Experiencing Interruptions?

Becoming American: Philadelphia's Story

“Becoming American” tells the story of the nation’s founding through the lens of Philadelphia, America’s first capital. It explores how diverse groups that included European colonists, Native Americans, free Black communities and enslaved Africans lived and worked side-by-side to shape the new United States. The film weaves together the famous debates of the Founding Fathers with lesser-known human stories of working individuals and communities, at the same time placing America’s early growth in a global context, including the Haitian Revolution and its far-reaching consequences. Though focused on Philadelphia, the film presents a shared national and international history that explains how America came to be, how it expanded, and how its founding ideals continue to resonate today.

  • Dan Coomber
    Director
  • Ben White
    Writer
  • Annie Connolly
    Producer
  • Dickon Hooper
    Producer
  • Oliver St Clair Franklin
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    History
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 27 minutes 43 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 16, 2026
  • Production Budget:
    500,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom, United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Dan Coomber

Dan is an experienced director, camera operator and picture editor, with more than 20 years experience in creating compelling stories that build strong connections with audiences. Dan spent a decade as the driving creative force behind Bright Blue Media, bringing his skills to a range of BBC television documentaries before co-forming Bear House Media in 2024.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Becoming American was a fantastic project to be involved in. From a director’s perspective, filming in stunning, historical locations was a dream, and the production team set up interviews with some of the most interesting people you could hope to meet, experts in the historical era the film is about.

We assembled a brilliant crew, and spent a great deal of time together on location in and around Philadelphia during 2025. Everybody more than pulled their weight to help us create a finished piece that I’m incredibly proud to put my name to. Our hope now, in this 250th year of commemoration of US independence, is that the story we’re telling is educational and eye-opening to people across the world, not only in America, highlighting important yet largely hidden stories from this fascinating point in modern history.