Wide Awake Films

07/12/2024

A few weeks ago, our longtime friend and cohort, Dan Hadley, brought us this exquisite, hand-painted Wide Awake sign that he had finished. The sign is a recreation of an 1860’s political banner that we copied from a newspaper engraving. It was sparked from an idea our designer, Mariana Castro had to finish her vision for our foyer. Now, it proudly adorns the entrance to our new studio in downtown Kansas City. We are really fortunate to have so many talented people, like Dan and Mariana, on the Wide Awake team! Please check it out if nearby.

05/12/2024

We are excited to announce that "Harlem Hell Fighter: Henry Johnson and the Medal of Honor" has debuted on the Congressional Medal of Honor Society YouTube page. Henry Johnson's story is both tragic and deeply inspiring. We hope you will take a moment to learn more about this Medal of Honor recipient and view this production we were honored to produce:

https://youtu.be/ccACR_W0R4M?feature=shared

Henry Johnson fought with valor during World War I, but he didn't receive the Medal of Honor until 2015. https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/henry-johnson The C...

30/11/2024

November 30 also marks the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Honey Hill in South Carolina. Wide Awake Films is honored to be partnered with the Friends of Honey Hill Battlefield as we seek to bring more attention to this important 1864 Civil War battle where four soldiers earned the Medal of Honor. Learn more at http://www.fohhb.org.

30/11/2024

Today marks the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Franklin. To all of us at Wide Awake Films this battle has long held special significance. This November 30th we will all pause to remember the carnage and sacrifice of that day and look forward to keeping the memory of this event in our minds and hearts.

25/11/2024

The Medal of Honor Museum at Patriots Point has been nominated for Best New Museum in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards! Wide Awake Films worked with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society in developing much of the media and immersive experiences for this museum. So please vote for this museum! https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-new-museum-2025/medal-of-honor-museum-at-patriots-point-mount-pleasant-south-carolina/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGx1BtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHdI8VgaTxWTiW7nH8M1f0B-CB-GE5QRWmgCtuiROzko5Gn1YfzHbVFwFOw_aem_UmIEMuSeXOChkvN35-bbmA

Medal of Honor Museum at Patriots Point: Vote for your favorite new museum!!

22/11/2024

The Congressional Medal of Honor Society has debuted its new feature on the sinking of the submarine USS Squalus and the heroic rescue of some of its crew. This rescue and recovery of the submarine resulted in four US Navy divers earning the Medal of Honor. We were honored to be selected to produce this important film for the Society. https://youtu.be/x1qv6_X3BpA?feature=shared

In 1939, the U.S.S. Squalus submarine sank while on a training mission off the coast of New Hampshire. A diving crew rushed to save the sailors onboard. Thre...

20/11/2024

With the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution right around the corner, Wide Awake Films has been busy working with our clients to create new historical media and museum interactives to commemorate this moment in our history. Here are some behind-the-scenes shots from our recent shoots in Massachusetts. Learn more about how Wide Awake Films can help you with your 250th projects here: https://wideawakefilms.com/250th

11/11/2024

Wishing all of our veterans an excellent Veterans Day. We remain committed to sharing your inspiring stories with new generations.

04/10/2024

On October 23rd, 2024, PBS will broadcast Wide Awake Films' latest production, Secrets of the Dead: The Civil War's Lost Massacre, to a national audience. The film tells the story of the search for the lost burial site of a group of 22 African American soldiers ambushed near Simpsonville, Kentucky. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/preview-the-civil-wars-lost-massacre-asv8c9/8110/

The search for remains of formerly enslaved Black Union soldiers brutally murdered by angry Southerners as the Civil War was ending. Learn about Camp Nelson, KY, the military base where these soldiers and thousands got their freedom papers.

30/09/2024

Excited for the release of “North Carolina at War” - our latest animated presentation created for American Battlefield Trust. This new film covers North Carolina’s rich Revolutionary War and Civil War history in one production. https://youtu.be/PvwyDp6H-es

Everyone at Wide Awake Films continues to be focused on the tragedy that western North Carolina faces in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Courage and fortitude!

From Loyalists and Patriots to Unionists and Confederates, the State of North Carolina played a pivotal role in the foundational wars of the United States. I...

17/09/2024

Today is the 162nd anniversary of the Battle of Antietam. While this is one of our older animated maps, it's still one of our favorites.

https://youtu.be/_8ybkoGmHww?feature=Spared &

In this video, learn about the first Civil War battle to take place on Union soil, The Battle of Antietam in Sharpsburg, Maryland. Antietam remains the blood...

29/08/2024

Wide Awake Films is excited to be working with the South Carolina 250 commission on the development of a new animated presentation on the 1776 Battle of Sullivan's Island. This new video effort will leverage our skills and experience in connecting these vital Revolutionary War battles and battlefields to a new and modern audience.

We have great news to share with you. At last week’s South Carolina 250 commission meeting in Spartanburg, four Charleston-area programs received grant approvals. Each of these programs will allow those partners to create content, enhance awareness, and conduct important research that will benefit our understanding of the Charleston area’s central role in the American Revolution. You can learn more about those programs here at our website: https://sc250charleston.org/sc250grantsaugust2024/

16/08/2024

Wide Awake Films had the opportunity to film the action at the 2024 Battle Road event at Minuteman National Historic Park. Here is a reel that captures some of the highlights from that great event. We are already looking forward to the 250th anniversary event next year. Our thanks to the staff at Minute Man National Historical Park for all their help and support.

https://youtu.be/36H45eBPka0?si=QJ5moWaZkL-GgwnN

Minute Man National Historical Park

This reel provides highlights from Wide Awake Film's shoot at the 2024 Battle Road event at Minuteman National Historic Park in Massachusetts. We are all lo...

18/07/2024

Today marks the 161st anniversary of the Battle of Fort Wagner during the American Civil War. The assault on the Confederate stronghold at Battery Wagner was led by the 54th Massachusetts regiment. Learn more about Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. William Carney and the attack on Battery Wagner in this film produced for the American Battlefield Trust, featuring Medal of Honor recipient Melvin Morris: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muH41irF9VU

Visit Morris Island, South Carolina, scene of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry’s dramatic assault on Fort Wagner, with Medal of Honor recipient Melvin Morris....

09/07/2024

Check out our latest “Step Into History” film produced for the American Battlefield Trust. This episode of this award-winning series takes a close look at one of the most famous photographs of the Civil War - The Three Confederate Prisoners at Gettysburg.

https://youtu.be/3HE6TTIzPGU?si=nvL-olh0DHsMehQ1

In mid-July of 1863, Matthew Brady took one of the most famous photos of the Civil War, as three Confederate prisoners from the Battle of Gettysburg stood on...

01/07/2024

Today marks the 161st anniversary of the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg! Learn more about this three-day battle and its key moments in this award-winning animated map that we produced for the American Battlefield Trust:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUXpCfcJ7Ng

19/06/2024

As we commemorate Juneteenth, please check out this award-winning documentary that Wide Awake Films produced on the 29th Connecticut Regiment. Learn more about this all-black regiment that brought the news of emancipation to Brownsville, Texas on June 19, 1865 - the very first Juneteenth: https://loom.ly/Wa7LdeM

This original documentary tells the story of the brave African-American men who enlisted in Connecticut’s 29th Colored Infantry Regiment during the American ...