NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Aug. 26, 2016) – The Andrew Jackson Foundation has commissioned an introductory film for viewing at The Hermitage to prepare visitors for an insightful and rich visit. The film will debut – as part of programming designed to commemorate the 250th birthday of President Andrew Jackson – on March 15, 2017.
A committee of board leadership and Foundation staff selected Cortina Productions, an award-winning media company based in McLean, Va., to produce the intro film. Cortina has produced videos for notable institutions including the LBJ Presidential Library, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, and the Anne Frank House and has won numerous awards including Council on International Non-Theatrical Events Golden Eagle Awards, American Alliance of Museums MUSE Awards and Themed Entertainment Association THEA Awards. In 2015, Cortina received a CINE Golden Eagle Award for “Anne’s Room,” a project produced for the Museum of Tolerance and a MUSE Award for the production of “Responsibility Theater” for the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum.
“We see this film as an opportunity to captivate visitors and let them explore more about Jackson’s life in a way they have never seen him before,” said Howard Kittell, CEO and president of The Hermitage. “Cortina has extensive experience as a top-tier film producer for other historical institutions, and we look forward to working with them to tell Jackson’s story as we approach his 250th birthday.”
The 15-minute film will be inspirational in tone, and the content will introduce the Jacksonian Era. The film will include a variety of interviews from nationally recognized historians and political commentators. Additionally, the film will explore:
- Jackson’s complex life and career
- Jackson’s role as “The People’s President”
- The Hermitage as Jackson’s home and farm
- Residents – free and enslaved – of The Hermitage plantation
In the past two years, Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage has announced a new logo, tagline and national board of trustees, including journalist Mara Liasson, author John Meacham, former Freedom Forum and Newseum CEO Charles Overby, and CedarStone Bank president Bob McDonald.
Additionally, last year The Hermitage launched a major new exhibit, Andrew Jackson: Born for a Storm, the first comprehensive content change in the Andrew Jackson Center in 25 years. The title comes from a famous Jackson quote: “I was born for a storm, and a calm does not suit me.”
The project includes not only film production, but the purchase and installation of cutting-edge equipment and technology by Cortina Productions. The total cost of the film will be $750,000, funded by the Andrew Jackson Foundation.
About The Hermitage
Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage: Home of the People’s President is one of the largest, most well-preserved and most visited presidential homes in the United States. Opened to the public in 1889, The Hermitage is one of America’s first presidential museums. Today, The Hermitage is a 1,120-acre National Historic Landmark with 27 historic buildings, including Jackson’s mansion and tomb, restored slave cabins, a church, and gardens. In recent years, new interpretive initiatives and educational programs such as archaeology and the history of slavery have enhanced the experience of more than 180,000 annual visitors. Last year, on Jan. 8, The Hermitage launched its newest exhibit, Andrew Jackson: Born for a Storm, which delves into the life of Andrew Jackson, including his military and presidential careers. For more information, visit www.thehermitage.com.