5 March, 2023 Siobhan Marie Day 0 Comments 1 category

Waco is a television miniseries, based on A Place Called Waco: A Survivors Story by David Thibodeau & Leon Whiteson, and Stalling for Time: My Life as an FBI Hostage Negotiator by Gary Noesner, it was developed by John Erick Dowdle and Drew Dowdle, and it premiered on January 24, 2018 and ran as a six part event airing on Paramount Network that ended on February 28, 2018. The six-episode series dramatizes the the 51-day 1993 standoff between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and David Koresh‘s religious faction, the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas that culminated in a fatal fire. The miniseries investigates the tragedy before and during the standoff, from a variety of viewpoints of those most personally associated with the two sides of the dispute.

Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller, Based on "A Place Called Waco" by David Thibodeau & Leon Whiteson, and "Stalling for Time: My Life as an FBI Hostage Negotiator" by Gary Noesner, Developed by John Erick Dowdle, and Drew Dowdle, Written by John Erick Dowdle, Drew Dowdle, Salvatore Stabile, and Sarah Nicole Jones, Directed by John Erick Dowdle, and Dennie Gordon, Starring: Michael Shannon, Taylor Kitsch, Andrea Riseborough, Paul Sparks, Rory Culkin, Shea Whigham, Melissa Benoist, John Leguizamo, Julia Garner, Glenn Fleshler, with Composers: Jeff Russo, and Jordan Gagne, Country of origin: United States, Original language: English, No. of episodes: 6, Executive producers: Harvey Weinstein (uncredited), David C. Glasser, Michael Shannon, Taylor Kitsch, Megan Spanjian, Salvatore Stabile, John Erick Dowdle, Drew Dowdle, and Ted Gold, Producer: Kelly A. Manners, with Cinematography by Todd McMullen, and Editors: Elliot Greenberg, and Christopher Nelson, Running time: 47–52 minutes, Production companies: The Weinstein Company (uncredited), Brothers Dowdle Productions, Original network: Paramount Network. (2018)
One of nine survivors of the attack on the Branch Davidian compound in 1993 describes how he came to join the religious community and offers an eyewitness account of the tragedy. Publisher ‏ : ‎ PublicAffairs; 1st edition (September 9, 1999) Language ‏ : ‎ English Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 384 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1891620428 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1891620423 Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1160L Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.52 pounds Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1.25 x 9.75 inches Best Sellers Rank: #1,669,637 in Books Photo Credit: Amazon.com
David Thibodeau, author of "Waco: A Survivor's Story, attends the world premiere of "WACO" presented by Paramount Network at Jazz at Lincoln Center on January 22, 2018 in New York City. Photo Credit: Noam Galai/Getty Images for Paramount Network
Leon Whiteson is not just renowned as an architecture critic and columnist whose essays and articles have appeared in Architectural Digest, the Los Angeles Times, Toronto Star, etc., but he is also a very accomplished novelist. As a novelist, Whiteson explores the edgy sides of experience in a bold and accessible manner. Photo Credit: Los Angeles Times
The FBI’s chief hostage negotiator recounts harrowing standoffs, including the Waco siege with David Koresh and the Branch Davidians, in a memoir that inspired the miniseries Waco, now on Netflix. In Stalling for Time, the FBI’s chief hostage negotiator takes readers on a harrowing tour through many of the most famous hostage crises in the history of the modern FBI, including the siege at Waco, the Montana Freemen standoff, and the D.C. sniper attacks. Having helped develop the FBI’s nonviolent communication techniques for achieving peaceful outcomes in tense situations, Gary Noesner offers a candid, fascinating look back at his years as an innovator in the ranks of the Bureau and a pioneer on the front lines. Whether vividly recounting showdowns with the radical Republic of Texas militia or clashes with colleagues and superiors that expose the internal politics of America’s premier law enforcement agency, Stalling for Time crackles with insight and breathtaking suspense. Case by case, minute by minute, it’s a behind-the-scenes view of a visionary crime fighter in action. Publisher ‏ : ‎ Random House; American First edition (September 21, 2010) Language ‏ : ‎ English Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 240 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1400067251 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1400067251 Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.5 ounces Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.45 x 0.85 x 9.53 inches Best Sellers Rank: #483,977 in Books Photo Credit: Amazon.com
Gary Noesner attends "Waco" world premiere screening at The Paley Center for Media on January 24, 2018 in New York City. Photo Credit: Chance Yeh/Getty Images
Co-creators, executive producers and writers Drew Dowdle (L) and John Erick Dowdle arrive at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences' screening of "WACO" at the Sherry Lansing Theatre at Paramount Studios on May 9, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. Photo Credit: Amanda Edwards/WireImage
Branding logo of Paramount Network.
Federal Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms agents approach the front door of the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas, in this Feb. 28, 1993, file photo, in an attempt to serve a search warrant. Four agents and five Davidians were killed in the shootout that marks its 10-year anniversary this month. The Branch Davidian compound near Waco was the scene of a tense standoff on Feb. 28, 1993, as federal agents approached the front door to serve a search warrant. Photo Credit: AP Photo/Waco Tribune Herald, Rod Aydelotte
A seal reading "Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation" is displayed on the J. Edgar Hoover FBI building in Washington, DC, o August 9, 2022. Photo Credit: Stefani Reynolds / AFP
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives building logo. Photo Credit: Google Images
David Koresh, born Vernon Wayne Howell (August 17, 1959 – April 19, 1993) was an American cult leader who played a central role in the Waco siege of 1993. As the head of the Branch Davidians, a religious sect and offshoot of the Seventh-day Adventists, Koresh claimed to be its final prophet. His apocalyptic Biblical teachings, including interpretations of the Book of Revelation and the Seven Seals, attracted various followers. Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons
The Branch Davidians (or the General Association of Branch Davidian Seventh-day Adventists) are an apocalyptic cult founded in 1955 by Benjamin Roden. They regard themselves as a continuation of the General Association of Davidian Seventh-Day Adventists, established by Victor Houteff in 1935. Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons
On February 28, 1993, at 4:20 am, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms attempted to execute a search warrant relating to alleged sexual abuse charges and illegal weapons violations. The ATF attempted to breach the compound for approximately two hours until their ammunition ran low. Four ATF agents (Steve Willis, Robert Williams, Todd McKeehan, and Conway Charles LeBleu) were killed and another 16 agents were wounded during the raid. The five Branch Davidians killed in the 9:45 am raid were Winston Blake (British), Peter Gent (Australian), Peter Hipsman, Perry Jones, and Jaydean Wendell; two were killed by the Branch Davidians. Almost six hours after the ceasefire, Michael Schroeder was shot dead by ATF agents who alleged he fired a pistol at agents as he attempted to re-enter the compound with Woodrow Kendrick and Norman Allison. His wife said he was merely returning from work and had not participated in the day's earlier altercation. Photo Credit: ABC News
Smoking fire consumes the Branch Davidian Compound during the FBI assault to end the 51-day standoff with cult leader David Koresh and his followers. Photo Credit: Greg Smith/Corbis via Getty Images

The miniseries stars  Michael Shannon, Taylor Kitsch, Andrea Riseborough, Paul Sparks, Rory Culkin, Shea Whigham, Melissa Benoist, John Leguizamo, Julia Garner, and Glenn Fleshler. Waco received a mixed response from critics who praised the performances and tension, but criticized the show’s sympathetic approach to Branch Davidian leader David Koresh. A sequel titled Waco: The Aftermath is premiering on April 16, 2023, on Showtime.

Michael Shannon as Gary Noesner in "Waco" (2018) Photo Credit: Paramount Network
Andrea Riseborough as Judy Schneider in "Waco" (2018) Photo Credit: Paramount Network
Taylor Kitsch as David Koresh in "Waco" (2018) Photo Credit: Paramount Network
Paul Sparks as Steve Schneider in "Waco" (2018) Photo Credit: Paramount Network
Rory Culkin as David Thibodeau in "Waco" (2018) Photo Credit: Paramount Network
Shea Whigham as Mitch Decker in "Waco" (2018) Photo Credit: Paramount Network
Melissa Benoist as Rachel Koresh in "Waco" (2018) Photo Credit: Paramount Network
John Leguizamo as Jacob Vazquez in "Waco" (2018) Photo Credit: Paramount Network
Julia Garner as Michele Jones in "Waco" (2018) Photo Credit: Paramount Network
Glenn Fleshler as Tony Prince in "Waco" (2018) Photo Credit: Paramount Network
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller, Based on "A Place Called Waco" by David Thibodeau & Leon Whiteson, and "Stalling for Time: My Life as an FBI Hostage Negotiator" by Gary Noesner, Developed by John Erick Dowdle, and Drew Dowdle, Written by John Erick Dowdle, Drew Dowdle, Salvatore Stabile, and Sarah Nicole Jones, Directed by John Erick Dowdle, and Dennie Gordon, Starring: Michael Shannon, Taylor Kitsch, Andrea Riseborough, Paul Sparks, Rory Culkin, Shea Whigham, Melissa Benoist, John Leguizamo, Julia Garner, Glenn Fleshler, with Composers: Jeff Russo, and Jordan Gagne, Country of origin: United States, Original language: English, No. of episodes: 6, Executive producers: Harvey Weinstein (uncredited), David C. Glasser, Michael Shannon, Taylor Kitsch, Megan Spanjian, Salvatore Stabile, John Erick Dowdle, Drew Dowdle, and Ted Gold, Producer: Kelly A. Manners, with Cinematography by Todd McMullen, and Editors: Elliot Greenberg, and Christopher Nelson, Running time: 47–52 minutes, Production companies: The Weinstein Company (uncredited), Brothers Dowdle Productions, Original network: Paramount Network. (2018)
David Koresh, born Vernon Wayne Howell (August 17, 1959 – April 19, 1993) was an American cult leader who played a central role in the Waco siege of 1993. As the head of the Branch Davidians, a religious sect and offshoot of the Seventh-day Adventists, Koresh claimed to be its final prophet. His apocalyptic Biblical teachings, including interpretations of the Book of Revelation and the Seven Seals, attracted various followers. Photo Credit: Google Images
Showtime Logo
Genre: Crime drama, Legal drama, Based on "A Place Called Waco: A Survivor's Story" by David Thibodeau & Leon Whiteson, Developed by John Erick Dowdle, and Drew Dowdle, Starring: Michael Shannon, Giovanni Ribisi, Keean Johnson, Abbey Lee, Alex Breaux, John Hoogenakker, Kali Rocha, Michael Luwoye, Michael Cassidy, Sasheer Zamata, David Costabile, with Music by The Newton Brothers, Country of origin: United States, Original language: English, No. of episodes: 5, Executive producers: Drew Dowdle, John Erick Dowdle, Michael Shannon, Taylor Kitsch, Andrew Gettens, Lauren Mackenzie, David C. Glasser, David Hutkin, Bob Yari, Ron Burkle, Gary Barber, Production location: Albuquerque, New Mexico, Running time: 40–51 minutes, Production companies: Brothers Dowdle Productions, 101 Studios, MTV Entertainment Studios, Spyglass Media Group, Original network: Showtime (2023)

The events of the siege and attack, particularly the origin of the fire, are disputed by various sources. Department of Justice reports from October 1993 and July 2000 conclude that although incendiary tear gas canisters were used by the FBI, it was the Branch Davidians who started the fire, this was considered proven by evidence from audio surveillance recordings of very specific discussions between Koresh and others about pouring more fuel on piles of hay as the fires started, and from aerial footage showing at least three simultaneous ignition points at different locations in the building complex. The FBI contends that none of their agents fired any live rounds on the day of the fire. Critics contend that live rounds were indeed fired by law enforcement, and suggest that a combination of gunshots and flammable tear gas was the true cause of the fire.

Smoking fire consumes the Branch Davidian Compound during the FBI assault to end the 51-day standoff with cult leader David Koresh and his followers. Photo Credit: Greg Smith/Corbis via Getty Images
Department of Justice inscription is seen on at the headquarter's building in Washington, D.C., United States on October 20, 2022. Photo Credit: Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images
On February 28, 1993, at 4:20 am, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms attempted to execute a search warrant relating to alleged sexual abuse charges and illegal weapons violations. The ATF attempted to breach the compound for approximately two hours until their ammunition ran low. Four ATF agents (Steve Willis, Robert Williams, Todd McKeehan, and Conway Charles LeBleu) were killed and another 16 agents were wounded during the raid. The five Branch Davidians killed in the 9:45 am raid were Winston Blake (British), Peter Gent (Australian), Peter Hipsman, Perry Jones, and Jaydean Wendell; two were killed by the Branch Davidians. Almost six hours after the ceasefire, Michael Schroeder was shot dead by ATF agents who alleged he fired a pistol at agents as he attempted to re-enter the compound with Woodrow Kendrick and Norman Allison. His wife said he was merely returning from work and had not participated in the day's earlier altercation. Photo Credit: ABC News
On February 28, 1993, at 4:20 am, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms attempted to execute a search warrant relating to alleged sexual abuse charges and illegal weapons violations. The ATF attempted to breach the compound for approximately two hours until their ammunition ran low. Four ATF agents (Steve Willis, Robert Williams, Todd McKeehan, and Conway Charles LeBleu) were killed and another 16 agents were wounded during the raid. The five Branch Davidians killed in the 9:45 am raid were Winston Blake (British), Peter Gent (Australian), Peter Hipsman, Perry Jones, and Jaydean Wendell; two were killed by the Branch Davidians. Almost six hours after the ceasefire, Michael Schroeder was shot dead by ATF agents who alleged he fired a pistol at agents as he attempted to re-enter the compound with Woodrow Kendrick and Norman Allison. His wife said he was merely returning from work and had not participated in the day's earlier altercation. Photo Credit: ABC News
On February 28, 1993, at 4:20 am, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms attempted to execute a search warrant relating to alleged sexual abuse charges and illegal weapons violations. The ATF attempted to breach the compound for approximately two hours until their ammunition ran low. Four ATF agents (Steve Willis, Robert Williams, Todd McKeehan, and Conway Charles LeBleu) were killed and another 16 agents were wounded during the raid. The five Branch Davidians killed in the 9:45 am raid were Winston Blake (British), Peter Gent (Australian), Peter Hipsman, Perry Jones, and Jaydean Wendell; two were killed by the Branch Davidians. Almost six hours after the ceasefire, Michael Schroeder was shot dead by ATF agents who alleged he fired a pistol at agents as he attempted to re-enter the compound with Woodrow Kendrick and Norman Allison. His wife said he was merely returning from work and had not participated in the day's earlier altercation. Photo Credit: ABC News
On February 28, 1993, at 4:20 am, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms attempted to execute a search warrant relating to alleged sexual abuse charges and illegal weapons violations. The ATF attempted to breach the compound for approximately two hours until their ammunition ran low. Four ATF agents (Steve Willis, Robert Williams, Todd McKeehan, and Conway Charles LeBleu) were killed and another 16 agents were wounded during the raid. The five Branch Davidians killed in the 9:45 am raid were Winston Blake (British), Peter Gent (Australian), Peter Hipsman, Perry Jones, and Jaydean Wendell; two were killed by the Branch Davidians. Almost six hours after the ceasefire, Michael Schroeder was shot dead by ATF agents who alleged he fired a pistol at agents as he attempted to re-enter the compound with Woodrow Kendrick and Norman Allison. His wife said he was merely returning from work and had not participated in the day's earlier altercation. Photo Credit: ABC News

The Waco siege was cited by Timothy McVeigh as the main reason for his and Terry Nichols‘s plan to execute the Oklahoma City bombing exactly two years later, on April 19, 1995, as well as the modern-day American militia movement and a rise in opposition to firearm regulation.

The chief conspirators, Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, met in 1988 at Fort Benning during basic training for the U.S. Army. McVeigh met Michael Fortier as his Army roommate. The three shared interests in survivalism. McVeigh and Nichols were radicalized by white supremacist and antigovernment propaganda. They expressed anger at the federal government's handling of the 1992 Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) standoff with Randy Weaver at Ruby Ridge, as well as the Waco siege, a 51-day standoff in 1993 between the FBI and Branch Davidian members that began with a botched Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) attempt to execute a search warrant. There was a firefight and ultimately a siege of the compound, resulting in the burning and shooting deaths of David Koresh and 75 others. In March 1993, McVeigh visited the Waco site during the standoff, and again after the siege ended. He later decided to bomb a federal building as a response to the raids and to protest what he believed to be US government efforts to restrict rights of private citizens, in particular those under the Second Amendment. McVeigh believed that federal agents were acting like soldiers, thus making an attack on a federal building an attack on their command centers. Photo Credit: Google Images
The Oklahoma City bombing was a domestic terrorist truck bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, on April 19, 1995, the second anniversary of the fiery end to the Waco siege. It was the deadliest act of terrorism in U.S. history until the September 11 attacks in 2001, and remains the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history, and the second-deadliest overall. Perpetrated by two anti-government extremists and white supremacists, Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, the bombing occurred at 9:02 a.m. and killed 168 people, injured 680, and destroyed more than one-third of the building, which had to be demolished. The blast destroyed or damaged 324 other buildings within a 16-block radius, shattered glass in 258 buildings, and destroyed 86 cars,[1][2] causing an estimated $652 million worth of damage.[3] Local, state, federal, and worldwide agencies engaged in extensive rescue efforts in the wake of the bombing. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) activated 11 of its Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces, consisting of 665 rescue workers who assisted in rescue and recovery operations. Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons
The American militia movement is a term used by law enforcement and security analysts to refer to a number of private organizations that include paramilitary or similar elements. These groups may refer to themselves as militia, unorganized militia, and constitutional militia. While groups such as the Posse Comitatus existed as early as the 1980s, the movement gained momentum after standoffs with government agents in the early 1990s. By the mid-1990s, such groups were active in all 50 US states, with membership estimated at between 20,000 and 60,000. The movement is most closely associated with the American right-wing, though other groups may range from the far right to the far left of the political spectrum. Photo Credit: Google Images

Waco is the Featured Television Blog of the Month for March and with that comes a Critique that will look that the 1993 standoff, David Koresh and the Branch Davidians. You can also expect a Recommendation for the two books that the miniseries is based on by Waco survivor David Thibodeau & novelist Leon Whiteson, and the other book by FBI negotiator from that standoff, Gary Noesner. There will also be a Review of the 2018 Paramount Network miniseries, along with the cast of Waco, and an episode critique of all six episodes. As usual there is also an Interview included in the Featured Television Blog section so you will find a promotional interview from the Paramount Network with Taylor Kitsch, Rory Culkin, Paul Sparks, Melissa Benoist, and Julia Garner where they describe their complicated roles as members of a religious cult. There is also a Top Ten List included with every Featured Television Blog and to commemorate the miniseries Waco you will find in the Featured Television Blog section My Top Ten FBI Series. And as always there is an Official Trailer for the Featured Blog section choice film or Television series!

So finally I give you the Paramount Network miniseries, Waco…

Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller, Based on "A Place Called Waco" by David Thibodeau & Leon Whiteson, and "Stalling for Time: My Life as an FBI Hostage Negotiator" by Gary Noesner, Developed by John Erick Dowdle, and Drew Dowdle, Written by John Erick Dowdle, Drew Dowdle, Salvatore Stabile, and Sarah Nicole Jones, Directed by John Erick Dowdle, and Dennie Gordon, Starring: Michael Shannon, Taylor Kitsch, Andrea Riseborough, Paul Sparks, Rory Culkin, Shea Whigham, Melissa Benoist, John Leguizamo, Julia Garner, Glenn Fleshler, with Composers: Jeff Russo, and Jordan Gagne, Country of origin: United States, Original language: English, No. of episodes: 6, Executive producers: Harvey Weinstein (uncredited), David C. Glasser, Michael Shannon, Taylor Kitsch, Megan Spanjian, Salvatore Stabile, John Erick Dowdle, Drew Dowdle, and Ted Gold, Producer: Kelly A. Manners, with Cinematography by Todd McMullen, and Editors: Elliot Greenberg, and Christopher Nelson, Running time: 47–52 minutes, Production companies: The Weinstein Company (uncredited), Brothers Dowdle Productions, Original network: Paramount Network. (2018)

Waco is available now to stream on Showtime…

https://moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/cropped-d3d0f4de5c874cf7a06b2f50e0bc7820-2-10.png
Connecting Movies To Reel Life…
HOME PAGE
FEATURED TV BLOGS
BLOG POSTS
SUBSCRIBE
CONTACT ME
Tags:
Category: Featured Blog

Related Posts

‘The Troubles’ with Real Time

Connecting History to Reel Life Here is a great video of Bill Maher's Interview with Belfast (2021) Director, Producer and Writer Kenneth Branagh from the seventh episode of the 20th Season of Real Time with…

Read More
Genre: Crime drama, and Western, Created by Taylor Sheridan, Starring: Helen Mirren, Harrison Ford, Brandon Sklenar, Julia Schlaepfer, Jerome Flynn, Darren Mann, Isabel May, Brian Geraghty, Aminah Nieves, Michelle Randolph, Timothy Dalton, Narrated by Isabel May, with Composers: Brian Tyler, and Breton Vivian, Country of origin: United States, Original language: English, No. of seasons: 1, No. of episodes: 8, Executive producers: Taylor Sheridan, John Linson, Art Linson, David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, and Ben Richardson, with Cinematography by Corrin Hodgson, Ben Richardson, and Robert McLachlan, with Editors: Chad Galster, Byron Smith, Christopher Gay, Brooke Rupe, and Todd Desrosiers, Running time: 47–69 minutes, Production companies: 101 Studios, Linson Entertainment, Bosque Ranch Productions, and MTV Entertainment Studios Release, Original network: Paramount+. (2022-)

‘1923’ – Official Trailer:

"A Yellowstone Origin Story..." 1923 is a Western drama American television series that premiered on December 18, 2022, on Paramount+ and aired its season finale on February 26, 2023. The series is a prequel to the Paramount Network series Yellowstone and serves as a…

Read More
The Top Ten List

My Top Ten Fashion Movies –

Welcome to The Top Ten List! To commemorate the Featured TV Blog for the month of September, I have gathered My Top Ten Fashion Movies! If you're looking for the best movies featuring fashion in…

Read More