Chris Simmons filming in Honiara, the Solomon Islands
Cinematographer Chris Simmons recently traveled half way around the world on a journey to document a son’s dream of “following in his father’s footsteps,” retracing a World War II Seabee’s experiences in the South Pacific.
The result was shown last night at a film festival in Rhode Island.
Mr. Simmons grew up in Ridgefield, working alongside his dad, Ed Simmons of Pilgrim Productions. The 1987 Ridgefield High School grad went on to graduate from Emerson College in 1991.
He has since had a successful career working in broadcast television, and has his own company, Zygote Digital Films, in Harwich, Mass.
“I have worked on a wide range of projects over my career,” Mr. Simmons said this week. “You’ll see my name in the credits of many television programs like the PBS series ‘Closer to Truth.’”
He just finished working on the PBS cooking show, “Simply Ming.”
His most recent project is a privately produced documentary, which Mr. Simmons both shot and edited. It brings a different personal perspective to the age-old story of “love and war.”
Mr. Simmons met Vic Del Regno of To Reign Productions, a son of a World War II Navy Seabee, just after Mr. Del Regno had discovered previously unknown information about his parents in a box of old letters.
The box contained more than 600 letters that were written between his parents during the war.
This discovery started the pair on a five-year journey that took them to the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific, and then back to Mr. Del Regno’s hometown of Nyack, N.Y.
“The film captures the deep loneliness and hardship many couples endured during war — and moviegoers experience a deeper look into the emotional cost of war, and realize the difference that one letter can make,” Mr. Simmons said.
Till Then: A Journey Through World War II Love Letters was featured in this year’s Rhode Island Film Festival at The Vets in Providence Thursday, Aug. 8.
A trailer for the film may be viewed at tillthenjourney.com.
Mr. Simmons is in the process of applying to show the film at other festivals.
Can the average person view the film?
Not yet.
“The ultimate goal is to secure a deal to broadcast this on PBS and after that the producers might offer the film up for sale,” Mr. Simmons said.
Mr. Simmons has also worked on many historical and sports features for the NBC Olympic broadcasts in Sydney, Salt Lake City, Athens, and Torino.
“A number of those were long-form historical documentaries with Tom Brokaw,” he said.
Many years ago when he was still living in Ridgefield, Mr. Simmons worked with Lucie Arnaz and Lawrence Luckinbill on their Emmy Award-winning documentary, Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie. That film was just shown at the Ridgefield Playhouse May 26 — with Mr. Luckinbill present to discuss it and answer questions.