Ken Burns on His Monumental War of Independence Project: ‘This Is Our Most Crucial Work’
The acclaimed documentarian has evolved into not just a documentarian; he represents an institution, an unparalleled production entity. Whenever he releases project premiering on the television, everybody wants his attention.
He participated in “more fucking podcasts than I ever thought possible”, he remarks, approaching the conclusion of his marathon promotional journey comprising numerous locations, dozens of preview events and innumerable conversations. “I think there are 340.1m podcasts, one for every American, and I’ve done half of them.”
Happily the filmmaker is incredibly dynamic, equally articulate in interviews as he is productive while filmmaking. The 72-year-old has traveled from prestigious venues to The Joe Rogan Experience to discuss his latest monumental work: The American Revolution, an extensive six-episode, twelve-hour film project that consumed the past decade of his life and arrived this week on PBS.
Classic Documentary Style
Comparable to methodical preparation in today’s rapid-consumption era, Burns’ latest project proudly conventional, evoking memories of historical documentary classics as opposed to modern digital documentaries and podcast series.
But for Burns, whose entire filmography exploring national heritage spanning various American subjects, the nation’s founding is not just another subject but foundational. “I said this to my co-director Sarah Botstein the other day, and she agreed: this represents our most significant project Burns contemplates from his New York base.
Extensive Historical Investigation
Burns, co-directors Botstein and David Schmidt along with writer Geoffrey Ward drew upon thousands of books plus archival documents. Dozens of historians, representing diverse viewpoints, provided on-air commentary along with leading scholars representing multiple disciplines such as enslavement studies, first nations scholarship and the British empire.
Distinctive Filmmaking Approach
The style of the series will feel familiar to devotees of The Civil War. Its distinctive style included slow pans and zooms across still photos, extensive employment of contemporary scores with performers reading diaries, letters and speeches.
That was the moment Burns established his reputation; a generation later, currently the elder statesman of documentary filmmaking, he can apparently summon any actor he chooses. Collaborating with the filmmaker during a recent appearance, acclaimed writer Lin-Manuel Miranda commented: “When Ken Burns calls, you say ‘Yes.’”
Extraordinary Talent
The lengthy creation process proved beneficial in terms of flexibility. Sessions happened in recording spaces, at historical sites through digital platforms, a tool embraced during the pandemic. Burns recounts the experience with performer Josh Brolin, who scheduled a brief window in Atlanta to record his lines portraying the founding father before flying off to subsequent commitments.
The cast includes Kenneth Branagh, Hugh Dancy, Claire Danes, established Hollywood talent, Domhnall Gleeson, Amanda Gorman, Jonathan Groff, multiple generations of actors, accomplished dramatic artists, British and American talent, versatile character actors, television and film stars, Dan Stevens, Meryl Streep.
Burns adds: “Frankly, this may be the best single cast gathered for any production. Their contributions are remarkable. Their celebrity status wasn’t the criteria. It irritated me when questioned, about the prominent cast. I go, ‘These are actors.’ They’re the finest actors in the world and they can bring this stuff alive.”
Historical Complexity
Nevertheless, the lack of surviving participants, photography and newsreels forced Burns and his team to rely extensively on historical documents, integrating the first-person voices of nearly 200 individual historic figures. This approach enabled to show spectators not only to the “bold-faced names” of that era plus numerous additional essential to the narrative, many of whom remain visually unknown.
Burns additionally pursued his particular enthusiasm for geography and cartography. “I have great affection for cartography,” he observes, “and there are more maps in this project compared to previous works I’ve done combined.”
International Impact
The team filmed at nearly a hundred historical locations throughout the continent plus English locations to document environmental context and collaborated substantially with re-enactors. These components unite to depict events more bloody, multifaceted and world-changing than the one taught in schools.
The documentary argues, transcended provincial conflict concerning territory, taxes and political voice. Instead the film portrays a blood-soaked struggle that finally engaged numerous countries and unexpectedly manifested termed “mankind’s greatest hopes”.
Internal Conflict Truth
What had begun as a jumble of grievances aimed at the crown by American colonists across thirteen rebellious territories soon descended into a bloody domestic struggle, setting brother against brother and creating local enmities. During the second installment, scholar Alan Taylor notes: “The primary misunderstanding regarding the Revolutionary War centers on assuming it constituted a unifying experience for colonists. This ignores the truth that it was a civil war among Americans.”
Historical Complexity
According to his perspective, the revolution is a story that “generally is overwhelmed by emotionalism and idealization and remains shallow and doesn’t have the respect for what actually took place, and all the participants and the incredible violence of it.
Taylor maintains, an uprising that declared the transformative concept of inherent human rights; a brutal civil war, separating rebels and supporters; and a worldwide engagement, another installment in a sequence of conflicts between Britain, France and Spain for the “prize of North America”.
Unpredictable Historical Moments
The filmmaker also sought {to rediscover the
