This 10 part HBO television mini series focuses on Easy Company a group of American soldiers in World War II tracking their experiences from the beginning of boot camp to the end of the war. Anchored by actors Damian Lewis and Ron Livingston the series gives detailed attention to their experiences as a group as well as the way that each of them develops individually. Based on historian Stephen E. Ambrose39s book of real life accounts Band of Brothers was executive produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks who worked together on Saving Private Ryan. Hanks also directed one episode featuring his son Colin Hanks.