The Filmmakers
Behind 'The Story of US' is a dedicated creative collective committed to unearthing the human layers of our collective history. Our team blends archival rigor with cinematic storytelling to bridge the gap between the past and the present.
A Vision for the Past
'The Story of US' began as a personal quest to understand the bridge between history and the present. Walking through the fields of Valley Forge, I realized that the past is not static; it is carried forward by individuals who feel its pulse in their daily lives. My vision was to move beyond the dry text of history books and capture the human element of memory.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
By focusing on the reenactors, we've attempted to peel back the layers of performance to find the truth behind the costume. This documentary is a first-person exploration of legacy, national identity, and the passion that drives a community to preserve the American spirit. It's a statement about where we've been, and more importantly, who we choose to be today.
The Filmmakers
Director / Producer
Tina Traster
Tina Traster is a socially-conscious award-winning journalist, author, and filmmaker. She is also the Editor and Publisher of a local independent news site in New York.
Traster directed and co-produced the award-winning documentary Catnip Nation and the controversial Dead Name, under a pseudonym. Her films have screened at numerous festivals.
Traster has worked in the newspaper and magazine industry since the early 1990s. She spent ten years as a reporter for The Bergen Record. For more than a decade, Traster wrote for Crains New York Business and The New York Post, including the “Burb Appeal” column, which chronicled the life of a transplanted city denizen to the suburbs.
Traster is also the author of the award-winning memoir Rescuing Julia Twice: A Mother’s Tale of Russian Adoption and Overcoming Reactive Attachment Disorder.
Traster’s work has appeared in scores of newspapers, magazines and literary journals including The New York Times, The New York Post, Huffington Post, The Daily Beast, The Atlantic, The Journal News, Nyack News & Views, Redbook, Family Circle, Parade, Time Out New York, Audubon, Ski Magazine and many others.
Producer / Editor
Lennon Nersesian
Lennon Nersesian is an Emmy-nominated film editor, television producer, writer, and author whose work spans documentaries, live music programming, and narrative storytelling. He is recognized for crafting character-driven films and music-centered productions that blend cinematic storytelling with emotional authenticity.
His film and television credits include editing the acclaimed documentary Two: The Story of Roman & Nyro.
In addition to his screen work, Nersesian is the author of several published novels and books, including The Green Door, Atom, The Palisades, Black Hole Matter, and Diary of a Picky Eater: My Life in Fear of Flavor. His writing spans literary fiction, satire, and personal storytelling, reflecting the same observational voice and emotional depth that define his work in film and television.