Blog & News

VIDEO: Pigs vs. the snakes

June 5th, 2011

Nick tells a crazy story about the ongoing battle between pigs and snakes during his time in boot camp in the swamps of Louisiana.

Pigs vs. the Snakes from The 95th Movie on Vimeo.

Memorial Day Sale 2011!

May 30th, 2011

In honor of Memorial Day, we are offering a discount on The 95th DVD!

When ordering the DVD from filmbaby.com, use the coupon code MEMORIAL11 and receive $10 off the DVD!

Also, the download version of The 95th has been reduced to $2!

The sale will last until Monday, June 6. So please spread the word.

Veterans Day Approaches…

November 8th, 2010

This Thursday, November 11 is Veterans Day.

Thank a vet for their service, say hi, listen if they have a story to tell, especially the old-timers, the WW2 and Korean War vets. Their numbers are dwindling daily and before we know it, they will not be around to share their stories, to pass on their wisdom, and their personal histories will be lost to us.

With our documentary, The 95th, we did our best to capture the stories of our friends from WW2′s 95th Infantry Division. I just wish we had more time to spend with all of them, but unfortunately, we do not. We will have to remain content with the time we did get to spend with these men. Heroes, all.

Throughout the month of November, The 95th will be available as a Video On Demand rental with many cable providers throughout the US and Canada. Here is a list of the providers and their territories. Thanks for supporting us, but especially, thank you for recognizing the feats and sacrifices of the vets of The 95th. Their stories are the stories of all citizen soldiers. I hope you enjoy their tales as much as we enjoyed capturing them.

Armstrong Group of Companies
Western PA, Eastern OH, also in MD, NY, WVA & KY

Bend Broadband
Central OR

Blue Ridge Communications
Blue Ridge Mountains, Northeast PA

Broadband Comm.
Northern CO and WY

Buckeye Cable
Northwest OH and Southeast MI

Cameron Comm.
Rural areas of LA

Charter Cable
29 states

Cincinnati Bell

Click Community Television
Tacoma, WA

EchoStar
Satellite services to CO, CA, NY, GA, WY, AZ, IL, TX, VA, WA & NJ

Guadalupe Valley Comm.
San Antonio

HTC Conway
SC

INS Comm.
Salem, IL

Massillon Cable Ohio

One Source Comm.
Ft. Worth, TX

RCN
Boston, Chicago, D.C. Metro, Lehigh Valley, New York City and Philadelphia.

Rogers Comm.
Toronto, Canada

San Bruno Municipal Cable
San Bruno, CA

Service Electric Cable

Verizon Comm.
Upstate New York

Wave Broadband
Seattle, WA

Memorial Day SALE + FREE SCREENING!

May 27th, 2010

Two Memorial Day Specials for The 95th

In honor of all veterans, we are happy to announce special internet-only pricing of The 95th now through Memorial Day!

$9.99 DVDs (50% savings)

$3.99 Downloads (60% savings)

Don’t miss out on the sale – Get your copy today!

In addition, we’re holding a FREE SCREENING of The 95th on Memorial Day!

Arlington Heights American Legion Merle Guild Post #208

121 N. Douglas Avenue

Arlington Heights, IL 60004

Monday, 5.31.2010

2 p.m.

The festivities will be part of a day-long Memorial Day celebration, including a parade and commemorative ceremony.

The screening is FREE (did we mention that?) and will include a post-show Q&A with the filmmakers, as well as a live music performance by Joseph Dittman of Blind Anabaptist Blues.

A map and directions to the American Legion Merle Guild Post #208 can be found here.

We are honored to be a part of this Memorial Day celebration of our veterans’ contributions and sacrifice.

Hope to see you there!

FREE Memorial Day Screening of The 95th!

May 23rd, 2010

We are excited to announce that we are holding our first FREE public screening of THE 95TH: THE IRON MEN OF METZ!

Fittingly, it’s happening on:

Memorial Day
Monday, 5.31.2010
2 p.m.
Arlington Heights American Legion Merle Guild Post #208
Home post of 95th veteran Steve Finik, who’s featured in the film.

The festivities will be part of a day-long Memorial Day celebration, including a parade and commemorative ceremony.

The screening is FREE (did we mention that?), and will include a post show Q&A with the filmmakers as well as a live musical performance by Joseph Dittman of Blind Anabaptist Blues.

A map & directions to the American Legion Merle Guild Post #208 can be found here.

We are honored to be a part of this Memorial Day celebration of our veterans’ contributions and sacrifice.

Hope to see you there!

Another Fantastic Review of “The 95th”!

May 14th, 2010

We’re thrilled to announce that the website World War II History has given THE 95th: THE IRON MEN OF METZ a great review!

Highlights include “very moving” and “the producers should be praised.” Aww, shucks. We’re honored to be included on this prestigious website. Thanks to reviewer Steve Terjeson for helping preserve the memories of the 95th, and all the American veterans who served in World War II.

You can check out the full review here.

Steve: How to fire a Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR)

February 24th, 2010

My grandfather loved talking about his techniques for firing his BAR in WW2. He took immense pride in devising his own style for this enormous gun, given that he was such a tiny guy, especially back in 1944. He weighed only 116 lbs. at the time, and the Browning Automatic Rifle weighed approximately 15 lbs. and he also had to lug 20 lbs. of ammunition.

In this deleted scene from the documentary, he shares his unique approach to firing just a single round from the BAR.

The Southtown Star article on The 95th

February 8th, 2010

I did an interview with Jodi Marneris of The Southtown Star, a southside Chicago newspaper. Three of the central characters in the documentary were from the south side of Chicago (my grandfather Steve Finik, Nick Fusco and Chuck Wood), so we were excited to get an article in a “hometown” publication.

You can read the article here.

Thanks to both Jodi and The Southtown Star for spreading the word about The 95th and the documentary.

VeteranAid.org needs your support!

December 22nd, 2009

I wish I knew about this program while my grandfather Steve was succumbing to dementia. It was a difficult time, especially on my mother, who was the sole caregiver for my grandfather during his final days.

Debbie from VeteranAid.org has been working tirelessly to get the word out on these little known benefits for veterans, who deserve them and more. Her dedication is an inspiration. Please pass this information on to anyone you know who may benefit from it or can help spread the word: veterans, their families, local politicians, the press, anyone.

If my family would have known about this program, it would have helped immensely with the care of my grandfather during his final few years when he was no longer able to care for himself. Below are a few paragraphs from Debbie at VeteranAid.org on the benefit:

The Veterans Administration offers Aid and Attendance as part of an “Improved Pension” Benefit that is largely unknown. This Improved Pension allows for Veterans and surviving spouses who require the regular attendance of another person to assist in eating, bathing, dressing, undressing, medication dosing, or taking care of the needs of nature to receive additional monetary benefits. It also includes individuals who are blind or a patient in a nursing home because of mental or physical incapacity. Assisted care in an Assisted Living facility also qualifies.

This most important benefit is overlooked by many families with Veterans or surviving spouses who need additional monies to help care for ailing parents or loved ones. This is a “Pension Benefit” and IS NOT dependent upon service-related injuries for compensation. Aid and Attendance can help pay for care in the home, Nursing Home or Assisted Living facility. A Veteran is eligible for up to $1,632 per month, while a surviving spouse is eligible for up to $1,055 per month. A couple is eligible for up to $1,949 per month*. For more information on this pension and how to apply, please visit www.veteranaid.org

DVD Extra: Archival Footage, US troops moving thru destroyed village

December 8th, 2009

The National Archives are an amazing resource. Hundreds of hours of footage are available to citizens of the US on every subject imaginable. For The 95th, I spent three days sifting thru World War II combat footage of the 95th Infantry and other units that were in the Metz, France area and just over the border in Germany near Saarlautern.

For history buffs, I would definitely recommend a visit to the National Archives outside of Washington DC. You will be undoubtedly amazed.