Two weeks ago, with the temperature hovering around ten degrees, we shot a video book trailer for The Ghost Army of World War II, which is being published by Princeton Architectural Press in April. For the opening sequence, we recreated World War II in the back yard.

Well, not exactly. But we did shoot a sequence involving our inflatable tank and four WWII Living Historians with incredibly accurate period clothing and equipment. Then we cleared out the living room so videographer Dillard Morrison could shoot interviews with co-authors Liz Sayles and myself.

It was a small-scale production for sure, but I am really pleased with the way it came out. Here's the trailer, with behind the scenes photos below:



It was so cold the skin of the tank felt hard, almost crunchy. We inflated it using air we piped in from the house, to keep the fabric flexible while it expanded.
 World War II Living Historians Brian, Louis and Tom on the march to the battle of Outlook Drive. We were careful to notify the neighbors so they weren't worried about the appearance of a tank and men with guns in the back yard. They seemed remarkably unfazed.
 (Above) Videographer Dillard Morrison getting the shot. We scouted the location carefully earlier in the week, as well as other potential locations, and together we planned it out shot by shot. (Below) Makeup artist Joe Rossi, who carefully detailed faces and hands for the look of men who have been living in the field for weeks or months.

The result couldn't have been better!
The tank held up really well, considering the temperature.  Once the sun got high enough to warm it a bit, the skin softened up, and we could safely deflate it. The camouflage net is a genuine WWII artifact.
For this shot, we used an actual WWII German grenade case like the one that Ghost Army artist Ned Harris kept his art supplies in. We dressed the case using a photo of Ned's original. One of the two crates below is also a genuine WWII artifact, as are the Stars and Stripes and  GI Sketchbook  in the grenade case.

Our living room as an insert stage!  Liz and her daughter came up from New York to be part of the spectacle.

A great day and a fun book trailer.  A few days later I received my first advance copy of the book, and now I can't wait until it comes out and other folks get to see it.  I think you will be pleased!