I’ll have to admit that the thought of being in a documentary about the Great War appealed to me. Not as much as the thought that it was a documentary that included part of my Grandfather’s story. This past July I journeyed home to Roblin to be filmed, along with my father for a documentary. We spent about 6 or 7 hours reminiscing about Grandpa, and looking through old photos while the camera rolled.
Alas, in the world of film directions often change and all the footage from Roblin will not be a part of the show. Pity, it was good stuff. There is still going to be a little bit about Grandpa in the film, so that is a good thing. I get the impression that it won’t be as much as originally planned, at one point the film was going to focus on his story (or at least I believe that was the case).
The film, VIMY UNDERGROUND is airing on History Television on November 6th, 2007 at 8 pm (EST). I have no doubt it will be a very good film, one that I’m looking forward to seeing. It is produced by the same people who made last years Vimy – Heaven and Hell, and other excellent Great War documentaries. I’ll be watching it, there just won’t be my handsome face in it.
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My dad has been featured and cut from several Vietnam documentaries, so I can relate. Is this the same “History Channel” we get here in the US?
I really hope I get to see this documentary. I’ll keep my eyes peeled for it. I can relate to your disappointment. Back in high school I got a small role as an extra in a CBC movie on the failed Dieppe raid. I had to wait through close to 4 hours of CBC-style excitement before catching a 2-second still shot of me as a “dead soldier” ……just before the final credits rolled.
Hi Patrick,
After a quick google I am assuming that your Dad is Joe. I found some of his writing and found it very interesting. Hope he is included in one of the documentaries one day. This is the Canadian equivalent to the History Channel. Not sure when/if it is being shown south of the border. Next time I talk to the producer I’ll ask him.
Hey Darcy
I was at Dieppe this spring. I can’t imagine a worse place to try and land. Small wonder that so many were lost there. I’ll try and post a reminder as the show time gets closer.
Hello from Yellowknife (heavy fog here today)
I look forward to seeing that doc too. It’s so so good that people (ie Canada) is making these shows about WWI. Personal is the best kind of history, especially if you have a direct connection.
Welcome Arctic Dreamer. There are a few WWI films planned for the History Channel on Remembrance Week. Paul Gross is in the process of making a feature film “Passchendaele” based on his grandfather’s experiences in the Great War, and I see that a theatre in Edmonton is producing a play about Vimy.