Over a year ago, the Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA) was approached by WETA producer Christine Wolski about the possibility of creating a 90-minute film on the history of Alexandria, similar to other WETA past productions highlighting significant communities in the National Capital region. But after production got underway, it was soon realized that the unusual history of Alexandria, coupled with the abundance of historical research and visual graphics on which to draw, provided on opportunity to develop an extended two-part series of 180 minutes. The first of these productions, titled Discovering Alexandria: The Early Years, will premier next week on Thursday, December 4, and will trace the 17th through 19th centuries, tracing colonial settlement, commerce, the city’s notorious slave trade and service in war, from the French and Indian, through the Revolution and War of 1812, to the Civil War and Reconstruction. The WETA production staff utilized the holdings of the Library of Congress, National Archives, Alexandria Library and OHA in developing content for the current film, and shot on location at historic sites throughout the city, often interviewing Library and OHA staff as local history “experts.” The series will continue with a record of the 20th century to the present, slated to begin in early 2015. OHA Director J. Lance Mallamo will join the television premier festivities as an “on air” guest of WETA on December 4. So break out the popcorn, fluff up the sofa pillows, and get ready for your close up, Alexandria. It’s showtime!
Posted on: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 12:10:12 +0000
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