Private Project

DATELINE - SAIGON

Lies, deception, and the dangerous search for truth: Tom Herman’s critically-acclaimed and timely documentary Dateline-Saigon chronicles the groundbreaking work of five Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists – The New York Times’ David Halberstam; The Associated Press’ Malcolm Browne, Peter Arnett, and photojournalist Horst Faas; and United Press International’s Neil Sheehan during the early years of the Vietnam War. With the reality on the ground sharply diverging from the official White House story, their courageous reporting ushered in a modern era of journalism that sought to speak truth to power and hold the government accountable. Fake news, we learn, is challenge faced not only by today’s reporters – and public – but is deeply embedded in American history.

  • Thomas D. Herman
    Director
  • Thomas D. Herman
    Writer
  • Thomas D. Herman
    Producer
    Live from Baghdad
  • Sam Waterson
    Key Cast
    "Narrator"
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 35 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    May 10, 2016
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Thomas D. Herman

Tom Herman combines careers in filmmaking and law. Dateline-Saigon is his directorial debut. CBS’ Bob Schieffer calls Dateline-Saigon “the best film on Vietnam and journalism I’ve ever seen.” Tom was a co-producer of the Emmy-award winning feature film, Live from Baghdad, starring Michael Keaton and Helena Bonham-Carter. Tom has been a free-lance producer for CNN and correspondent for National Public Radio. When not making films, Tom is practices law in the Boston law firm, Smith Duggan Buell & Rufo, where he leads the corporate law department. “Practicing law helps me pay for my bad habits, like filmmaking,” he says.

Tom was educated at the University of Pennsylvania, from which he received his BA with honors, and Harvard, Oxford, and Northeastern universities. He lives in Boston. He was formerly Vice-Chairman of the World Affairs Council of Boston.

Add Director Biography