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HALF PINT HISTORY

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After a long film festival run, "Half Pint History" finally had its streaming debut on November 11th 2021. One of the best ways for young people to learn and understand how everyday people have helped to shape America is to talk to the people who contributed to that history.  Original Concept & Development Associates in association with Flickers Arts Collaborative have just finishing up post production on a short film/television pilot episode titled HALF PINT that we hope to broadcast with PBS.  This is the dramatic story of a young boy who cares nothing about history suddenly finds himself thrown back in time to Normandy in the early morning hours of the 6th of June 1944.  This young Half Pint is picked up by four Airborne soldiers who take him along on their mission as forward observers hiding in a windmill near Carentan, France.  When he gets back to the present, he wants to talk with grandpa to learn about the contributions of our greatest generation.  Our goal is not to teach children history but instead to motivate them to talk to the generations that made it.  We hope to give them an understanding that history is not a famous date when a famous person made a famous speech and the world changed.  History is made of the contributions of every person that chooses to make a difference (and those that choose not to).  History is the sum of the many millions of choices made by individuals.  If our youngest generation can realize that they are making history every day in some small way, and that all those small ways can add up to something big.  If they can understand that as they grow into adulthood, they will be able to make a contribution to both history and our democracy in those many millions of small ways that add up to something big.  Every positive choice and action has an impact.

AWARDS
Nomination for Best Children's/Youth Programming at the 45th New England Emmy Awards (2022)
Van Gogh Award for Best Short Film Screenplay at the 2014 Amsterdam Film Festival


ENDORSEMENTS


"Making history come alive for current and future generations is the ambition of every history museum. Filmmaker Duncan Putney has realized that goal in his film, Half Pint; the story of a 21st century boy magically transported back into World War II where he becomes an active participant. The result of his “close encounter” with history is a growing awareness and appreciation of the Americans we now have come to call “the greatest generation”.  Perhaps more significantly, the young man recognizes he has a real-life link to that generation – his grandfather -  a link that will eventually lead to Half-Pint’s understanding that history is a relevant thread that unites us all."
Michael Culver, Ph.D., Executive Director, Wright Museum of World War II History

"Half Pint, can be used as an excellent teaching tool to inspire students of all ages to connect with their immediate past. "Half Pint's" entertaining message will get students excited to engage in conversations with the people in their lives who's life stories could help shape their own future."
Anne Conway, Director, the Museum of Work & Culture


"I wanted to take a moment to tell you that I really enjoyed watching HALF PINT. I was impressed with the concept, the story, and the technical values."
David Accetta LTC (Retired), US Army Veteran, Historian
& member US World War II Airborne Demonstration Team
The US WW II Airborne Demonstration Team took a copy of HALF PINT with them to France when they participated in the 70th Anniversary of D Day on 6 June 2014 and jumped into Normandy from vintage C-47 aircraft.

"A great concept and the story is well told."
Paul Zangari, radio personality and host of "Thirteenth State" on Rhode Island PBS


"The production quality was excellent and locations, sets and vehicles were fantastic.  Everything was both age appropriate for students and yet interesting for adults.  I really loved the "surprise" ending.  Keep up the good work."
Joe Acuff, Education Director, Commemorative Air Force Airpower Museum

"We found many positive aspects of the project like the cross-generational approach of learning about history and the use of live action cast to give the audience a more vicarious experience. I hope you will join us in supporting this project."
Charles L. Beck, VP/Director for Content: Radio & TV, Maine Public Broadcasting Network


SCREENINGS
the Normandie-WW II Film Festival (France)
the Amsterdam Film Festival (Netherlands),
the Rhode Island International Film Festival (RI), 
the Pawtucket Film Festival (RI),
the Utah Beach Museum (France),
the Airborne Museum at St. Mere Eglise (France) with the Liberty Jump Team,
the Visitor Center at the American Cemetery, Colleville sur Mer (France) with the Liberty Jump Team,
the Wright Museum of World War II (NH), 
the Collings Foundation (MA),
the New England Air Museum (CT),

the Commemorative Air Force Museum Airpower Museum (TX),
Timeless Wings & Wheels Museum (FL)
,
the Museum of Work & Culture (RI),
the Middletown Historical Society (RI).


PRESS
Go Local Prov, Providence Journal, WJAR-TV,


FILM CREDITS
ORIGINAL CONCEPT AND DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATES

presents

in association with
FLICKERS


HALF PINT


Produced by
ANDRE STARK & DUNCAN B. PUTNEY

Director of Photography
TONY BENNIS

Written & Directed by
DUNCAN B. PUTNEY

CAST

Jim (Half Pint)....... OSMANI RODRIGUEZ JR.
Sarge.....................................LEE SIMONDS
Sparks........................THEODORE MOLLER
Ace.........................CHRISTOPHER O’BRIEN
Joker........................................JED ALVIZOS
Grandfather.....................DANIEL CHARLTON
Mother..................................DIANA PORTER
Heather...........................AMELIA BICKFORD


WW2 Reenactors…NORM HARBINSON, JAMES FOOTE, JEREMY FOOTE, DEVYN FARRINGTON,   DAVID J. FORGIEL, JAMES STYB, 
JEFFREY RITTENOUR,  WILLIAN G. ABRAMS JR.,  KYLE VANMETER,  ANDREW DUPLESSIS,  PETER FORGIEL,  MATTHEW DAY, 
MATTHEW LIUZZI,  ANTHONY CARPENITO,  VANCE ANDERSON,  STEVEN D. PACHECO,  BRIAN BAKER,  BENJAMIN KIERSTEAD, 
COREY VANDALL,  MATTHEW SPEIDEL,  SARAH BENNETT

Museum & Restaurant Patrons…..AUTUMN-LEA BICKFORD,  DELINA BICKFORD,    G.THOMAS BICKFORD,   GORDON S. BROOKS,
EVAN LIOTTA,  RENA PEMPER-RODREQUEZ,  NATHANIAL RODREGUEZ, KAYLIN DEAN,  MANDY FERRIMAN,  SHERI L. COLLINS,
HAILEY COLLINS, RICHARD COLLINS,  AUSTEN COLLINS,  KIERA LUBA,


OUR PRODUCTION TEAM

Executive Producers

Associate Producers

Lt. Col. DOUGLAS PUTNEY,                                   JAQUELINE ASTBURY,

CLAUDIA PUTNEY,                                        JANICE & BRUCE PUTNEY

BENNETT & DEBBIE GRAYSON,             GEORGE MARSHALL (FLICKERS)


1st Assistant Director…...................ANTHONY AMBROSINO

2nd Assistant Director…..................NICHOLAS DELMENICO

B Camera Operator........................................ALLEN LOOK

A Camera Assistant/ Boom Operator..................SAM COALE

B Camera Assistant...........................................NICK PEPE

Script Supervisors.......MARY DEBERRY & CLAUDIA PUTNEY

Props/Set Dresser/Make Up.....................SARAH FRANKLIN

Historic Military Wardrobe & Props..........NORM HARBINSON

C Camera Operator & On Set Photographer........SAM COALE

Colorist..........................................ANDREW HUTCHENSON

Key Production Assistant….............................MARK GREENE

Production Assistants.........EVAN LIOTTA,  JIMMY RUDOLPH, 
DARYA ZABINSKI,  CALI ZIMMERMAN, 

Producers’ Assistant............................TIMOTHY MENDONCA

Principal Casting.....................L.D.I. CASTING (Anne Mulhall)

Reenactor Casting.........................HISTORY CASTING / L.D.I.


Scholastic/Historical/Educational Consultants

JOHN McNIFF (N.P.S.)

WALTER K. SCHRODER (historian & author)


Contributing Producers

ROY SOUZA,                             LEANNE BRUNNELE,  

AMY POOLE,                DANA BISCOTTI MYSKOWSKI,

DAVID M. SHIFFLETT,                       MARY DEBERRY,

BRIAN CORTEZ,                             MARILYN CORTEZ,

ALBERT ESTRADA,                             JOHN K. FIORE,

HILLARY OLINGER,                                             BEX,

LEE CUNNINGHAM,             JILL & MIKE CALLANDER,

PETER SPAMENI,                   VICIAN PRODUCTIONS,

BRIAN THOMPSON,                        MICHAEL COHEN,

RICHARD DEAGAIIO,                          JIM OJEMANN,

JEAN OJEMANN,                                DON WARNOCK,

FREDRICK A. MARTIN,          LORRIANE MARIE WHITE,

PAUL BRIGHTON,                 CARMEN T. PEREZ SALVA,

PETER B. CARLSON,


Supporters

Jonathon Schermerhorn, Guy Strauss, Guy Perrotta, Alex Daunis, Kevin Faria, Angela, Ned & Sharyn Farrell, Doug Weeks, Jesse Christensen, Bill Mootos, Jayson M. Salvi, Vicki, Cate Carson, Demetria Carr, Pamela Baldwin, Mike Jablon, Lorna Feroce, Amy Putney, Mary Wright, Small Point Cafe, Deme Lane, Daniel, Angela Shulman, Annie Huddle, Grace Costa, Michael Ryan, David Smith, Colleen Kelly, Ellen Becker-Gray & Rob Gray, Stacy Caswell, Randolph Paulsen, Bill Proctor, David Weindel, Deb Mercer, Kerry O'Malley, OTL Productions, Joe Conforti, Camille Farnan, Brian Jennings, Wynne McLaughlin, Jamie Slattery, Michele Proud, Maura Power, Jamie Joseph, Paul H. Goodwin, Dorene Clarkin, Zinnia Politzer,

Special Thanks

The Rhode Island Office of Film & Television

The Middletown Historical Society (Middletown, RI)
for the use of their Boyd's Grist Mill Location

The Town of Middletown, RI,

Historic Fort Taber – Fort Rodman (New Bedford, MA)

The Wright Museum of WW 2 (Wolfeboro, NH)

The Collings Foundation (Stow, MA)

The Village Players of Wolfeboro, NH

The New Hampshire Film & Television Office

Ambrosino / Delmenico

The Rhode Island Film Collaborative

Mix One Studios

Engine Room Edit


This film is dedicated to the memory of two brothers who served in World War Two

Bruce Wood Putney RCAF & USN
and
Roselle Ray Putney US Army


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