Real Bird Re-enactment and Movie Production

[McIntosh]

Troopers of the 7th Cavalry,

Recently I was contacted by General Custer (Steve Alexander), whom asked me to serve as his Adjutant for the regiment in the absence of Lt. W.W. Cooke (Joe Desson) for the extended foreseen future. I, of course, graciously accepted this position and was soon informed that the first of my two initial major endeavors in this position would entail being the re-enactor coordinator at the Real Bird Re-enactment for those that wished to participate or be featured in the movie production that is to be filmed by "Branding Iron Productions" on the anniversary weekend.

I am told the movie is to focus on the "Custer Clan" as opposed to the battle itself and will most likely air on the History Channel next fall! The General's first request for me in this position was for me to contact all the RB re-enactors with the following new information.

The General, working with the Real Bird family, are planning for me to set up my encampment (7th Cavalry Command) at the grandstand once again this year in order to facilitate the productions' details. This will be done to maximize the contact between the spectators and the regiment and also act as a check-in point for the re-enactors. Anyone wishing to have their image filmed, and especially if they wish to be featured in the production, need to check in at the command tent where you will sign a release form.

As many of us impersonate a particular actual participant of the battle, that list will be available in order to eliminate duplicate roles being performed. Please visit the following address to see the list that we are using for this purpose: www.US7thCavCoF.com/LivingHistorians.html. The list is a work in progress and all known personas are listed. If you currently portray or wish to portray an individual and that information is not available on the web site, please contact me so that I can make amends.

Any and all questions can be directed to myself ([e-mail]) or the General ([e-mail]). Looking forward to a great show, please contact our web site at 7thCavalry.info for any information related to the battle and/or re-enacting that you might have!

1st Lt. Donald (McCloud) McIntosh
Acting Regimental Adjutant
7th U.S. Cavalry, Co. G

[mwkeogh]

It is very sad that this film never took place due to all the controversies, threats and violence that took place at the RealBirds last summer. Such a waste of potential, but this is something we have come to expect up there. The only film that was made using reenactors (Frontier Army of Dakota) last summer was the BBC television movie "Custer's Plan" which was filmed in South Dakota. They were originally planning to film this up at the Real Birds near Medicine Tail Coulee, but past difficulties with the principals involved convinced the directors to relocate the shoot to SD.

[tassiewolf]

I didn't know they were doing a remake of the good, the bad and the ugly