s OK to be entertaining.”
Read full article at:
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-tv-history3-2010jan03,0,7729958.story
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History has lined up Meryl Streep, Michael Douglas, Colin Powell, Brian Williams and other notables to participate in the docu series that the cabler is calling the most ambitious original programming initiative in its own history.
Set to bow next year, the 12-part “America The Story of Us” series will cover a 400-year sweep of the nation’s history and pre-history. The cabler is prepping elaborate educational materials to distribute to schools in tandem with the series.
“America” is exec produced by Jane Root, former prexy of Discovery Channel and BBC2, through her Nutopia production banner. Series will focus on the elements that distinguish American democracy, the conflicts that shaped it and the myriad social and industrial innovations that have fueled the country’s prosperity. On-camera commentators — also set to include Buzz Aldrin, Gen. Tommy Franks, Donald Trump, John Lasseter and Stevie Wonder — will share their thoughts on the “building” of the nation, according to History.
“What distinguishes American history from that of any other country is how everyday people built this nation from the ground up,” said History prexy-general manager Nancy Dubuc. “American history truly belongs to the people and causes us to reflect on who we are, and how we will shape the future of the country.”
Variety 2009
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History Channel have aired the trailer for the series which is debuting in April 2010 and the excitement is mounting!
We complete drama principal photography in time for Christmas 2009. Lots of exciting footage from the Pilgrim fathers to Prohibition currently being shot. It’s going brilliantly and the sun is shining brightly despite a couple of freak thunderstorms earlier in the month.
Meanwhile we are crossing America from New York to New Mexico interviewing leading American figures. So far in the can is General David Petraeus, Donald Trump, General Colin Powell, Melissa Etheridge and Buzz Aldrin. Elsewhere in America (South Dakota to be exact) another filming unit has been tracking wild bison as they roam across the great plains and staging some old-fashioned Cowboys and Indians action.
Back in London we’re into the edit of the first batch of shows and into our sixth coffee of the day..
Watch this space.
New York, NY, May 11, 2009 – HISTORY™ has greenlit production on a groundbreaking initiative of epic proportions, a 12-part series called, AMERICA THE STORY OF US, it was announced today by Nancy Dubuc, EVP/GM, History. continue