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[0:14] Robert Bannon: Well, welcome to the round table, everybody. My name is Robert Bannon. You're listening to us on Broadway World over here on the Broadway Podcast Network. And it is June. It is our busiest month of the entire year because Tribeca Film Festival rolls into New York City. And when I started this show during COVID, I never could imagine that we would be able to cover the amazing work that is at Tribeca Film Festival, New York's most famous film festival. And then I heard that there was a film that was premiering on The Intrepid. And as someone who has lived in New Jersey for 41 years, why have I never been to The Intrepid? And why is this film, without me even seeing the whole thing, got me in tears thinking about the generation that we're going to talk about, especially in this polarizing political time?

I think this film is something that we need more than ever. Why We Dream is what we're talking about coming to Tribeca. And I'm really excited that the filmmaker—how did she go from making art for Beyoncé to making a film about? I want to know all the things about Meredith Danluck. Meredith Danluck is here to tell us all about it. Meredith, welcome to the show.

[1:14] Meredith Danluck: Why, thank you, Robert? I'm happy to be here.

[1:17] Robert Bannon: You really did do art for Beyoncé.

[1:19] Meredith Danluck: I really did. This was a lifetime high for sure.

[1:25] Robert Bannon: Yeah, because you know, I read your bio and I was like, Yep, filmmaker, fun, fun, great. I'm impressed. Really great, really beautiful.

[1:31] Meredith Danluck: Beyoncé seems to be the one that people remember.

[1:36] Robert Bannon: Yeah, I worked on the On the Run tour for background visuals.

[1:41] Meredith Danluck: I loved it. And if you remember it, it had the most beautiful projection and all of those Bonnie and Clyde videos.

[1:47] Robert Bannon: I was there, Meredith.

[1:48] Meredith Danluck: See, I knew you were my people.

[1:49] Robert Bannon: Okay, okay, great. Yeah, that was definitely an exciting time to go to experience that tour and to work with Beyoncé, who's a top professional, like an amazing person.

[2:01] Meredith Danluck: So I have only good things to say.

[2:03] Robert Bannon: Well, how does all of your journey—like you are now a feature. This is a feature. This is not a short; this is a feature documentary that is premiering at Tribeca on The Intrepid, honoring all those soldiers, honoring the story that you're telling. Do you look—when you heard, like, how does this happen? You submit this film. How did it end up being this event that's gonna happen here?

[2:25] Meredith Danluck: Well, um, yeah, we really honed in on Tribeca because of, um, you know, it's such a great festival being in New York, the best audiences in the world. Um, and also because it's taking place on D-Day. So that just felt like this really natural fit for the film. And, um, I mean, that's basically how that part of it happened. How it wound up being on The Intrepid, I think we have to credit that to Drake Springer, who works at Delta, who, uh, they were the studio and producers on the film. And Drake just has a lot of, uh, creative ideas. So that was that.

[3:12] Robert Bannon: Well, it's amazing, and people, you can still get tickets; they are available at Tribeca. Maybe they're gone by now, but you can go to TribecaFilm.com and that's where you can get all the information about the film, and then we're gonna talk about the film. The film has some—you have a pretty big production film, you know, a group with you; you have a pretty famous composer that's on your film. Uh, you may be the most famous composer ever. When did you come up with this idea? And how many years have you worked on it, Meredith?

[3:39] Meredith Danluck: Um, you know, I was just telling someone the other day for a film to go from inception to premiere in less than two years is like radically fast. And I think that we—as soon as we started, there was an urgency to this given the age of the veterans, the timing of D-Day. You know, it was—we hit the ground running. And then the story itself and the flow of the narrative had its own kind of DNA. It was very, very clear how things were connected to each other and how the edit was coming together. So yeah, less than two years to make this, which is, you know, sounds like a long time for working on pretty much anything else, but for films, that's radically fast.

[4:35] Robert Bannon: Fast. So what I know about the film, um, which is that it's 80 years uh D-Day. And that that means that a lot of these soldiers uh have either passed away or are a hundred years old. So you—how did you find the people that you have involved in this film? What was the process like to put it together?

[4:55] Meredith Danluck: Um, so we had a list of veterans that would be returning to D-Day. Uh, every year, Delta flies a charter plane for the veterans who are returning to Normandy. And that was kind of the beginning of the story. That was the inspiration for the story. Was like, oh my gosh, like, why would you want to go back to a place of so much trauma? Why, you know, and um, so from there we got a list of all the veterans that would be returning and started doing Zoom calls with them and whittling down this list of I think 50 some odd veterans to an approachable, uh, handful that we could feature in the film. And it really wound up being, um, almost like a casting process of different voices that had different points of view and also had different experiences in the war.

You know, we have a veteran who was born in Vienna and then exiled once Hitler came to power, made his way to the United States at the age of 15, graduated high school, and enlisted to go back and fight. And he has a quote in the film: I was fighting two wars, one for American democracy and one for my relatives, because at that point his relatives had mostly, you know, been killed. So, you know, there's that. We have an African American soldier who was in the segregated laundry unit. Um, we have a woman who was a nurse. So there's so many different points of view and so many stories. You know, you think that World War II has been exhausted as a story, as a film, books, everything, and yet there are still so many stories to be told. And, um, that was really our goal in casting.

[6:54] Robert Bannon: Wow. Uh, it is absolutely amazing. Why We Dream, everybody, is what we're talking about. And Meredith Danluck is here to tell us all about it, coming to Tribeca, chosen out of thousands and thousands of films to get a premiere here at Tribeca, and more important than ever. I'm sure that you must have learned a lot by spending time with these amazing veterans and flying with them and going back to this place and hearing their stories must have been very moving. Is there something that you want us to take away from this film that you learned through their story?

[7:27] Meredith Danluck: It's hard to pick just one thing because it definitely was a life-changing experience spending time with these people. So I'm gonna say there's two things. You know, we live in a culture that celebrates youth culture almost to the extreme, and how important it is to bring elders into that conversation to celebrate them. They have this incredible earned perspective and have so much to add to the conversation. And there's a—the one of the veterans who I just spoke about, Arlister Brown, who was in the segregated military, came back to, uh, be a teacher and then become a civil rights leader and then become a minister. And he says something in the film: We just don't have enough love. We don't have enough love for humanity. And I think in our current, like you said at the beginning of the podcast, um, we live in a very divided time right now, and we don't have enough love for humanity.

[8:45] Robert Bannon: Absolutely. And somehow—and without making this political—but somehow veterans have become politicized and are used across the aisle. Um, and um, that's not your intention of your—the film. The film is not to politicize their stories or make you feel anything. It's really to show their story and what they did to fight for the democracy that is what we use here in this country. Was that intentional?

[9:09] Meredith Danluck: I mean, it's really our goal going into this was to share their stories in the most emotional, subjective, cinematic way. So it felt like you could put yourself in their shoes and feel what they had experienced and have a window into their point of view. And I think we accomplished that.

[9:39] Robert Bannon: Wow.

[9:40] Meredith Danluck: We put so much focus, including me, I bring up Beyoncé, but we bring up so much focus on celebrity culture in this country, and their everyday celebrity heroes have done the most heroic things walking around amongst us, and your film gives them their moment to share their story in front of an audience.

[9:56] Robert Bannon: It must be very... how do you wrap your head around the idea that they got the chance, you gave them the chance to tell their story?

[10:05] Meredith Danluck: You know, it just seems like, out of all the things that I've been able to work on and the experiences that I've had, this seemed to be the most important and the most moving. And we’ve screened the film just in private screenings for the veterans, and to see how it moves people emotionally is the biggest reward of my career so far, is to see how this film functions on an emotional level.

[10:44] Robert Bannon: I saw in your notes that go along with the press release for your film and all the information that's available through Tribeca that you talk about this generation, the generation that fought in this war. They don't make them like they used to make them anymore.

[10:57] Meredith Danluck: Many, the greatest generation, these people who have left their families and fought. As a teacher, I mean, we still, I'm still teaching about this generation. We did Hidden Figures in my sixth-grade class and talked about the men who went to war and these women stepped up, and everybody was a part of the process. Do you still see that when you would spend time with them? They're probably still tough as nails.

[11:17] Meredith Danluck: And they have more fortitude and courage than many of us can ever have.

[11:23] Robert Bannon: Absolutely.

[11:24] Meredith Danluck: And I think, you know, the humility, the grit, the sense of service and community, like these are all qualities that I hope to adopt into my own life. And also a sense of humor. I'd say that if there's one thing that is ubiquitous across all of the veterans that we met, it's that they all just have this incredible sense of humor and positivity. You know, like the youngest one that we worked with was 99.

[12:00] Robert Bannon: Oh my god.

[12:01] Meredith Danluck: The oldest was 104. And they're all just so funny and so cool to hang out with.

[12:08] Robert Bannon: Well, I made it halfway through the film only because I had to go to work this morning. Otherwise, I would have been engulfed in this because it is such a beautiful film. It is an incredible story, and I'm telling you, when you get the chance to check it out as a feature, you're gonna... there's not gonna be a dry eye on the boat, in the theater, in the house, wherever you're gonna check this film out, you're gonna stop.

[12:26] Meredith Danluck: Yeah, it is absolutely stunning. So, as a filmmaker perspective, what was your crew like? I mean, you're now witness, it's a documentary, so you're now just a fly on the wall of their experience returning. So, what was your approach to fly over there and spend time and the line between their privacy and you making a good movie? Like, you have to walk a tightrope here.

[12:45] Meredith Danluck: Yes. And I'd say that, you know, there were a lot of the events that happened over there. We were this kind of fly on the wall. I have a very tight, small crew that I've been working with for a decade. So we have our own shorthand. And then what we focused on with the veterans in Normandy was there seemed to be one defining moment or memory that really shaped the person they became.

[13:21] Meredith Danluck: And we whittled that down to these different moments and kind of created, for example, George Mullins, who was in the 101st Airborne, had a harrowing experience during the battle at Carentan, where he lost 43 out of the 45 people in his unit, and essentially saw God. We found the cathedral, brought him back there, and filmed this moment with him, but filmed it in a way that was more emotional than it was verité. And because of that, it's like you're on this journey with him, you're in his memory, you're feeling that moment in a heightened cinematic space, you know.

[14:17] Robert Bannon: And you talk about the score. We worked with Hans Zimmer and Christian Lundberg of Bleeding Fingers, and that has so much to do with elevating those experiences as well. Is you know, how do you create that space emotionally?

[14:34] Meredith Danluck: Well, it's sweeping. The music is sweeping. It adds... it's a whole character of this film and tell not that your filmmaking and storytelling needs help, but let me tell you, this takes it to another.

[14:45] Robert Bannon: And can Hans Zimmer share an Oscar nomination with somebody? I mean, man, he's gonna have to take them all, everyone, a legend, truly a legend. What was it like to reach out to him? How did you get him to say, okay, I'll lend my talent to this film?

[14:58] Meredith Danluck: Well, that's a funny story because, again, Drake Springer, one of the producers on the film, early on was like, you know, we should get Hans Zimmer. And of course, I was like, yeah, that would be great, but like this is a small documentary. I'm not... I think he's actually working on Dune 2. So, but you know, we made the ask. We wrote a letter, and his studio manager got back to us, I think on the same day, capital yes, exclamation mark, capital yes, exclamation mark, capital yes.

[15:40] Robert Bannon: And I was like, what does this mean?

[15:46] Meredith Danluck: It meant yes.

[15:48] Robert Bannon: So yeah, so they...

[15:52] Meredith Danluck: It meant yes, and he did it.

[15:53] Robert Bannon: They did it.

[15:54] Meredith Danluck: Yeah, they did it. So that was incredible. I mean, it completely transformed the film.

[16:01] Robert Bannon: So for you as a filmmaker, and you could see your bio and all the information will be listed below us and the shorts and the features and all the people that you've gotten to work with and everything. What can we do, even if we're not in the New York area? What is the future for this film that we can support films like this? I love documentaries and I love documentaries that are unique and tell a story that we may not have heard in a new way. So, what can the average person around the country do to support this film in particular?

[16:27] Meredith Danluck: Well, this film in particular, you know, we'll figure out what our distribution channel will be. I know because of our partnership with Delta, it will be on every Delta flight eventually. I don't know when, but it will be, and I think that they have millions of eyeballs strapped into seats every month. So that's very exciting. But I think the idea is that we will partner with a streamer, and so that'll be available. So we could stay up, we could stay up to date with you, or we could stay up to date with the studio and figure out when and where and how. Is there a way that you know that we could do that?

[17:07] Meredith Danluck: Follow you on social media, follow the studio on social media? Both, either following Delta, following me on social media, yeah, that would work. And it will all be below us where you're watching or listening, absolutely right now.

[17:21] Robert Bannon: So do you have an outfit? Are you ready for this Tribeca moment?

[17:25] Meredith Danluck: Barely. I have a five, so that's kind of a distraction, but I'll get it together.

[17:33] Robert Bannon: I know you'll get it together. And are you somebody who, now that this is out and it will have its life and it will premiere and then it will have its life on planes and television screens and movie theaters everywhere? Do you already... do you always have something up your sleeve, or do you take a break in between projects? How do you work as a filmmaker?

[17:43] Meredith Danluck: In an ideal world, you pick up on another project right away, and I'm fortunate enough to have two other projects underway right now.

[17:43] Robert Bannon: Yeah, so we gotta stay up to date because we need to know what's next because this is so stunning and so gorgeous. I can't wait to see what stories you tell next and get the privilege and pleasure to be able to check them out and see them.

[17:43] Meredith Danluck: Thank you, that means so much.

[17:43] Robert Bannon: Well, I'll be watching tonight. I'll be finishing it tonight, but everybody else can be watching on June 6th if you get your tickets and go to the Intrepid.

[17:43] Meredith Danluck: I need to visit. I need to put...

[17:43] Robert Bannon: Yeah, will you be at the Intrepid?

[17:43] Meredith Danluck: I'm in Detroit for the rest of the month.

[17:43] Robert Bannon: Okay.

[17:43] Meredith Danluck: But my cousin, who co-hosts the show with me and her husband will be at the Intrepid. We got our tickets already. They signed up the second they could. They are historians about World War culture, and they're gonna be... we're like, yes, we need to be there. We have to be there. Tell us when we can get a ticket.

[17:43] Robert Bannon: So get a ticket because I know a lot of people are really looking forward to this, the highlight of the festival for them.

[17:43] Meredith Danluck: Love. Such a joy.

[17:43] Robert Bannon: Such a joy to talk to you. Congratulations.

[17:43] Meredith Danluck: Oh my gosh, thank you so much. It's absolutely my pleasure.