After 4 years, I’m very pleased to say that Into the Wind will be available to view at the end of the month! Some of you may have followed the progress of the film or seen the occasional update that I’ve posted as work has progressed.
The film is available to order now and out on the 30th November on DVD. Key and the mods have allowed me to make this post because of the interest that has been shown in the film and also because there will be a competition in the next issue of Flypast where there will be copies of the DVD along with signed posters/postcards up for grabs. The film will also be broadcast on Yesterday in 2012 ( originally we had thought 2011 )in the UK. Ill use this thread to update people about this screening date. There will also be a screening in Spring next year at a venue in Lincolnshire ( Ill also announce the date and time here ) and a preview screening in Scotland is hoped for during the winter.
More info on the DVD here…… http://www.intothewind.co.uk/#/dvd/
and of course there will be the competition in the next Flypast.
The film started as a small photographic exhibition and installation in Lincolnshire which displayed portraits of veterans alongside imagery of Lincolnshire’s disused airfields and a video installation of veteran’s reminiscences. Things got out of hand from there and four years down the line I have travelled to Canada, New Zealand, Germany and of course across the UK to interview veterans. It has been a personal labour of love alongside my companies commercial film commitments and so progress has been slower than I would have liked, only possible when time and finances could stretch but not that it is complete I am looking forward to hearing the views of people regarding the film when they’ve seen it. We’ve shown it to some of the veterans in the film and their family members and the response was extremely positive. It was a particularly unnerving experience sitting with Ken Wallis as he watched himself on screen at various points during the documentary and awaiting his feedback. We were relieved to get one of this trademark thumbs up. We have tried to make the film from the veterans perspective. There is no presenter or narrator, only the testimonies of the veterans woven together to tell their experiences and they cover a whole range of topics from the multi-national make up of bomber command and the crewing up process to the effect of losses and what their memories of the war mean to them now. We have contributions from veterans from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Britain, Guyana, Poland and Trinidad. Since filming has been completed we have also recorded an interview with one of the few remaining Czech Bomber Command veterans and also an Austrian Bomber Command veteran.
I’d like to thank all the people who have been involved in helping throughout. The main contributors are on the credits list and include a wide range of individuals and organisations like Lincolnshire’s Aviation Heritage Centre and Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre who allowed me access to film and of course the many veterans who gave up a day or sometimes days to put their contribution on film. Of course, not all of these contributions made it on screen but they are all logged and archived and may form the basis of short films in future or perhaps even see the light of day in a book format. Some of the stories which we couldn’t fit into the final film have made it on to the DVD as special extra features including a short 14 minute documentary about Ken Wallis which extends his scenes in the main film. Sadly, a number of the veterans who contributed to the film have passed on and we hope in some small way the film will preserve their stories and experiences.
Another opportunity to see some of the work we have done can be seen at the Museum of Transport and Technology in Auckland where the new aviation display on Bomber Command can be found. We have produced a 22 minute film about the contribution of New Zealand airmen using our archive and this can be found near the Lanc on display there. This is an extra feature on the DVD for those not in New Zealand. MOTAT were very helpful at the filming stage of Into the Wind and it was a highlight of the trip to New Zealand to interview veterans Des Andrews and Douglas Taylor in the fuselage of the MOTAT Lancaster about their experiences.
Over the coming months, now that work on the film has calmed, I intend to post some stories, photographs, screening dates and ultimately the TV broadcast date when it becomes know and share some of the experiences of making the film.
Thank you to all those who have shown interest in the film and I hope you enjoy it.
very best wishes,
Steve
By: MikeHoulder - 29th May 2012 at 21:17
Woe is me
Steve, have a heart for some of us who live in weird places such as South America and suffer from that ghastly system of CD & DVD regional codes. I’ve tried to reset my own player without success. So I can’t play your DVD as I understand it is coded for the UK etc.
It looks a beautiful film.
Mike
By: Hatton - 29th May 2012 at 14:24
For those who are Lincolnshire based, there will be a screening of Into the Wind at the Lincoln Drill Hall on Friday 1st June at 7.30pm with a Q+A afterwards. One of the veterans from the film may also be in attendance.
Looking forward to meeting any of you who are in the area and can pop along,
best wishes
Steve
By: Hatton - 4th February 2012 at 08:00
Hello,
for anyone who is in the area and interested, Ill be doing a Q+A at the Brunton Theatre in Musselburgh and there will be a screening of Into the Wind. It is on Monday evening (6th feb)
More info here,
http://www.bruntontheatre.co.uk/webpages/whatson_results_full.php?id=1081
Look forward to meeting any of you who can make it,
all the best,
Steve
By: TwinOtter23 - 6th January 2012 at 18:37
If you were interested in jr’s suggestion I’m sure that we could work something out Steve; we could arrange for you to have some free display space and you could consider selling copies to from the space!
Email me if you would like to pursue this idea!!
By: TwinOtter23 - 6th January 2012 at 18:37
If you were interested in jr’s suggestion I’m sure that we could work something out Steve; we could arrange for you to have some free display space and you could consider selling copies to from the space!
Email me if you would like to pursue this idea!!
By: jack russell - 6th January 2012 at 17:08
Sadly I’m working that week and so won’t be in Lincoln, but please keep me informed of any future showings and their location. Just a thought, could you show it at Cockpit Fest in NAM’s cinema, the area’s not huge but it could be run several times during the weekend perhaps?
By: jack russell - 6th January 2012 at 17:08
Sadly I’m working that week and so won’t be in Lincoln, but please keep me informed of any future showings and their location. Just a thought, could you show it at Cockpit Fest in NAM’s cinema, the area’s not huge but it could be run several times during the weekend perhaps?
By: Hatton - 6th January 2012 at 15:32
Can you say where the Lincoln one will be held as yet, I’d love to come to that if possible, Jack
I cant say yet but Ill be sure to let you know. It will be a double bill of Heilig and ITW.
Best wishes,
Steve
Ps – There will be a screening at the Lincoln Drill Hall of Heilig on January 27th at Lunchtime. I should be along to introduce it.
http://www.lincolndrillhall.com/events/lunchtime-literature-talk
By: Hatton - 6th January 2012 at 15:32
Can you say where the Lincoln one will be held as yet, I’d love to come to that if possible, Jack
I cant say yet but Ill be sure to let you know. It will be a double bill of Heilig and ITW.
Best wishes,
Steve
Ps – There will be a screening at the Lincoln Drill Hall of Heilig on January 27th at Lunchtime. I should be along to introduce it.
http://www.lincolndrillhall.com/events/lunchtime-literature-talk
By: ErrolC - 6th January 2012 at 06:06
Hi Steve,
I popped into MOTAT this afternoon (it was much too pleasant in the nearby Western Springs Park to stay long), and got some photos of the film on display. See WONZ post.
By: ErrolC - 6th January 2012 at 06:06
Hi Steve,
I popped into MOTAT this afternoon (it was much too pleasant in the nearby Western Springs Park to stay long), and got some photos of the film on display. See WONZ post.
By: jack russell - 2nd January 2012 at 19:52
Can you say where the Lincoln one will be held as yet, I’d love to come to that if possible, Jack
By: Hatton - 2nd January 2012 at 19:47
Any chance of a screening and/or Q+A in/near London, any time soon?
Would go out of my way to view it. Sounds very special.
I’m an amateur screenwriter and aspiring filmmaker myself, and projects such as this really inspire me. I’d like to recommend a little film called ‘Bomber’ which unfortunately hasn’t seen commercial success or worldwide distribution. It’s about a bomber pilot visiting the town that he accidentally bombed with his ‘arty farty’ son and aging wife.
I think they would be great as a partner piece to one another.
No Q+A planned for London I’m afraid although I would love to do one. There is one planned for Lincoln mid 2012 and also at the Brunton Theatre in Mussleburgh on February 6th. On January 14th there will be a screening of my latest film Heilig as part of the London Short Film Festival.
More info at the below,
https://www.institut-francais.org.uk/films/london-short-film-festival
There won’t be a Q+A but I will be along on the day.
Ill have a look at that link for ‘Bomber’ in a moment, thanks for sharing it.
V best wishes,
Steve
By: Hatton - 1st January 2012 at 21:16
Steve – got the time to watch my copy last night.
Overall a very well presented veteran interview study.
Bomber Command is a very broad topic with a great many side streets that could be explored.
I had wanted a programme that presented a balanced review of what Bomber Command undertook. In this I did not have my expectations met.
for example:
You had a voice clip from Harris- that Germany was an experiment for Strategic Bombing. I did not get a conclusion on this.
There was no balance that German aircraft research and production was diverted to Night Fighter and Intercept aircraft. So reduction in 4 engine heavy bomber development with obvious consequences.
There was no comment that a high percentage of aircraft were held back for defence of the Reich or that a high proportion of 88mm guns and men were also held back from the front.
Overall Strategic Bombing was a failed experiment but the resources diverted saved a lot of ground soldier lives which is partly what Harris always wanted.
On Dresden – no mention that it was also a request from Stalin to ease his Eastern Front.
Or that the three great firestorm raids were in effect accidents – the same approach was used as in many other raids – that the specific result was a factor of the buildings and the weather.
Finally no mention that the USAAF copied the approach in Japan with far more devastating results – before the atom bombs.
My conclusion enjoyable but not what I expected.
Thanks for your thoughts, Im glad you enjoyed the film and interested that it was perhaps not what you expected and that you were disappointed that some areas were not covered.
The reason for why those points you mentioned aren’t covered is that the intention of the film is to concentrate on the personal stories of the veterans rather than offering a broad historical account of Bomber Command and it’s technology/strategy. The film for me was an opportunity to concentrate on the more intimate tales and the emotions of the veterans. As you will have noticed there is no direct reference to any particular type of bomber (other than visually) and that individual squadrons and raids are also not mentioned (other than Dresden). To have done so would have been to embark on a very different kind of film – longer, more exhaustive and multi-parted. Dresden is only referenced and focused upon as it crucial to the perception of Bomber Command and also gave an opportunity to touch on the theme of reconciliation. Every veteran I met wanted to talk about Dresden. Into the Wind was intended to fulfil a very different aim to perhaps the film I suspect you were looking for and is a direct response to the interviews conducted with the veterans. In this context, examining the USAAF in Japan would be irrelevant, in the context of wanting a broad authoritative study of Bomber Command however, it would be essential. Ill leave that however to other filmmakers and the many excellent books already published on Bomber Command.
I hope that is of interest, happy to answer any more queries.
v best wishes
Steve
By: danjama - 1st January 2012 at 21:07
Any chance of a screening and/or Q+A in/near London, any time soon?
Would go out of my way to view it. Sounds very special.
I’m an amateur screenwriter and aspiring filmmaker myself, and projects such as this really inspire me. I’d like to recommend a little film called ‘Bomber’ which unfortunately hasn’t seen commercial success or worldwide distribution. It’s about a bomber pilot visiting the town that he accidentally bombed with his ‘arty farty’ son and aging wife.
I think they would be great as a partner piece to one another.
By: FarlamAirframes - 1st January 2012 at 19:07
Steve – got the time to watch my copy last night.
Overall a very well presented veteran interview study.
Bomber Command is a very broad topic with a great many side streets that could be explored.
I had wanted a programme that presented a balanced review of what Bomber Command undertook. In this I did not have my expectations met.
for example:
You had a voice clip from Harris- that Germany was an experiment for Strategic Bombing. I did not get a conclusion on this.
There was no balance that German aircraft research and production was diverted to Night Fighter and Intercept aircraft. So reduction in 4 engine heavy bomber development with obvious consequences.
There was no comment that a high percentage of aircraft were held back for defence of the Reich or that a high proportion of 88mm guns and men were also held back from the front.
Overall Strategic Bombing was a failed experiment but the resources diverted saved a lot of ground soldier lives which is partly what Harris always wanted.
On Dresden – no mention that it was also a request from Stalin to ease his Eastern Front.
Or that the three great firestorm raids were in effect accidents – the same approach was used as in many other raids – that the specific result was a factor of the buildings and the weather.
Finally no mention that the USAAF copied the approach in Japan with far more devastating results – before the atom bombs.
My conclusion enjoyable but not what I expected.
By: Hatton - 1st January 2012 at 13:08
Steve.
There is so much to be said about Into The Wind that I scarcely know where to begin.
Let me start by saying that anyone who knows me knows I am a sentimental and somewhat emotional character so this DVD is seen by me as a startling and outstanding tribute to the 125,000 who served as aircrew with Bomber Command. I can’t comment on the technical aspects of a production such as this other than to say it is visually stunning. It is thought provoking, heart warming, and by turn, heart breaking.
I look forward with some expectation to the spin offs from this production.
I would heartily reccommend this to anyone who has even the slightest interest in Bomber Command and particularly the personal experiences of those who served within its ranks.
Regards,
kev35
Kev,
thanks for your kind comments. Did you pick the film up at Cosford? I’m very pleased that so many people have commented on the aesthetic of the film. There was only a crew of two (other than work undertaken in post on the sound/score ) on the production and that includes myself. I’m lucky to be making films at a time when the veterans are still here to convey their experiences directly and that technically it is possible to do this at such a relatively small budget.
Ill keep updating everyone on developments regarding spin-offs/developments. Nothing however will be rushed though so it may be a while before I have anything to report. As ever, Im happy to answer any questions on the making of the film.
A very happy new year to everyone,
Steve
By: kev35 - 29th December 2011 at 11:53
Steve.
There is so much to be said about Into The Wind that I scarcely know where to begin.
Let me start by saying that anyone who knows me knows I am a sentimental and somewhat emotional character so this DVD is seen by me as a startling and outstanding tribute to the 125,000 who served as aircrew with Bomber Command. I can’t comment on the technical aspects of a production such as this other than to say it is visually stunning. It is thought provoking, heart warming, and by turn, heart breaking.
I look forward with some expectation to the spin offs from this production.
I would heartily reccommend this to anyone who has even the slightest interest in Bomber Command and particularly the personal experiences of those who served within its ranks.
Regards,
kev35
By: Hatton - 28th December 2011 at 09:11
Happily got my copy yesterday and couldn’t wait for all the guests to disappear so I could watch it. Had to watch Dr Who to see Just Jane of course, but then losing any hope of getting the TV, went to watch it on my laptop. It’s a truly remarkable film, I was glued to every word and expression from these amazing men, so glad work like this is being done because soon it will be too late sadly, and these true experiences non existant to record.
I feel it’s not only a true insight to watch now, but will become far more valuable to us in years to come, well done, thankyou for making it, and special thanks to those veterans who took part, it obviously wasn’t always an easy thing for them to talk about not surprisingly.
Many thanks for that. As Ive mentioned before there are several off shoots of ITW in the works so even more of these stories will see the light. Ill try and put more things on the forum in the new year as well.
best wishes
Steve
By: Hatton - 28th December 2011 at 09:08
So how can I get hold of a copy here in the US? It seems that you will only ship to the UK or the Antipodes, even through Amazon. 🙁
Mike,
we´ve had a few people enquire from the US and Canada and releasing a Region 1 – NTSC version is something we are looking at. The reason for it not being available is, as James thought, a mixture of the NTSC issue and licensing. Making the DVD in NTSC isn´t an issue but it would require a seperate run of DVDs. The licensing issue is that the DVD contains archive and music which is licensed from a variety of sources and the licensing is sometimes issued on a world basis whilst at other times on a region or country basis. We´re at the moment seeing how the R2 and R4 release goes before looking at the NTSC version. The good news (potentially) is that if you have an all region DVD player that can play PAL format DVDs then you can get hold of this current version – just order the NZ AUS version and enter a US address. Hope this helps. If not I hope the wait for a US version wont be too long.
very best wishes and merry xmas,
Steve
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November 10, 2011 at 4:49 pm