OFFICIAL FEATURE DOCUMENTARY UPDATE - SEPTEMBER 2019 |
|
|
QUICK PREVIEW - Winner for Best Feature Documentary at Royal Starr!
- This Friday 9.20 - Twin Tiers Int. Film Festival / Norwich, NY
- Festival recap for DOCUTAH and Royal Starr Film Festival
- If you saw the film tell us what you thought in the COMMENTS page!
- List of more upcoming screenings
|
|
|
WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER |
|
|
I returned last week from two film festivals - DOCUTAH in St. George, UT and Royal Starr in Detroit, MI. Both festivals provided great opportunities to see films and network with fellow filmmakers. The best part was that we took home the award for Best Feature Documentary at the Royal Starr Film Festival. It was great to be recognized for all the hard work. I must say that the other films in the Best Feature Documentary category were very well produced and it was anybody's game. |
|
|
Also at the Royal Starr Film Festival, I was pleasantly surprised by Todd Tremble and his family who drove from an hour away to see Return To Hardwick. Todd and I have chatted over Facebook but it's not the same when you actually meet in person. His grandparents, Willard Babcock and Rachel Homer met and married at Hardwick during the war. |
|
|
Director Michael Sellers (center) with Todd Tremble (extreme right) and his family. Todd's mother, Carolann (next to Michael) is the daughter of Willard and Rachel who met at Hardwick. |
|
|
Here is a little from Todd about his grandparents: My grandparents got married while stationed at Hardwick. Willard was one of the originals, and first members to be sent to England. He trained, and flew with Jack Jersted, on "Jerks Natural" while in the US (Louisiana) and flew missions over the Gulf of Mexico on Uboat patrol. Their crew was credited with sinking a U-boat in the gulf. Grandpa was an engineer, so once they were over in England, he became in charge of ground crews and engineering. Grandma was a red cross girl. They were married on June 16th, 1944 at the Delf Church, right by the base. |
|
|
Willard Babcock (left), Rachel Homer (center) and friend John Hinch (right) |
|
|
Todd also added that his grandmother was in a promotional film shot on Hardwick airfield during the war. His grandmother Rachel is seen with the Bomerang crew holding a cake! Why a cake you ask? The Bomerang crew from the 93rd Bomb Group (328th sqd.) was the first Eighth Air Force Liberator to complete 50 missions. After completing 53 missions, the crew and pilot Walt Stewart (also holding the cake) was flown back to the States for a War Bond tour. If you click the video image it will take you to a film called Liberators Over Europe. The Bomerang presentation is a section in the film. |
|
|
Todd's grandmother Rachel Homer is seen in this promotional film shot on Hardwick airfield. She is presenting a cake to the Bomerang crew - they were the first B-24 Liberator in the Eighth Air Force to complete 50 missions. Please also note that the Bomerang crew participated in Operation Tidal Wave - an air attack by bombers on nine oil refineries around Ploesti, Romania on 1 August 1943. This mission was a low level attack and many bombers did not return. Please click here for more details. |
|
|
So as you as see, Todd and his family attending the Royal Starr Film Festival was a real treat! I've been encountering people related to the 93rd Bomb Group at every screening I've gone to. Return To Hardwick was produced so the 93rd and the families connected to the group can keep remembering what happened so many years ago. Take a look at our upcoming screenings and maybe I'll see you soon. Michael Sellers Producer/Director Return To Hardwick |
|
|
DOCUTAH FILM FESTIVAL RECAP The photo says it all! Utah is a beautiful state and the DOCUTAH film festival was a perfect place to screen Return To Hardwick. For each of our two screenings we had an enthusiastic crowd. We even had some people from the Western Sky Aviation Warbird Museum come out. Nice to have those folks attend and we know they appreciated all the work put into the film. Below are some photos from the festival and if you look quickly, Roger and Jill Spencer who are in the film Return To Hardwick came out for the screening - they live in St. George! |
|
|
Twin Tiers International Film Festival Martin W. Kappel Theater 27 W Main St. #8, Norwich, New York 13815 September 20, 2019 at 10:30 AM New Ulm Film Festival The Grand Center for Arts & Culture 210 N Minnesota St., New Ulm, Minnesota 56073 September 26th - 28th, 2019 Emerge Film Festival Franco Center 46 Cedar St., Lewiston, Maine 04240 October 3rd - 5th, 2019 Please keep checking www.hardwickfilm.com for exact time and date. Chagrin Documentary Film Festival Chagrin Falls Township Hall 83 N Main St, Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022 October 6th, 2019 at 12:30 PM Eastern Michigan University Strong Hall Auditorium (In conjunction with the 2019 93rd Bomb Group reunion) Ypsilanti, Michigan / October 11th at 3:00 PM Click this line if you want to attend screening but not reunion The Museum of Flight 9404 E Marginal Way S., Seattle, Washington 98108 October 26th, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Kansas International Film Festival November 8th - 14th, 2019 Please keep checking www.hardwickfilm.com for exact time and date. Planes of Fame 14998 Cal Aero Drive, Chino, California 91710 November 16th, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
|
|
NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED |
|
|
"TALKS ON DOCS" PODCAST INTERVIEW Director Michael Sellers was interviewed by the producers of the podcast "Talks on Docs". Sturdy, Sean and HB hit Michael up for some in-depth facts and figures on the making of Return To Hardwick. They themselves are Iraq and Afghanistan veterans which made us even more proud that they took notice of the film. Take a listen or read the transcript by clicking below! |
|
|
Michael Cudlitz - Mighty Eighth Museum Clips |
|
|
Michael Cudlitz gives the film some praise. |
|
|
If you haven't seen it - check out the trailer for Return To Hardwick!!! |
|
|
If you have seen Return To Hardwick please leave a comment by clicking the button below. It will take you to the film's website to the Comments page. We'd love to hear from you! |
|
|
RETURN TO HARDWICK SYNOPSIS The 93rd Bomb Group was the most decorated, most traveled and most effective bomb group of WWII. Helping to cripple Hitler's Europe from the air, they executed some of the most daring bombing raids of the war. Along with the group's rich history - sons, daughters and grandchildren travel to England and explore the 93rd's long forgotten airbase - Hardwick Aerodrome 104. |
|
|
Check out the Facebook page for the project here: https://www.facebook.com/hardwickdoc/ You have signed up to receive updates for the documentary film Return To Hardwick. This happened by either donating to the project or signing up at www.hardwickfilm.com. Emails like this will be sent to your inbox and alert you on news about the film. Unsubscribe if you want by clicking the link at the bottom of this email. |
|
|
|
|
