American Mosaic

About the Film

Narrated by Martin Sheen, American Mosaic propels audiences on a musical-visual journey across the 50 states, on the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding. The project is a collaboration between “photo-historian” Joe Sohm and Grammy-nominated composer Peter Boyer—two artists renowned for their bodies of work celebrating America.

Originally produced as a concert work for live narrator and orchestra with projected video, American Mosaic was commissioned by a remarkable consortium of seven orchestras: the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington, D.C., and the orchestras of Cincinnati, Des Moines, Detroit, Nashville, Pacific, and Williamsburg. In live performances across the country, from the Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap, and Cincinnati Music Hall, to The Henry Ford, the Iowa State Capitol, and Segerstrom Concert Hall, the work has been experienced by tens of thousands of people, earning standing ovations from coast to coast.

The award-winning Americana imagery of Joe Sohm has been published more than one million times in major media worldwide, and American Mosaic is the culmination of one man’s extraordinary 40-year journey to capture the breadth and spirit of the United States in powerful images. Encompassing every state, Sohm’s stunning photos and 4K video celebrate America’s cities, towns, farmlands, national parks, monuments, and the people who are the heart and soul of the nation. Peter Boyer’s music is known for its ability to uplift and inspire, and his Ellis Island: The Dream of America is one of the most-performed 21st-century American concert works, televised nationally on PBS’ Great Performances.

Building on the national success of their collaborative work for the concert hall, Sohm and Boyer have taken the next step in their shared creative journey, with the adaptation and expansion of American Mosaic into a 42-minute film. Beloved actor Martin Sheen (The West Wing, Apocalypse Now, Wall Street) recorded the narration, which is woven around timeless quotes from throughout American history.

The score was recorded by The Hollywood Cinematic Orchestra, conducted by the composer, on the Barbra Streisand Scoring Stage at Sony Pictures Studios. Formerly the MGM Scoring Stage, this acoustically renowned space is rich in musical history; classic film scores recorded there range from The Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind, and Ben-Hur, to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Jurassic Park. Boyer’s American Mosaic score was recorded and mixed by Oscar-winning Shawn Murphy, longtime engineer for John Williams.

The short film version of American Mosaic will premiere at the Ojai Film Festival in early November 2026, followed by screenings at other film festivals to be announced. Powerful in its breadth, non-political in its viewpoint, uplifting in its spirit, American Mosaic reminds us that even in times of strife and division, America remains a nation worthy of celebration.