Calling all WW2 Veterans! Do you have a demobbing story? What was it like coming home in your demob suit? How did you settle back into life in Blighty? And what was it like having a boyfriend, husband or dad coming home from war? I'm a TV producer making a documentary about the experience of coming home after the war and would love to hear your stories. Please contact me (Charlotte Smith), Michele or Lily on 0207 631 0161 or email me at charlotte@epiphany-productions.co.uk I look forward to hearing from you soon. Many thanks, Charlotte
Charlotte, I closed your other identical thread : http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/general/36283-demobilisation-documentary.html So that people can answer you in one place here.
Thought you might like to see the end result of this original request from Epiphany Productions. Yesterday PM we had a visit from their team and for about three hours I was taken back to what it like to be de-mobbed in 1946. Fascinating to see the latest video equipment being used ! The program will eventually be shown on the Yesterday Channel some time in September and as one of those being interviewed is our own Brian Guy (Sapper) it should be worth watching. Will keep you posted with more news as I get it. Ron
I spotted this press announcement yesterday with further news about the forthcoming documentary that Brian & I are involved in. I see that it now has a name, "After the war was won" and that the showing date is given as late 2011, rather than late September. LONDON, 8 SEPTEMBER 2011: The UK’s leading factual channel Yesterday today announced four further commissions to continue its highly successful Spirit of the 1940’s season. After The War Was Won and The Germans Are Coming (Epiphany Productions) and The RAF’s Great Escape and The Arctic Convoys (Testimony Films) will transmit in late 2011 and early 2012. All four programmes were commissioned by Jane Rogerson UKTV’s Director of Commissioning and will be overseen by Catherine Catton, UKTV’s Commissioning Editor for Factual and Factual Entertainment. Of the commissions, Catherine Catton said: “Each of the four new commissions epitomise the Yesterday brand. They offer a new slant on well known stories told through emotionally driven personal testimony.” Epiphany Productions’ After The War Was Won is the moving story of what happened to the brave men and women who fought for freedom in World War II. For many there was the sheer joy and relief of victory, the anticipation of a heroes welcome and some extraordinary reunions with loved ones. For some the end of the war was more bittersweet, as they returned home to a family of strangers, housing shortages and few career opportunities. In this one hour documentary the men and women who lived through the crucial post war years will reveal what it was really like to return from the front line to everyday life and start to build a new Britain. After The War Won will be executive produced by Michele Carlisle for Epiphany Productions and producer/directed by Charlotte Smith. When Winston Churchill promised to fight on the beaches, on the streets and in the hills, it wasn’t mere oratory - he meant Dymchurch Beach, Penrith High Street and the hills of the South Downs. The Germans Are Coming will chart the story of how the British people braced themselves for invasion and will uncover the plans put in place by the government should the Germans manage to invade UK soil. Using first hand testimony and government information films, the programme will reveal the extraordinary lengths people went to defend themselves and their country and also reveal for the first time astonishing stories of brave Brits capturing German spies. The Germans Are Coming will be executive produced by Michele Carlisle for Epiphany Productions and producer/ directed by Graham Tilley. The Arctic Convoys, a 1 hour documentary produced by Testimony Films, will mark the 70th anniversary of the most deadly and treacherous voyages of World War II. The mission of the hundred convoys that made the journey across the Arctic from Britain to Russia was to provide essential supplies to a beleaguered Soviet Union to help fight the Germans on the eastern front. The ships travelled in convoys protected by Royal Navy destroyers and submarines, but despite this one in five still fell victim to a lethal combination of German submarines, air attacks and stormy seas. There are now less than a hundred survivors and the programme will be a fitting tribute to their extraordinary bravery. The Arctic Convoys will be executive produced by Stephen Humphries and producer directed by Andy Attenburrow. The do or die escape plans of British POWs are part of popular legend, but far less known are the audacious everyday escapes of RAF crews shot down over Nazi occupied Europe. The RAF’s Great Escape will explore the ways in which the brave men would try to get back to British soil - most failed, but remarkably almost 5,000 succeeded in making ‘the home run’. The documentary will feature the testimony of veterans who managed to escape as well as that of the French resistance fighters who helped them make it back to Britain. The RAF’s Great Escape will be executive produced by Stephen Humphries for Testimony Films and producer/directed by Nick Maddocks. The Spirit of the 1940s strand began on Yesterday in April 2009 and continues to be hugely popular with viewers. In March 2011 The Bert Trautmann Story, part of the continuing Spirit of the 1940s strand, delivered Yesterday’s highest ever audience bringing in 420,000 adults. Other successes of the strand include The Channel Islands At War, Ration Book Britain and The First Day Of The Blitz. In the first six months of 2011 Yesterday showed 44% volume growth on the first six months of 2010 and increased its average share from 0.55% to 0.78%. July 2011 saw Yesterday take its greatest monthly share to date averaging 0.99%. For more information, please contact: Samantha Elliott, Factual Publicist 020 7299 6278 / Samantha.elliott@ukv.co.uk -ENDS- Notes to Editors About Yesterday (History today: Yesterday TV) Yesterday is the channel where the past is always present. As well as the high quality history series that viewers would expect such as Nazi Hunters and Hitler’s Bodyguard, there is also a strong showing of classic dramas including Sharpe and Catherine Cookson adaptations. Yesterday also looks to commemorate the most significant events of modern history and this is reflected in its commissioning of the Spirit of 1940s season, with the hugely popular Ration Book Britain, The Channel Islands at War, The First Day of the Blitz and Royals at War. Where to find Yesterday: Sky channel 537, Virgin TV channel 203 and Freeview channel 12. About UKTV (UKTV Home) Formed in 1997, UKTV is an independent commercial joint venture, between BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, and Virgin Media. Attracting 39 million viewers each month, the network consists of 10 distinctive channel brands – Watch, Gold, Dave, Alibi, Yesterday, Blighty, Eden, Home, Really and Good Food – offering a broad range of quality programming across entertainment, lifestyle and factual programming. UKTV currently operates 24 broadcast streams when multiplexes (+1s) and HD channels are taken into account, and 11 highly successful websites. Promising to creatively connect its audiences with great programming, UKTV’s successful programming strategy combines quality content from the BBC with high profile original commissions and key acquisitions. All UKTV channels are distributed on Sky and Virgin Media. Dave, Really and Yesterday are also available on Freeview.
Hi Ron/Brian-look forward to seeing that. I watch Yesterday channel occasionally and they do have some good stuff on it. Lesley
Hi Ron and folks here... Yes I did the interview with Charlotte, and have no news when this will be seen on our screens. Charlotte has given me a ring just to see how we both are. Soon as I hear something I will promptly let you know. Take care Ron
Out of interest did they use the camera seen in your photos to record the interview? I was sort of intrigued by that too, as someone considering a new SLR (SLT, if I'm entering nerd-mode) with a bit of HD video capacity bolted on.
Yep ! And all linked up to the laptop for playback etc. By contrast, look at the camera used by the BBC crew when they interviewed me for their trailer for the People's War Ron
Blimey - I'm genuinely impressed at an HD SLR now being handy enough and of a decent quality for broadcast stuff. Hefty old Tripod, a darned posh lens, and doubtless a lightning fast card in it - but you can buy that little Camera off the shelf for a damned sight less than the one above. Interesting technological times...
Blimey - I'm genuinely impressed at an HD SLR now being handy enough and of a decent quality for broadcast stuff. Hefty old Tripod, a darned posh lens, and doubtless a lightning fast card in it - but you can buy that little Camera off the shelf for a damned sight less than the one above. Interesting technological times... The SLR camera looks like a Canon 5D or 7D. Its become pretty much industry standard for hi quality, modest budget HD filming. Its been very popular for the last couple of years and is now actually old hat - its been superseded by the Sony F3 - which is a fantastic, even revolutionary camera.
Brian You might be interested to see this piece of info I was able to wheedle out of the Yesterday Channel regarding the documentary we both feature in. You must read down to the very end Ron Goldstein Hi ! Still waiting for a response to my query of Sept 21st, namely: Any dates yet for "After the war was won" program ? Many thanks ! Ron Like · · October 2 at 9:07am Yesterday TV Channel Hi Ron, After The War Was Won will be on at 9pm on Tuesday 29th Oct. We hope you enjoy it!Wednesday at 9:36am · Ron Goldstein According to my calendar the 29th is a Saturday ?Wednesday at 2:43pm Yesterday TV Channel Sorry Ron - that should have said 29th Nov.
If anyone is interested? they can listen and watch this old buzzard blathering on, in a programme for the "Yesterday" channel. It is due out on the 29th of November next. More info when I know more. Cheers Sapper
Brian, For sure we are interested! Hopefully, the program will find its way to Canada. I am sure Tom would be keen to see it as well. Cheers from the colony, Randy
Looking forward to seeing the old buzzard blathering on. I'll be there with my popcorn. Cheers for the heads up.
