The demand for Ken Burns was so great that one venue wasn’t enough.
The acclaimed filmmaker’s sold-out appearance at Spoleto Festival USA’s “An Evening with Ken Burns” on May 27 drew such a large response that organizers added a free simulcast at the Charleston Visitor Center, where festival employees expected about 350 guests to watch live.
“I’ve been coming to Charleston for almost 40 years for one historical subject or another,” Ken Burns said. “Charleston’s centrality is hard to deny.”
Ken Burns is an Academy Award-nominated director and producer of historical documentaries. He has earned 17 Emmy Awards and two Grammy Awards and was honored by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
He was also inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame. His major films include “The Civil War,” “The Vietnam War” and “Jazz.”
Held at the College of Charleston’s Sottile Theatre as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebration, the event blended conversation, live music and imagery from Burns’ latest documentary, “The American Revolution.” The film chronicles how the thirteen colonies rebelled against the British Empire and secured their independence.
“This is not just any revolution: it’s the most consequential in all of world history,” Burns said of his film’s subject matter.
The evening featured four clips from the documentary. The first served as an introduction to the film. The second depicted the Battle of Long Island, mentioning the concurrent battle at Sullivan’s Island. The third showed the siege of Charleston.
The fourth — Burns’ personal favorite — showcased Nathanael Greene, one of George Washington’s generals, and his subordinate commander figuring out how to fight a more experienced British army at the Battle of Cowpens.
The clips were followed by a conversation between Burns and John Allen, in which Burns reflected on the Revolution’s ties to the Lowcountry.
“Two places you do not want to be in the Revolution are New Jersey and South Carolina,” Burns said. “That’s where the war was the worst.”
Burns described South Carolina as one of the bloodiest places to be during the war, noting that the state was under full military occupation.
He also addressed his filmmaking process, saying he has long opposed reenactments. Instead, his team followed reenactors — everyday people who dress up and recreate historical scenes in the field — rather than hiring actors.
“I had to get over myself, in a way, to make the art,” Burns said, referring to this early compromise.
Music was performed by the Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra and led by Johnny Gandelsman, Kyle Sanna and Mathias Kunzli. Narration was provided by Tony Award-winning actor and playwright Denis O’Hare, who stars in the new Netflix series “The Boroughs.”
“The American Revolution” is broken into six parts over 12 hours. The series can be accessed on the PBS website.
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