In China Directed by Les Owen won the Best Trailer of the Film Award
In 2012 the governments of The United States and China took part in a cultural exchange called "Friendship and Cooperation Through Music" by co-sponsoring a concert tour with their respective premier military bands. The United States Army Band and The People's Liberation Army Band of China jointly toured China to demonstrate the benefits and possibilities of improved relations based on common interests. The film goes into depth about the music and the friendships and bonds created between the musicians from both countries.
About the Director: Les Owen
Les Owen has pursued professional careers in both music and filmmaking. He received a Bachelors and Masters degree in music from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA in saxophone and flute. During college he performed professionally in clubs, concerts, recording studios and The Richmond Symphony before successfully auditioning for a position in The United States Army Field Band, Jazz Ambassadors in Washington DC. He later went on to the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own”, also in Washington, and served his country for over 32 years as a musician, educator and producer in these elite organizations. He performed throughout the United States and around the world as well as The White House and other highly visible venues.
It was during his service in The United States Army Band that Les explored a strong interest in filmmaking. He started his own production company, Treehouse Dreams Films, in 2005 and began producing various videos and short films to include projects for The Army Band. As the band added more and more visual components to their live performances, Les was eventually tasked to become the first full time Video Producer for The U.S. Army Band. He created invaluable productions used by the band as well as top U.S. Army leadership for marketing, archiving, promotion and international public relations.
Since retiring from The Army Band Les has produced a number of successful award winning documentaries and continues to have his films screened in film festivals and television broadcasts across the country and internationally.
Today, Les is the Broadcast Manager and Video Producer for Arlington National Cemetery Public Affairs in Arlington, Virginia.
His role as a filmmaker and involvement in the military led to the unique opportunity to produce “Victory Remembered, Legacy of The Black Devils”. It was his love and respect for veterans that attracted Les to the story of The Black Devils and to share their story with the world. The message of the film goes beyond the epic events of their service to explore their living legacy, which still exists in the villages, towns and countries they liberated, as well as in the hearts and minds of the veteran’s own families and countrymen, culminating in the unit receiving the Congressional Gold Medal in 2015.
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