New technology has shaped the way we view our past. Breakthroughs in Computer Graphics, editing, and videography have allowed documentary filmmakers to present stories from different angles in order to enhance the viewer’s appreciation and understanding of a topic.
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The latest of these filming innovations has been the use of drone cameras to provide filmmakers with the ability to capture shots that would otherwise be impossible or prohibitively expensive to get through other means.

World War II Foundation‘s new documentary D-Day: Over Normandy, narrated by New England Patriot’s head coach Bill Belichick, utilizes this innovation in cinematography and drone technology to tell the stories of the men who broke through Hitler’s Atlantic Wall on June 6, 1944.

All of the documentary’s original footage was taken by one of France’s top aerial Drone camera companies. This sweeping aerial footage covers beaches and fortifications, grave yards and towns, gives an amazing perspective of a battlefield that has hardly changed since it’s christening almost 73 years ago.

This sample drone footage from Point du Hoc gives us a look at the skillful videography and unique perspective that we can expect from the documentary.

For Tim Gray, director of D-Day: Over Normandy and founder and chairman of The World War II Foundation, and narrator Bill Belichick, preserving the legacy of those who fought in World War II is a very personal mission.

Tim Gray’s interest in World War II came at a young age, something he describes in his bio on his alma mater’s website “It was the most fascinating period in the history of the world… “It was good versus evil. There were amazing stories of courage and sacrifice.’’ Armed with a journalism degree from University of Rhode Island, Gray turned his focus and his camera on veterans of the war that fascinated him so much. Gray founded The World War II Foundation in order to preserve their stories for generations to come. The Foundation has since produced 17 documentary films, which have aired nationally on PBS stations around the country.

Bill Belichick’s connection with World War II is intertwined with his own passion for football. Belichick’s father, coach of the U.S. Naval Academy football team, had served his country during World War II in the Navy.

The documentary premiers at 1pm on May 27, 2017 at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Providence, Rhode Island. Tickets are free for veterans and $15 for general admission.

You can view the documentary’s trailer here.