Video: D-Day on a shoestring budget
posted at 6:45 pm on January 24, 2008 by Allahpundit
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Maybe not quite a shoestring given the level of computer FX mastery at work here, but a bootlace? Three actors, a greenscreen, a little running and climbing, processed well with high-end graphics programs, and voila: The greatest invasion in history. If you get the Smithsonian Channel, you can catch the finished product in May.
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I liked it when the horse ran across.
AbaddonsReign on January 24, 2008 at 6:48 PM
Big frigging joke. Alot of guys dies on that beach so these knobs can make a video game.
RobCon on January 24, 2008 at 6:50 PM
Wow very nice work. Sucky music though.
CABE on January 24, 2008 at 6:52 PM
Impressive x 10.
Mike D. on January 24, 2008 at 6:53 PM
Do I sense these ever-so-hip-and-fashinable-Brits mocking American sacrifice on Omaha Beach?
Their nation is going downhill fast and they don’t even know it.
RobCon on January 24, 2008 at 6:53 PM
sweet
yo on January 24, 2008 at 6:54 PM
No matter how many shows I watch about WWII and D-Day I still cannot imagine what that would have been like. I try to ask myself if I could have handled it. Then I realize that we have people out there today still doing it.
StlDad on January 24, 2008 at 6:55 PM
That was impressive when it all came together. I didn’t catch the anti-American vibe that some of you seemed to get from this.
TDBURN on January 24, 2008 at 6:57 PM
that was great!
jummy on January 24, 2008 at 6:59 PM
So is this how the democratic party fights the war of the future ?
William Amos on January 24, 2008 at 7:00 PM
Calm down RobCon, unless you’re willing to classify Saving Private Ryan in the same category (like how Point du Hoc wasn’t “exciting” enough for Spielburg). This is just 3 militarily un-trained newbies trying to make a film on a “shoestring budget”.
TheEJS on January 24, 2008 at 7:01 PM
That’s pretty cool.
Spirit of 1776 on January 24, 2008 at 7:03 PM
My dad was at Iwo Jima and he told me that the ships stretched as far as the eye could see. We went to see “Flags of Our Fathers” last year together and he said the scenes were remarkably accurate in depicting the shelling of the beach.
Where in the world did we find men such as these?
Charles Martel on January 24, 2008 at 7:08 PM
Some serious art-design and vision to back up the software. Very nice job.
bbz123 on January 24, 2008 at 7:10 PM
As long as they lose the Frankie Goes To Hollywood song for the soundtrack, it’s golden.
ScottMcC on January 24, 2008 at 7:14 PM
Nice work. As a long-time DIY guy, I love this kind of thing.
For only $14 million more they could have had two-second close-up of Tom Cruise. Alas.
Amen. Our ancestors fought and died to free us from Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
saint kansas on January 24, 2008 at 7:17 PM
Now, if computer could only learn to act…
mksmithwriter on January 24, 2008 at 7:24 PM
…And knowing that their K98 bolt action rifles had a lower rate of fire, the Germans in the bunker used U.S. made M1 Garand rifles…The first in France, as a matter of fact! (Rolleyes) So much for realism.
Lssu91 on January 24, 2008 at 7:25 PM
reminds me of “wag the dog”
lorien1973 on January 24, 2008 at 7:26 PM
Proof that WWII was all staged to make a cover so the U.S. could exterminate 6 million Jews.
You saw it here.
\s
That was an awesome piece of work. If you have ever even produced a 30 sec commercial, you know those boys worked their tails off on that. wow!
TheSitRep on January 24, 2008 at 7:26 PM
cooool
trailortrash on January 24, 2008 at 7:29 PM
They left out all the blood that was spilled on that beach so these goofs can waste their time on stupit Sh*t. God forgive us if this generation ever has to take on what was taken on.
KBird on January 24, 2008 at 7:30 PM
Amazing. Looks like they had accuracy in mind. Real local, accurate weapons, gear, pics of actual barricades, etc
VERY well done.
Speilberg’s smackin his head right now as if he coulda had a V8
scottm on January 24, 2008 at 7:34 PM
That was pretty cool,the computer rendering.
But in real life,storming that beach was a real
horror.
canopfor on January 24, 2008 at 7:41 PM
Uh…this is for a BBC history documentary, not some “evil” video game. I don’t see how this is “wasting time” and evidence of the current generation’s idiocy. How is this any different than what the History Channel does?
NickJ on January 24, 2008 at 7:44 PM
We raised ‘em and trained ‘em. What kind of men are we raising and training in our current culture and in our public schools? We always manage to field an impressive military, but I have to wonder when our culture will catch up with our military.
TX Mom on January 24, 2008 at 7:47 PM
Gee, the way some of you are acting you must really hate the Military and History channels.
EnochCain on January 24, 2008 at 7:48 PM
My dad was at Iwo Jima….
Where in the world did we find men such as these.
Charles Martel on January 24,2008 at 7:08PM.
Charles Martel: With absolute and great respect.
From caring,beautiful,brave and noble
American Grandmothers,and Mothers.
canopfor on January 24, 2008 at 7:50 PM
Wow, now if they can only remake Storm Troopers
Kini on January 24, 2008 at 7:50 PM
You sound like you know what you’re talking about.
RushBaby on January 24, 2008 at 7:50 PM
worthless and gay…..
awesum on January 24, 2008 at 7:52 PM
You bring up a good point. History revisionist could have a beach day with this….
Kini on January 24, 2008 at 7:53 PM
worthless and gay…..
Because it detracts from the sacrifice, horror and heroism of that beachhead…..
From:
US Army Vet
Military Police
Air Assault
awesum on January 24, 2008 at 7:55 PM
Enough about your fathers opinion of you what did you think of the video?…I kid!
EnochCain on January 24, 2008 at 7:55 PM
How does it take away from their sacrifice? I mean personally until I saw Saving Private Ryan when I was a teenager I had no idea what kind of hell those men had to endure on D-Day.
EnochCain on January 24, 2008 at 7:57 PM
EnochCain
———–
Whatever the hell that video clip was a part of…..was a worthless documentary with worthless music by worthless 20 year olds……..
awesum on January 24, 2008 at 8:00 PM
Well, a video, though D-Day has been done in countless scenarios in WWII FPS and sims to the point of being cliche.
doubleplusundead on January 24, 2008 at 8:01 PM
Very cool.
Also, folks, be aware: Brits and Canadians died at Normandy as well. Just not at Omaha. And sadly, some unwilling defenders died as well (Poles, Czechs and others who were impressed into service and surrendered as quickly as they could–when out of range of their German officers…).
This was a demonstration of what can be done with technology and it innovation, it was political.
Let’s stick to that. Saving Private Ryan scene still takes the prize, but what these young guys pulled off was impressive to say the least. I suspect they each have interesting careers ahead of them–of their own fashioning.
Bravo.
Montana on January 24, 2008 at 8:04 PM
Bah I need to proof read:
This was a demonstration of what can be done with technology and it innovation, it was political.This was a demonstration of what can be done with technology and innovation, it was NOT political.
Montana on January 24, 2008 at 8:05 PM
“this is for a BBC history documentary”
I remember when Timewatch was worthy and very, very dull. It used to be the kind of thing that the BBC had on its schedules in order to refute any suggestions of dumbing down – “you may say we have Noel Edmunds’ House Party, and this is true, but we also have Timewatch. And Songs of Praise. Ner.”
But this is basically Top Gear, with history. It even has Richard Hammond.
Apeking on January 24, 2008 at 8:06 PM
Seriously…
Those guys did a lot of work to create something that will help future generations understand the sacrifice and horror WWII vets had to endure on that beach. The least you could do is wait and see the documentary before you decide on whether or not it is of any value or “gay”.
Unless you’re talking about Hammond, then I suspect you either watch too much Top Gear or, are in fact Jeremy Clarkson.
liquidflorian on January 24, 2008 at 8:07 PM
You sound like you know what you’re talking about.
RushBaby on January 24,2008 at 7:50PM.
RushBaby: My love affair with the United States Military
goes back to the Green Berets and Battle of the
Bulge.
In every historical film footage the American GI
was a good and caring soldier who layed down his
life honourable to protect the civilians,and
take it right to the enemy.
canopfor on January 24, 2008 at 8:11 PM
http://www.medalofhonor.com/D-Day.htm
awesum on January 24, 2008 at 8:11 PM
Who pissed in your wheaties? Richard Hammond is 38, you have obviously not seen the documentary, and age is no determination of a persons value.
You’re coming off like a curmudgeony old man and a homophob and you should consider not acting like a douche bag on the internet if you want people to take you seriously.
liquidflorian on January 24, 2008 at 8:16 PM
Pretty impressive work!
conservnut on January 24, 2008 at 8:17 PM
There are a lot of people in this thread that need to lighten up and maybe get out of the house on occasion… as usual.
DaveS on January 24, 2008 at 8:19 PM
I wonder what the dumba** who picked the dumba** music was trying to every so gently imply.
regal on January 24, 2008 at 8:21 PM
1. My generation is fighting radical jihadis. You have no right to disrespect the sacrifice currently being made by our troops. Not only are they doing this as a volunteer army, they’re also doing this without the respect the “greatest generation” received then and is still receiving now.
2. Just because you don’t see value in recreating the sacrifice you claim to revere, it doesn’t make what they’ve done worthless.
I can only imagine. They must boycott all military movies as well.
For those of us too young to have been there in person, and that would be the vast majority of us here, it actually shows us the sacrifice, horror and heroism of that beachhead.
I was wondering what you meant before the correction.
Esthier on January 24, 2008 at 8:22 PM
Right on. *shakes your hand, across the miles*
RushBaby on January 24, 2008 at 8:26 PM
True, but if they showed what it was really like, closeups of men spitting blood, their guts spilling out as they died in agony, then it would be too graphic. I agree that it is sanitized, but after all, we take the fight to the enemy so our fellow citizens would never have to experience such horror.
I appreciate your service sir, I’m a vet too, but this is for the history channel so all can see and learn without an “R” rating.
Let the story be told in every honorable way possible..
Guardian on January 24, 2008 at 8:28 PM
Clarification for Dunces who NEVER served (or were typists):
1) The comments expressed are not for the film, but that worthless and gay clip with the gay and “frankie goes to hollywood-ish” music….and keystone cops effects…
2)Saving pvt ryan was a movie starring LibTurd T. Hanks….who all he did was complain about his mission to help a family….
3) Yeah, it shows the “horrors” of war, but not to make the next generations want to fight…but to turn them off..Just like all the vietnam flicks about baby killers & dopeheads….
awesum on January 24, 2008 at 8:33 PM
You’re only coming off as ignorant and arrogant.
Esthier on January 24, 2008 at 8:44 PM
I take it you love the liberal agenda…..
awesum on January 24, 2008 at 8:49 PM
here is a clip for you to enjoy then..
Hillary Clinton on Saddam’s WMD, UN Impotence
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=b83_1200118934
awesum on January 24, 2008 at 8:51 PM
Room full of people that care about your opinion.
liquidflorian on January 24, 2008 at 8:55 PM
liquidflorian
==================
What a dipshlt…..I went to your website with your ubly mug…
A LibTurd Professional Student that likes to play with fake guns he be…..
http://www.myspace.com/liquidflorian
awesum on January 24, 2008 at 9:01 PM
Isn’t there a Ron Paul parade somewhere right now?
BL@KBIRD on January 24, 2008 at 9:03 PM
Ad hominem. That’ll show us you know what you’re talking about.
Esthier on January 24, 2008 at 9:04 PM
Very impressive, and quite the testament to what clever people can do with technology. And to remind us of sacrifices made–and being made even today–is a good thing.
Bob's Kid on January 24, 2008 at 9:06 PM
Esthier
————-
Your a Feminist……..
Whyd did hillary give up her feminine fortitude to play second fiddle to her husband instead of creating her own, seperate career?
Why can’t hillary do it on her own, but needs her husband, a man?
What a joke…….
awesum on January 24, 2008 at 9:09 PM
awesum
I got nothing to hide, shithead. I get my trigger time, “fake” and real, and thats what counts.
You disappointed me, awesum. Back in my day being an Internet troll meant something.
liquidflorian on January 24, 2008 at 9:14 PM
First off, the word you were looking for is “you’re” not “your”.
Second, while I may be a grammar troll on occasion, I’ve nothing in common with any feminist cause. However, if I were a feminist, I’d be insulted as a feminist that somehow Hillary is being considered a serious candidate.
Esthier on January 24, 2008 at 9:14 PM
Don’t feed the Trolls, man. Isn’t worth it….
liquidflorian on January 24, 2008 at 9:20 PM
Your myspace response was much better.
Esthier on January 24, 2008 at 9:22 PM
Thank you sir…
liquidflorian on January 24, 2008 at 9:23 PM
Amazing.
It’s like Dhimmicrat voting.
Mojave Mark on January 24, 2008 at 9:30 PM
early and often?
liquidflorian on January 24, 2008 at 9:37 PM
Be even better if the Germans didn’t have M-1…. Oh. I see Lssu beat me to it.
JohnW on January 24, 2008 at 9:37 PM
On D-Day itself there were actually more British troops involved than American, by a small amount. Around 1.1 million each plus Canadian, Free French etc (IIRC). Obviously with your far greater population you could keep the troops coming whereas we hit the limit of manpower for military age males.
But still, the “as well” tone of your comment downplays the contribution somewhat. I know no offence was meant as you were “sticking up” for us so to speak, and all nations tend to prioritise their contributions for natural reasons. It was just the pedant in me had to point it out. Sorry!
VeniVidiVidic on January 24, 2008 at 10:16 PM
HAMSTER!
He shows up in everything.
Although when I read the title I was expecting a ‘what if the democrats of today were in the whitehouse during 1944′ scenario..
Reaps on January 24, 2008 at 10:28 PM
Wow, that is some very nice VFX work
Allah, they’re likely students and would therefore need to do it with limited resources but still have access to their schools high end software and facilities.
PolitiNOOB on January 24, 2008 at 10:30 PM
oops.
I actually clicked the link you provided. Not students. my bad.
PolitiNOOB on January 24, 2008 at 10:33 PM
Are you people serious?
Perhaps the cultural divide between Americans and Anglos (in which I include Australians) is larger than I thought.
This was a simple making-of for a documentary. I didn’t see anything anti-American in it at all.
The clip was an entertaining 4 minutes of how low budget filmmakers can replicate a historical event.
Would you have felt the need to pillory if, for example, they did the same thing with the Battle of Gallipoli (an event virtually sacred to Australians), the Light horsemen of Beersheba (look it up) or The Battle of Britain?
I’d hate to see the Hot Air commentariate become precious.
– Nora
The Thin Man Returns on January 24, 2008 at 10:45 PM
Too many internet tough guys getting their panties in a bunch over this video.
BlackCapitalist on January 24, 2008 at 11:04 PM
This movie/film/thing was ‘Fake bo accurate’. So much so, it even had a Dan Rather sound bite in it.
- The Cat
P.S. It’s about the effects not the subject matter people sheesh.
MirCat on January 24, 2008 at 11:05 PM
True, but they faced much less opposition on their beaches than Americans faced at Omaha. That’s not to say that the Brits etc were any less brave or were poor soldiers, it was mainly just the luck of the draw.
jic on January 24, 2008 at 11:38 PM
This was a great creative proof of concept. 4 days, 3 actors, minimal props. The methodology will be refined and used in endless future films, possibly cutting budgets by big money and shortening release schedules.
That’s all it is.
Shy Guy on January 25, 2008 at 6:31 AM
I suffered through that Gay bar sound track and didn’t get to see any of the finished production. Arrggghhhh.
Hening on January 25, 2008 at 8:07 AM
It wasn’t the greatest invasion ever. In the Pacific they took more casualties than D-day in each landing and at the unlike D-Day that only had to ship the materials less than 100 miles, the Pacific required a 1500 mile haul.
Tim Burton on January 25, 2008 at 9:27 AM
I thought that was pretty cool and impressive for only a few guys and a camera.
I can’t even wrap my mind around what D-Day must have been like. Saving Private Ryan is as close as I think it could get.
Geronimo on January 25, 2008 at 9:31 AM
I think if done properly (and with parental guidance) WWII video games can help teach our children what their great grandparents went through to keep them free.
Bladerunner1701 on January 25, 2008 at 10:12 AM
You know, the first thing I thought of when I started to see it all coming together was…Kerry Conran could have made “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow” a lot cheaper.
otcconan on January 25, 2008 at 10:15 AM
P.S. why didnt lucasfilm do this with starwars episode 1,2 or 3, instead of those CRAPPY CG clone troopers?
God I hated Episode 3.
Okay. I feel better now. You guys are way cheaper than therapy.
Bladerunner1701 on January 25, 2008 at 10:15 AM
No offense was meant. Just the opposite inf act. Perhaps it was a difference in our speech patterns (as they appear on writing) but I am glad you noted it. I respect the sacrifices and friendships America shares with both the Canadians and British. We may not always agree on things as countries–but I believe our common language, our shared history and our similar hopes for the future insure our alliances in times of need.
Montana on January 25, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Also, the as well words are there because the film was about Omaha Beach–and American sector. Sword, Gold and Juno, if I recall, were the sectors assigned to the English and Canadian.
Younger generations of American’s see only the Saving Private Ryan film or play the related video games and never know that just up the beach a ways, our allies were fighting and dying as well.
Montana on January 25, 2008 at 11:05 AM
I LIKE IT! Do it again! Guess I will just watch it again….hehehehehe.
txstar on January 25, 2008 at 5:47 PM
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