One of the bloodiest battles in the Civil
War, the Battle of Gettysburg was a pivotal point in American history.
Documentary filmmaker Mark Bussler and Civil War historians Michael
Kraus and David Neville have long been intrigued by the Battle of
Gettysburg. They wanted to show the most captivating and unique aspects
of the battle, along with stories featuring some of the bravest men in
the Civil War. "Gettysburg and Stories of Valor - CIVIL WAR
MINUTES® III relays the war at a level that is informative from a
historical standpoint, but is also easy to understand and entertaining
for people with all interests in history. We accomplish this level of
excellence through the highest standards of filming quality, sound and
story telling. Gettysburg and Stories of Valor - CIVIL WAR MINUTES® III exceeds the typical grade of documentaries," said producer
and director Mark Bussler.
"The Battle of Gettysburg is the first
time during the Civil War that the South invaded a Northern state and
then unexpectedly collided in a small Pennsylvania town totally
unprepared for the massive conflict that was about to ensue. In that
conflict there were countless deeds of valor and heroism, many that are
famous and many unknown. All make for fabulous stories and should be
told."
Gettysburg and Stories of Valor - CIVIL WAR MINUTES® III was
filmed at several key historic locations and museums throughout the
eastern part of the United States. Bussler manages to keep the
size and scale of Gettysburg alive on the screen, while showing respect
for those who died in the battle. He uses footage that is uniquely
different from what filmmakers have done in the past. "To
illustrate the stories in the film we shot most of the footage on and
around the massive battlefield of Gettysburg from angles, locations and
in lighting conditions not typically available on screen. Each part of
the battlefield has its own texture and feel; it's a very neat place to
film. We captured the sweeping fields of Pickett's Charge, the rugged
terrain of Culp's Hill, the Wheat Field and the infamous Little Round
Top and Devil's Den. Gettysburg is a unique location with its
combination of fields, rocks, mountains and sweeping vistas. We
photographed the natural scenic beauty of these spots to show people
where the action actually took place. That's compelling
stuff."
Bussler also filmed inside the Gettysburg
National Military Park Museum to capture artifacts that were damaged
during the battle of Gettysburg like the shell damaged remains of John
Forney's Farm and a drum left behind on the battlefield.
Many one of a kind artifacts from
private collectors appear in this film like the presentation sword of
Lieutenant Edward Geary, killed during a cannon duel; or the bars from
Captain Sofield's jacket that were preserved after he was killed by an
exploding shell during the battle of Gettysburg. "The film is
edited together with live footage, still pictures, drawings, engravings
and some never before seen photographs. There is some unique material in
here that can't be seen anywhere else."
The crew worked in other museums to complete
the three-hour documentary with additional stories of valor. "With
the cooperation of the Mansfield Soldiers and Sailors Museum in Ohio we
were able to film their eclectic collection of Civil War artifacts and
uniforms that hold their own interesting stories. The Montgomery County
Historical Society, just North of Philadelphia, has the actual bullet
that wounded General Hancock in the Battle of Gettysburg, which appears
in the film."
Rounding out the DVD is a feature-length
commentary track featuring writers Kraus and Neville and director
Bussler. On this Bussler said "The two of them know so much that we
had to condense and edit their thoughts into the three-hour production.
Their commentary track uncovers additional information about the battle
and details that just wouldn't fit into the film. Things like what
statue was carved by the artist of Mount Rushmore and which Confederate
cannons were a rare breechloading design smuggled from England.
The commentary track also touches on the adventures involved in the
filming and editing of the production -- such as where we almost got
struck by lightning or what we did when tour buses started driving
through our shots."
The film is complete as a three-hour,
two-DVD set with 30 episodes. "When one watches the production they
will no doubt want to visit Gettysburg for themselves. It's a
picturesque location and holds one of the country's greatest national
parks. The scenery is breathtaking."
Bussler said, "Gettysburg and
Stories of Valor - CIVIL WAR MINUTES® III is an eye opener to the
immense nature of the Civil War and all those who fought in it. It
should be required viewing for every American."