The 71st anniversary of the World War II D-Day Invasion is Saturday and WTXL is taking a look at the invasion and documenting stories of Americans who were there in D-DAY: The Great Crusade. This is part four of the series focusing on the film "D-Day: Normandy 1944".
TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) - "D-Day: Normandy 1944" is a documentary to honor all who serve. The film's director, Pascal Vuong, says he always had a strong interest in World War II and D-Day ever since he saw the movie "The Longest Day" as a young child. Years later, he decided to create the very first large screen documentary devoted to D-Day.
"Its not only a film devoted to a big event, it pays tribute to those who suffered and died for our liberty, " says Vuong.
The 43 minute film took 33 months and $5-million to make. Filmed in Normandy France, where the battle took place, Historical Advisor and Retired US Army Colonel Peter Herrly helped the team with basic research and questions about accuracy, "Pascal's project is going to touch people of all ages in all nations, working on magnificent themes of courage, confidence, commitment to a cause. And I don't think there's a better venue, a better possible medium than a giant screen film, especially the way he's put it together. So I think this is one of the most important projects for military history that I know about."
Vuong incorporated various cinemagraphic techniques to show and tell the story in a special and new way. Vuong explains, "So I had to invent this brand new cocktail, mixing animation and live action, archives and CGI maps, reenactment and animated models."
He also brought in respected journalist and World War II enthusiast Tom Brokaw to narrate the film, "What I was drawn to in this project is that it tells us the story of D-Day in a way that gives such clarity to one of the most important events in history of mankind," explains Brokaw.
Brokaw says by using digital technology, it gives the new generation a chance to understand it in a way they would not with the original grainy black and white film, "I think as we move into a new century, the 21st century, we cannot forget what happened in my lifetime, in the 20th century, and how we are all the beneficiaries of the bravery that was demonstrated, not just on that day, but on the days to come and all of the days proceeding that."
"D-Day: Normandy 1944" hopes to give audiences a new perspective on how this landing changed the world.
The premier of the 3-D Film "D-DAY: Normandy 1944" is Friday. For showtimes visit the Challenger Learning Center.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE "D-DAY: The Great Crusade"
D-Day: The Great Crusade, Part 1 - Not a Day Too Late
The invasion had been planned since the beginning of the United States entering the war, according to Kurt Piehler, the Director of the Institute on World War II and the Human Experience.
D-Day: The Great Crusade, Part 2 - Preparing for D-Day
It's no surprise troops trained long and hard for the invasion. What many may not know is, hundreds of thousands trained here on the Gulf Coast at Camp Gordon Johnston in Carrabelle.
D-Day: The Great Crusade, Part 3 - Stories from Local Veterans
The military's mission in World War II was to destroy the Axis Powers. One way to do that was by creating a second front in Europe on D-Day.
D-Day: The Great Crusade, Part 4 - Behind the Scenes Look at the Making of the Film
"D-Day: Normandy 1944" is a documentary to honor all who serve. The film's director, Pascal Vuong, says he always had a strong interest in World War II and D-Day ever since he saw the movie "The Longest Day" as a young child. Years later, he decided to create the very first large screen documentary devoted to D-Day.
D-Day: The Great Crusade, Part 5 - Letters from Those Who Were There
The letters from those who served on D-Day show more than just war and fear, they show hope of ending the war and a sense of a greater purpose.
