Providing Military Costume Design, Props, Battle Choreography, Location Finding, Military Special Skill Extra Organizer, Weapons/Black Powder Safety Supervision, Storyboard Artwork, Historical Research and other services to our film industry clients.
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Special Skills Extras & Battle Choreography
We have extensive experience in organizing hundreds of extras trained in the use of muskets, cannons, fifes and drums, etc. Choreographing these extras in a battle scene is a very challenging enterprise. First and foremost is our concern for safety so that neither the film crew nor the extras are placed in a dangerous situation when handling black powder and edged weapons. In order to move large numbers of extras quickly and efficiently to maximize shooting productivity, we have also in the past dressed in historic costume to control the extras from within the sequence. Recently we have worked on a number of computer composites in order to make a hundred extras look like a thousand.
Story Board: Battle of the Plains of Abraham
(Artist: Ron Ridley)
Costumes and Props
When our clients require uniforms to be visually correct but not of museum quality, we are able to mass produce items with our numerous contacts in the garment industry. If you are filming in Canada inquire about rentals of:
Military uniforms
Accoutrements (including Canteens, Powder horns)
Swords and Belts
Muskets, Pistols, and Bayonets
Cannons
Military Soldier and Officer's Tents
Military Trunks and Camp Furniture
Lanterns
If we cannot meet your needs, we probably know someone who can.
Research
We maintain a library of numerous works on military history, costumes, equipment, furnishings, social habits, regulations, and military drill. To further support this, we have contract researchers in Great Britain, France, United States and Canada who will be pleased to find and copy any other required material for your projects. Our research focus is on the armies of Great Britain, France and the United States. Visit the rest of our website for a glimpse of our thoroughness and depth of our knowledge base.
Consultation
As the general public becomes more aware of what looks historically correct and what doesn't, standards for authenticity in the film industry are growing considerably. Our extensive understanding of military dress, living conditions, furniture, technology, military movements, language, and habits makes us your best choice to answer this need. Historians traditionally offer the who/what/when of events, whereas we also provide insight on HOW events looked and sounded. This is an important distinction as too many film companies have relied strictly on historians to provide visual insight. For example, while an historian can tell you the number of times a person shaved a week in the 18th century , they may not know how they shaved. In military tactics an historian can tell you that a particular military movement was performed but they will not know how to do that movement. This is where our Heritage Film Services can best meet your needs.
Organizing and Training of Special Skills Extras &
Battle Choreography
(CBC- Seven Years War Episode)
Our Recent Clients
National museums, film companies, and collectors from the United States, Canada, Great Britain, France, Germany and other countries make up
Access Heritage Inc (formerly The Discriminating General)’s client list. The following is a selection of our most recent film industry clients to better illustrate our capabilities:Touchstone Pictures: "Pirates of the Caribbean" (in production starring Johnny Deep) - principal consultants for this production including training of extras.
Touchstone Pictures: "Alamo" (in production: directed by Ron Howard) - researched and constructed a number of costume and prop items for this famous 1836 story.
20th Century Fox: "Far Side of the World" (in production starring Russell Crowe) - advised on costume, prop, and Art Department issues as well as researched and constructed a number of costume and prop items for this 1806 naval adventure.
Mel Gibson's "The Patriot" - assisted costume design including constructing military headdress and supplied costume materials.
Headdress for "The Patriot"Columbia Tristar: "The Crossing" - organized cannons, construction of boats, military props, historic military trainers, training of 200 extras as American Revolution soldiers, consultation
"La Veuve de St-Pierre" Joint Canada/France Production - historical research and consultation for this feature film which takes place in 1850.
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC): Canada: A People's History (website: www.cbc.ca/history -read more about episodes and view clips) (a multi-million dollar project that was the most watched non-sporting Canadian television production to date) including:
"Adventurers and Mystics" (Explorers) Episode (1540 to 1670) - organized extras; supplied military costumes and props.
"Claiming the Wilderness" (New France) Episode - organized extras; trained extras in 17th Century French drill; provided military costume; consulted on historical accuracy; identified film location; historic recreation direction; choreographed battle scenes
"Battle for a Continent" (Seven Years War) Episode - researched and consulted on historical accuracy; organized 120 extras skilled in using a musket; trained them in 1757 drill; choreographed battle scenes; performed role of military costume designers; organized military props such as cannons and flags; identified filming location; liaised with historic sites to provide props and film locations; provided weapons/ black powder safety supervision
"A Question of Loyalties" (American Revolution/War of 1812) Episode - organized 75 extras skilled in using a musket; choreographed battle scenes; military music; performed role of military costume designers; handled military props such as cannons and flags; consulted on issues of historical authenticity; black powder/ weapons safety supervision"Rebellion and Reform" (1830s, 1840s) Episode- organized and trained 50 extras in British drill of the 1830s; choreographed battle scenes; arranged military music; military costume design; provided a number of military props (swords, flags, accoutrements, shakos); black powder/weapons safety supervision; liaised with historic sites to provide props and film locations
"From Sea to Sea" and "The Great Enterprise" (Fenian Raids and Red River Uprising of 1870) organized and trained extras in drill, arranged props and military costumes; black powder supervision.
Galafilm: The War of 1812 (multi-million dollar, 4 hour documentary) - organized special skill extras for a number of shoots (winter and summer filming); military costume design; designed and supplied props; set dressing; established battle choreography; black powder safety supervision; historical authenticity consultation for studio work
Greystone: The Napoleonic Foot Soldier (Arts and Entertainment Broadcast) - organized extras; supplied costumes and props; established location
Questar: Tecumseh and the War of 1812
- provided costumes; fabricated props and costumes
Militaryheritage.com Sites:
Seven Years War Website Napoleonic Wars Collection Military Heritage Magazine
Military Music Sound Clip Gallery Home of Access Heritage Inc (formerly The Discriminating General)
Our Products and
Services:
Our Mission and Clients
Product
Index
Heritage Film Services
Seven Years War Replicas
American Rev
Replicas
Napoleonic Wars Replicas
French Nap. Headdress
British
Army,1793-1815
British Army, 1816-1856
Military Buttons
Military Belt Plates
Swords
Sword
Knots
Military Drums
Additional Products...
