Members of the Living History Association prepare their cannon at a recent event at the Matterhorn Inn. The group will be part of a historical movie being shot at the Dover location this Saturday.
On December 5, sea V Windsinger Productions, of Calais, will be shooting scenes for an upcoming short film. “My Dearest Judith” is a three-minute-20-second film about two soldiers on opposing sides of the Civil War. The story takes place on January 8, 1863 during a Confederate attack on a Union infantry unit in the Battle of Springfield. The Union Infantry responds, and two soldiers, a Union and a Confederate, find themselves mortally wounded and stuck in the same shell hole. An exchange takes place and both soldiers question why they are fighting. The two realize they have more in common than they do at odds as “My Dearest Judith” highlights the human nature of conflict and the sacrifices made by soldiers during war.
“The main focus is to see war from a perspective that we do not normally use,” said Dennis Seavy-Windsinger, writer, producer, and director of “My Dearest Judith,” and president of sea V Windsinger Productions. Seavy-Windsinger’s last two entries in the contest, “Lord William’s Sunset” (2007) and “The Fastest Gun in the West” (2008), both won awards but neither was selected for Cannes. Seavy-Windsinger hopes that will change in 2009-2010. “It is intended for entry in the Straight 8 2010 film contest, a highly restrictive and demanding competition based on the features and limitations of the super-8 mm film format. The goal for this year is to make the Cannes Straight 8 final cut,” said Seavy-Windsinger.
A limited number of films is selected to be featured at the Cannes Film Festival in France, the Soho Film Festival in England, the Vancouver Rushes film festival in Vancouver, BC, and on BBC television. “My Dearest Judith” will be shot in black and white still format and transferred, in a special effects studio, to straight 8 mm-film.
The film will be on the competition circuit next year and will be used for historical, educational, and not-for-profit purposes. James Dassatti, Living History Association executive director, said the film will help the LHA create new contacts with filmmakers and reenactors and draw more attention to the LHA and the Dover community. “This film will provide (the LHA) with some unique film footage for promoting other events and venues. It is also bringing together several talented people who haven’t worked together in a long time, as well as some new players,” said Dassatti.
Seavy-Windsinger is a longtime friend of Dassatti’s and included him as the film’s historical consultant. He said Dassatti was instrumental in finding a site and recruiting LHA volunteers to participate. “Jim presented a most persuasive case for utilizing the considerable expertise of the Civil War reenactors of the LHA in the film. Jim has been so creative and effective in putting together the necessary resources and partnerships necessary for a film production on location that he has become one of the primary executive producers of the film,” said Seavy-Windsinger.
Dassatti has high hopes for “My Dear Judith.” Whether the film wins an award or goes on to a major film festival, Dassatti said the film will still benefit everyone. “The American Civil War was America’s greatest conflict. The short-length feature film puts the conflict in a meaningful light,” said Dassatti.
“‘My Dear Judith’ does not glorify war, but puts a face of reality upon it.”
For more information on Saturday’s filming of “My Dear Judith” e-mail Dassatti at info@livinghistoryassn.org.
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