I was a Civil War reenactor and was there for “Pickett’s Charge week” in August of 1992. I was also in North and South Book II and Glory. We were paid in the TVmini series and Glory as well as fed and given mileage. At Gettysburg we were fed and given some things like a “background artist” T-Shirt, Dale Gallon art print, commemorative medal and a few other items, some of which I still have. I wasn’t too concerned about not being paid as I received paid vacation from my day job but that was an issue for some of the guys. The event was great fun and I got to meet some of the actors and had my photo taken with them. Great memories. One of my friends got hired as a paid extra and was there for all of September 1992 filming the 20th Maine scenes including a week doing the Little Round Top battle. Another guy I know got a speaking part and was paid even more and his name is in the credits.

I worked on it, in the grip department all summer long. One of the best jobs I ever did. I even got dressed up as a confederate soldier, and died during Picketts charge. The reenactors were amazing, the cannons were amazing, and the stars were great.

People today don't recall there was a HUGE push in the reenactment community against taking part in this movie as almost none were paid and lots considered it to be taking advantage of them. Many thought it'd be a terrible movie but most of that was forgotten when it was released

I ironically first was interested in this movie "because" it was so long. Getting permission to watch a movie was a big deal so I wanted to make the most of it and so the movie that needed two VHS tapes was an easy pick. The fact that it was amazingly well done, was a very happy bonus. lol It definitely helped to spark my love of military history. As I've gotten older, my opinions of the specific details have matured but it still holds up remarkably well. :)

Thanks for covering this epic movie!

This was one of four war movies I watched on VHS when I was 5 years old that I remembered most of despite 12+ years passing since I rewatched it for the first time in 2020. Even to 5 year old me, I just remembered how authentic and massive and gritty it looked, its something I never forgot.

I was there for 3 weeks. Picketts Charge week. I was part of Garnett's Colour Guard, doing all the Emmittsburg Road scenes on the fence. As well as going to the wall at the Angle. Stayed for the week after. Back for Round top for the 20th Maine scenes. I got to know several members of the core group very well. We also did some Devil's Den shots where the Confederates over run the Union position. I came in as blue, but ended up Grey as they needed numbers for both. One of the great experiences of my life. Would do it again in a heart beat.

Fantastic video. I live almost 3.5 hours from Gettysburg and love visiting it every time. You always notice something new each time. Great place to honor all dead and fallen on both sides.

Another great documentary on a mammoth film. I liked Gods And Generals quite a bit as well but it was trashed by the critics. I'm sad that Ron Maxwell never got to do the third movie he had planned.

Its a pity that only two (Gods and Generals and Gettysburg) of the three films in the proposed trilogy (Gods and Generals, Gettysburg and Last Full Measure) saw the light of day.

Ok, let me give you the perspective from the re-enactors side of this film. first Napoleonic Tactics was a firm created to put on historical reenactments, they were out to make money off of making reenactments happen, for re-enactors looking for a well organized large scale event of 5000 -10000 people, at the time of the 125th anniversaries those numbers had never been seen at reenactments, Napoleonic tactics did not have any ability to get re-enactors because they made money off of them. When this project was announced, many in the reenacting community wanted to do the film but there were some issues, a liaison committee, was formed to represent re-enactors and there were some issues, 1-Historical accuracy- from what I was lead to believe the script was rife with inaccurate language, so were asked if it could be corrected. 2- Pay- The film company was offering re-enactors $50 a day and $75 for a speaking part, SAG at the time dictated that extras be paid $75 a day with I think $100 if you spoke, The film company as an incentive offered $50,000 to civil war land preservation which was renegotiated to $100,000 3-Time the filming Schedule was 13 weeks, it was agreed upon (I was told) that re-enactors could come for as many days as they could and that it would be worked around. 4-compensation- Re-enactors were told that there would be no hotels and to camp in there tents (no big deal for us it what we do) and that when we were filming there would be food for the re-enactors, the question came to "what if it rains and you cant film?" we were told that we were on our own, we felt that if we gave up our time, our equipment and our knowledge that it was only fair that we be fed filming or not. These were the major issues that the liaison committee hammered out with the production company and on week 3 of filming I am proud to say that my unit at the time, the 30th Virginia from New York showed up at 6am in Gettysburg with 27 re-enactors, and was the first to report to make Killer Angels. As a side note, every re-enactor received a making of Gettysburg VHS tape (that's how old this film is) a making of the film booklet with every participant who made the film listed in it. The re-enactors as a whole (around 10,000) told the production company, to donate their pay that they received toward battlefield preservation. My nephew who I took with me to do this film at the time was 13, he was so affected by the magic of film making that he is a writer and has several scripts in production to be made into movies.

With some exceptions (to move the plot & explain the situation to people who don’t/didn’t know much about the CW or Gettysburg) this is as close to perfect as it gets for a historical war film The lead cast were all phenomenal in their portrayals of their respective characters that it’s not hard to imagine what those men were really like

Thanks for the great video Volken

great video, really make this movie more and more emotional

Great! Thanks for sharing.

My son went to reenact in June 2023. He met a few reenactors that were in this movie, but most said they were hanging it up.

Great video - thanks - the score was epic - fond memories of reenacting back in the day

Okay, about Heaven's Gate not working because people didn't want to watch historical epics. No, it's just boring AF. There's a difference. But people who decide what movies get made don't care about movies.

please make one about war and peace!!!

Some of the longer beards are the only criticism i have of the film. I wish I could watch every scene and remain immersed in the plot of history..but there are definitely a couple of guys that take the magic away for me. Too bad the budget wasnt there for proper beards. But such is the explanation of many things..no funds, no products.

I wish the person speaking the narration would pause for breath.

too bad they didn't have any of the Culp's Hill fighting in the film

My degree is in History Education from LSU, although I don't call it the Civil War but as us southerners call it the War of Northern Aggression, this movie was a masterpiece of film work, dedication to accuracy, my hats off to all the reenactors that volunteered thier time and effort to this production. I watch it all the time and never tire of it. I especially love at the end credits how they showed the actors next to the actual photos. I myself am a reenactor as well from the Revolutionary War. (Major 6th Mass. Regmt) I know what these ppl dealt with