Private Project

...in Flight - A Portrait of Robert Milvoy Horsky

Travelers whose journeys took them through the Eastern Iowa Airport (Cedar Rapids) from 1966-2012 may recall seeing a large display case filled with nearly 200 model airplanes, from the Wright Flyer to Vietnam-era bombers. Few however, know the bittersweet tale of the modeler, Robert Milovy Horsky. In Flight is the brief story, told in archival photos, about a local boy whose passion for flight and a sense of duty took him around the world. Tragically, the thing he loved so much cut his life short in a jungle half a world away, and left his wife and daughter with more questions than answers.

This film was produced as part of a permanent exhibit of Major Horsky's models, uniform, letters and other personal effects at Cedar Rapids' Veterans Memorial Building.

  • Eric Dean Freese
    Director
  • Eric Dean Freese
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    16 minutes 21 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 11, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    1080p
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Veterans Memorial Building Museum (permanent exhibit)
    Cedar Rapids, IA
    United States
  • Iowa Motion Picture Awards 2022
    Ottumwa, Iowa
    United States
    May 14, 2022
    Award of Achievement, Educational Production
  • Only the Best Film Awards
    Miami, Florida
    United States
    August 16, 2022
    Special Awards for Inspirational Film and Documentary Short
  • White Unicorn International Film Festival August 2022
    Kolkata, West Bengal
    India
    August 31, 2022
    Short Film Award
  • Muscatine Music & Independent Film Festival 2022
    Muscatine, Iowa
    United States
    November 3, 2022
    Semi-Finalist
  • Montreal Arthouse Film Festival
    Montreal, Quebec
    Canada
    October 14, 2022
    Semi-Finalist
  • Santa Monica Film Awards 2022
    Santa Monica CA
    United States
    November 25, 2022
    Semi-Finalist
  • Oaxaca FilmFest
    Oaxaca
    Mexico
    December 8, 2022
    Official Selection
  • True to Life Film Series
    North Beach, MD
    United States
    March 18, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Star City Film Festival
    Lansing, Iowa
    United States
    July 15, 2023
    Finalist
  • Cedar River Film Festival
    Cedar Falls, Iowa
    United States
    August 25, 2023
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Eric Dean Freese

Eric is Senior Editor and Videographer at Wired Production Group, a full-service event A/V and video production company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He produces regional and nationwide corporate and live event video, but has special interests in documentary production and motion design, and is a jib operator and certified drone pilot. Eric is also an independent film enthusiast, both as a crew member and filmmaking organization volunteer. He is married with two sons who have started making their own films.

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Director Statement

It was an honor to work on this project. As a child, I loved looking at the models at the airport, and I am so glad they, and Major Horsky, have found a permanent place of remembrance in Cedar Rapids.