War of 1812: Behind the scenes

PBS's two-hour documentary, The War of 1812, uses stunning re-enactments, evocative animation, and the incisive commentary of key experts to reveal little-known sides of an important war.

From 1812 to 1815, Americans battled against the British, Canadian colonists, and Native warriors; the outcomes shaped the geography and the identity of North America, yet some Americans may only recognize it for the “Star-Spangled Banner.” The broadcast is accompanied by a companion book and website, as well as comprehensive bi-national educational resources. You can watch the complete film online at pbs.org/video

Watch The War of 1812 Full Program on PBS. See more from The War of 1812.

To learn more about the film,
we spoke with producer Larry Hott.

You can listen to the two-part podcast below.

 

 

 

In the first part of the interview, Larry talks about some of the opportunities and challenges of producing a film of this scale — from mediating historical debates to his newfound respect for reenactors.

 

 

 

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In part 2 of the podcast, Larry shares his favourite moments of making the film and reflects on what he's learned, and what he hopes his audience will take away from the film.

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