America: The Story of Us was History Channel’s most ambitious production at the time of its release — a groundbreaking 12-part documentary series from Nutopia that redefined how history could be told on screen. With cinematic dramatisations, cutting-edge CGI, and commentary from public figures such as President Barack Obama, Buzz Aldrin, and Donald Trump, it reached millions and earned its place in documentary history.
How I got involved…
I worked with a small team, lead by BAFTA-winning composer John Hardy at John Hardy Music, we had daily meetings and we were all assigned complete sequences to work on.
I contributed original music to four episodes of the series: Episodes 7–8 (“Metropolis”) and 9–10 (“The Rise of a Superpower”).
This was an incredibly exciting opportunity early in my career — scoring directly to picture for some of the most cinematic and emotionally charged scenes I’d encountered. My music underscored key sequences such as:
- The construction of the Statue of Liberty
- The bombing of Pearl Harbor
- The testing of the first atomic bomb
These moments called for dramatic intensity and emotional depth, and the challenge of supporting such powerful visuals was a formative and exhilarating experience. Some scenes felt closer to blockbuster cinema than conventional documentary, so it was truly
About the Series
- 12 episodes covering pivotal moments across four centuries of U.S. history
- Narrated by Liev Schreiber (U.S.) and Danny Webb (international)
- Produced by Nutopia for the History Channel
- First aired: 2010 to record-breaking audiences
- Featured contributors: Meryl Streep, Barack Obama, Micheal Douglas, Colin Powell, Tom Brokaw, Buzz Aldrin, Donald Trump
More Info…
- Broadcaster
- History
- Role
- Composer