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Show Citizenship and World Relations; History, Biography; and Education: Adult. The film also earned awards at the New York International Film and Video Festival, including a gold for the sound track, a silver for original music and a finalist award in the docudrama category. "The resulting screenplay is to our knowledge the first and only comprehensive dramatic treatment of the birth of the U.S. Constitution," Constitu-tion," said Johnson. "At the same time, the historical data has been translated into a film of high drama that we believe is both entertaining and enlightening." "A More Perfect Union: America Becomes a Nation" will premiere on KBYU-TV, channel 11, Wednesday, July 4 at 7:00 p.m. and again on Monday, July 16 at 8:00 p.m. i Film documents formation of American Constitution ' ' ''''','.' A - . ' . " 4 . . -, ' ,,,.-', I 1 Bv SARAH HANSEN The Constitution is the single document that transformed America into the United States. The stirring, heated debates that took place at Independence In-dependence Hall have been recreated by Brigham Young University Uni-versity in "A More Perfect Union: America Becomes a Nation." The film is a comprehensive account ac-count of the United States Constitution Constitu-tion and the men who committed themselves to its formation. The show will air across the country on PBS stations in July. Several local men took part in the film: Shane Jones from Kaysville played General William Shephard; Steve Anderson from Woods Cross played Elbridge Gerry; and Charles Parker from Clinton played Mr. Jenifer. The film returns viewers to 1786, ten years after the signing of th6 Declaration of Independence. The states have fractured their once united purpose and are caught up in endless trivial disputes and jealousies. England is contesting the colonies col-onies in unfair trade. This sets the stage for a handful of men to create a new form of government and mold the states into a nation. The film accurately recreates the events that led to the drafting of the Constitution. It begins with the disorder dis-order of the confederation, to the scorching summer of 1787 when The Great Compromise, the creation crea-tion of the Senate and House of Representatives, and concludes with the inauguration of George Washington as the United States first President. "Along the way the story presents the struggles of the great statesmenMadison, Jefferson, Adams, Franklin and Washington who worked tirelessly to create what has been called the greatest political document of the modern world," said Peter Johnson, directorproducer direc-torproducer of the film. The Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution granted "A More Perfect Union" official recognition for the two years of research, screen writing, negotiating and pre-production pre-production work that went into the film. VA More Perfect Union" was filmed on location at Independence Hall, Alexandria and Williamsburg, Va., and other historical sites. One of the biggest obstacles faced was obtaining permission to film at the Williamsburg Historical Foundation Founda-tion in Virginia, which is usually closed to commercial filming. However, with the bicentennial commission's endorsement of the film and the film's educational nature, it was possible. The research for the film was done by Tim Slover, a studio writer, and Dr. Noel Reynolds, a BYU political pol-itical professor. "We made every effort to present information as accurately ac-curately as possible," said Reynolds. "Great American historians and political scientists during the past 20 years have developed a great interest in-terest in the American founding. The current literature, therefore, is extremely rich and takes very seriously seri-ously the beliefs and understanding of America's early leaders. "Every last detail is as exact as possible," said Richard Jameson, art director. "When you do something this important, you have to have it exact because people will know if it is not right." "A More Perfect Union" has earned three first place awards in the 1990 U.S. Film and Video Festival Fes-tival for Politics, Government, "A More Perfect Union: America Becomes a Nation" is the first comprehensive re-creation of the stirring, heated debates surrounding the United States Constitution. From left to right, George Mason (Morgan White), James Madison (Craig Wasson), Edmund Randolph (Bruce Newbold), George Wythe (Lael J. Woodbury), and George Washington (Michael McGuire) discussing the Constitution. A Brigham Young University Production. A KBYU-TV presentation. |