For people living in the NYC/Tri-State area, I want to pass along this note. The indie documentary short I co-produced/directed with my partner Stu Lisson—The Real Bedford Falls: It’s a Wonderful Life—airs tonight at 10:30 p.m. and again on Christmas Day on Thirteen WNET, the PBS station in New York.
Bridge Street Bridge in Seneca Falls. Aerial image by Chase Guttman.
The film explores the connections between the town of Seneca Falls, New York, and Bedford Falls, the fictional home of George Bailey in the classic movie It’s a Wonderful Life. The documentary features interviews with film critic Leonard Maltin, Karolyn Grimes (Zuzu Bailey), Jimmy Hawkins (Tommy Bailey), Syracuse University professor of popular culture Robert Thompson, film historian Jeanine Basinger and Monica Capra Hodges, granddaughter of director Frank Capra. Former NBC Today show correspondent Bob Dotson lends his mellifluous voice as narrator.
Thanks to everyone who was involved in this indie passion project. Special thanks go to The Seneca Falls It’s a Wonderful Life Museum for access to the story and most of all to Joanne Storkan, Chris Carpenter and the team at Honest Engine Films for making the project a reality. We hope to have a streaming/online viewing option in the near future.
Francis DiClemente 
We watched it last night and it was illuminating.
In all the years I’ve watched the movie, I’ve never known about any connection other than that it was set in upstate NY. Now, many of the references in the film all fall into line. Well done!!
PS…I would like to know who the artist is singing Silent Night in the opening credits…she has such a sweet voice and I’d like to hear more…thanks!!
Hi James. Thanks for the message and for watching the film. I hope you enjoyed. I went through our music tracks, which we licensed through Universal Production Music. The singer/composer is Elizabeth Twelvetree.