517th Film Project

Update on the St. Louis Filming Project

As many of you know, the 517 Association and the Auxiliary invested in a filming project conducted at the St. Louis reunion. Filming was done by Rob McDonald (Hunter's nephew) and his assistant Mary Lloyd McDonald; interviews were conducted by Pat O'Donnell (historian, keynote speaker at DC's reunion, and longtime friend to the 517th). We felt fortunate to get the services of three such accomplished people, giving this project the professionalism it deserved. Securing the history of the unit is part of the Auxiliary's mission statement; I think it's the most important part.

Because the 517 and the Auxiliary are currently enjoying financial good health, we were able to underwrite the approximately $9000 cost to film interviews with 31 vets, stretching over 3 days at the St. Louis reunion. Givers all, the McDonald-O'Donnell crew went above and beyond, giving the association far more time than we'd paid them for. The McDonalds have already far exceeded their contracted editing time.

Filming was done in High Definition using some of the best available technology.

Now we'd like to take this raw footage and turn it into a "broadcast hour," suitable for PBS or the History Channel. At the very least, we would like to make it into an hour-long documentary, suitable for your grandchildren's history classes.

Finished film is expensive. Everyone needs to take a deep breath and prepare: finished film costs more than $1000 per minute! It can cost twice or three times that!

When I first learned that, I wondered how anything gets on TV at all!

Because Rob and Mary Lloyd are friends to the unit, we will enjoy special pricing, but it is still expensive. At least $20,000 more to finish it into the type of hour that PBS or the History Channel would require.

As we announce this fundraising campaign, I am pleased to announce that we already have two charter donations totaling $4000. Gina Votti, daughter of a buzzard, is our latest corporate sponsor. Her company is Clinbio, and she has directed that her donation go toward the film project. Pat Seitz and Alan Greer have committed $3000 to the film project as well. I cannot thank these donors enough for their commitment to my favorite vets, the men of the 517th. 

As I ask for donations to the film project, I must state that no one - NO ONE - should donate if it is a financial hardship at all. This project will probably be financed largely by the children of Buzzards. Veterans should not donate if it means that they cannot, for example, attend a reunion. Attendance at reunions is far more important than donating to this project. We have the raw interviews (and they should be available within a matter of months); that is the important part.

We can do this! Help secure the history!

Thank you all!

Claire Giblin
President, 517 Auxiliary
daughter, Allan Johnson, 596

March 20, 2009 update:  We hear that Rob McDonald has visited the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and managed to find some historical video of the 517th, which he hopes to include in the project.  Also, as of early March 2009, we have close to $10,000 collected.  And Rob McDonald is trying his best to have the film ready for screening at the 517th Annual Reunion this July!