Capabilities
Authentic Recreations
From our inception, recreating historic scenes with top living reenactors for our films and documentaries has been our passion and strength. We enjoy creating moments that are not only action-packed but also entirely authentic to the era. Learn more about how Wide Awake Films can bring your history to life.
So much of our history was never photographed, never filmed. What did George Washington’s attack on Trenton in 1776 look like? What was the scene in Charleston Harbor as Robert Smalls guided the steamship Planter to freedom in 1862? Or show me artist George Caleb Bingham as he was painting one of his masterpieces on America’s frontier. Recreating these historic scenes for the camera is what has made many of our history presentations a cut above.
Bringing History to Life - Grit and Realism
History isn’t always pretty, nor were the faces and clothes of those involved in some of our nation’s most challenging circumstances. We pride ourselves in creating historic recreations that have a gritty realism that adds authenticity to what we present on film.
We Work With The Best
Within the living history and reenacting communities, there are select individuals and groups that are at the top of their game. We seek the best for our productions, hope they'll work with us, and when they do, we treat them well and listen to them. Like them, we care about the little details that make the difference between an accurate portrayal and something less so. Uniforms, dresses, weapons, hair, leather goods, shoes, buttons, hats, and more are all scrutinized by our team and the experts we work with. Our viewers deserve and expect the best.
Authentic Sets Too
Wide Awake Films also spends a great deal of time and effort creating realistic sets or locating historic sites for our living historians to operate within. Creating environments that feel authentic for our intended time frame is critical to creating the environment where the viewer feels transported in time and place.
We Come From Their World
Our founders - Shane Seley and Ed Leydecker - come from the hardcore reenacting world where details matter. Their passion for historic and authentic portrayals ports over to our film efforts. And our team’s connection to the living history world gives us a deeper appreciation of the methods, challenges, and motivations of these communities that we work with. We speak their language and appreciate them deeply.
Safety Is Always Job One
Safety is our top priority at Wide Awake Films. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, our seasoned crew is well-versed in working with a variety of weapons, animals, historic spaces and in challenging conditions. We have long standing relationships with expert advisors and crew to ensure a secure environment on set. Before every shoot day, we conduct thorough safety meetings, emphasizing the importance of reverence and awareness for our surroundings and ensuring that everyone on set feels safe and confident throughout the production process. At Wide Awake Films, we believe that a safe and secure environment allows for the best footage to be captured, while also fostering an enjoyable experience for all involved.
