"In Their Own Words: The Tuskegee Airmen" movie will be shown at several metro theaters at 7 p.m.March 29 as a one night Fathom Event.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Tuskegee Airmen, the popular name for a group of African-American military pilots and support personnel who fought in World War II. It included African Americans, whites, men and women.
Sixteen airmen are featured in the 90-minute documentary.
Included are three Georgia men - Charles Dryden, Leroy Eley and Hiram Little.
Credit: Shelia Poole
Credit: Shelia Poole
The documentary, the work of Augusta-based Bryton Entertainment, features interviews, rare photographs, archival footage and computer-generated recreations.
Audiences will also see an exclusive panel discussion at the National Air Force Museum with Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. George Hardy, former administrator of NASA; Col. Fred Gregory; producer Bryan Williams and director Denton Adkinson.
Related:
AJC Black History Month coverage
The idea was birthed at an Augusta Huddle House restaurant.
Bryton Entertainment co-owner Bryan Williams was sitting with Adkinson, his partner in the company, and Thomas Burroughs, an actor and recording engineer . They had just finished two music video shoots. He mentioned to the others that his wife told them that they were going to produce a documentary.
Such a project was really out of their wheelhouse, but they prayed about it anyway. Nothing. No bolt of lightning. No commanding voice.
The food came. They prayed again, asking God to point them in the direction "You would have us go."
The door opens and an older African-American man came in wearing a Tuskegee airman hat, jacket and shirt. They talked and Williams says that meeting "changed our company."
The seed was planted for the project.
"God gave it to us and it is the right thing to do," he said. "
Tickets for "In Their Own Words: The Tuskegee Airmen - The 75th Anniversary" can be purchased online by visiting www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices.
The documentary will play in the following theaters in Georgia:
Hollywood 24 @ North I-85, Atlanta
Augusta Exchange 20 with IMAX, Augusta
Avenue Forsyth 12 with IMAX, Cumming
Tinseltown USA, Fayetteville
Sugarloaf Mills 18, Lawrenceville
McDonough Stadium 16, McDonough
Southlake Pavilion 24 with IMAX, Morrow
Perimeter Pointe 10, Atlanta.
