In China

In 2012 the governments of The United States and China took part in a cultural exchange called "Friendship and Cooperation Through Music" by co-sponsoring a concert tour with their respective premier military bands. The United States Army Band and The People's Liberation Army Band of China jointly toured China to demonstrate the benefits and possibilities of improved relations based on common interests. The film goes into depth about the music and the friendships and bonds created between the musicians from both countries.

  • Les Owen
    Director
    Diversity in the Long Gray Line, Manifesto, Victory Remembered
  • Les Owen
    Writer
    Diversity in the Long Gray Line, Manifesto, Victory Remembered
  • Les Owen
    Producer
    Diversity in the Long Gray Line, Manifesto, Victory Remembered
  • Woody Goldberg
    Producer
    Diversity in the Long Gray Line
  • Thomas Palmatier
    Producer
  • Jared Morgan
    Producer
  • Leigh LaFosse
    Key Cast
  • Joe Lovinsky
    Key Cast
  • Woody Goldberg
    Key Cast
  • Thomas Palmatier
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    History, Politics, music, international
  • Runtime:
    59 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    October 22, 2020
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    China, United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Distribution Information
  • None
Director Biography - Les Owen

Les Owen, Filmmaker
Bio

Les Owen has pursued professional careers in both music and filmmaking. He received a Bachelors and Masters degree in music from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA in saxophone and flute. During college he performed professionally in clubs, concerts, recording studios and The Richmond Symphony before successfully auditioning for a position in The United States Army Field Band, Jazz Ambassadors in Washington DC. He later went on to the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own”, also in Washington, and served his country for over 32 years as a musician, educator and producer in these elite organizations. He performed throughout the United States and around the world as well as The White House and other highly visible venues.

It was during his service in The United States Army Band that Les explored a strong interest in filmmaking. He started his own production company, Treehouse Dreams Films, in 2005 and began producing various videos and short films to include projects for The Army Band. As the band added more and more visual components to their live performances, Les was eventually tasked to become the first full time Video Producer for The U.S. Army Band. He created invaluable productions used by the band as well as top U.S. Army leadership for marketing, archiving, promotion and international public relations.

Since retiring from The Army Band Les has produced a number of successful award winning documentaries and continues to have his films screened in film festivals and television broadcasts across the country and internationally.

Today, Les is the Broadcast Manager and Video Producer for Arlington National Cemetery Public Affairs in Arlington, Virginia.

His role as a filmmaker and involvement in the military led to the unique opportunity to produce “Victory Remembered, Legacy of The Black Devils”. It was his love and respect for veterans that attracted Les to the story of The Black Devils and to share their story with the world. The message of the film goes beyond the epic events of their service to explore their living legacy, which still exists in the villages, towns and countries they liberated, as well as in the hearts and minds of the veteran’s own families and countrymen, culminating in the unit receiving the Congressional Gold Medal in 2015.

Victory Remembered Trailer
https://vimeo.com/141742136

Victory Remembered Theatrical Version 87 minutes (password is "87")
https://vimeo.com/140381083

The “Victory Remembered” Video Library is the end product of all the footage gathered for the film and is a chaptered study of the story of The Black Devils to be used as a resource for future generations
https://www.victoryremembered.com

Les’ documentary “In China”, which depicts The Army Band’s concert tour of China, is still used in diplomatic settings as a valuable example of how our two countries’ militaries are able to work together for a common purpose.

In China Trailer
https://vimeo.com/74564762

In China
https://vimeo.com/72817147

Les chronicled the historic creation of the bugler’s statue that resides in the visitor Center at Arlington Cemetery.

The Bugler’s Statue Trailer
https://vimeo.com/74565858

The Bugler’s Statue; Capturing a Moment
https://vimeo.com/73724048

In 2019 Les was commissioned to produce a documentary recognizing the 1000th Jewish Cadet to graduate from The United States Military Academy at West Point. “Diversity in the Long Gray Line” is a story of America’s struggle to integrate and recognize certain various groups in society and how that same struggle is reflected in the history of West Point, culminating with the graduation of the 1000th Jewish cadet, the story of the Jewish tradition at the Academy and how diversity has made us stronger as a nation. The film won numerous awards to include two Telly Awards.

Diversity in the Long Gray Line
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljK3CP9xpoY&feature=youtu.be

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