Month: July 2023

That Should Be A Movie: The Philadelphia Campaign of 1777-1778

It’s called The Philadelphia Campaign

In the vein of Braveheart

It is like Rock IV meets The Patriot.

It follows strong tempered but firmly diplomatic General George Washington

And young idealistic French aristocrat Marquis de Lafayette

As they battle to keep the British Army from capturing the American capitol at Philadelphia and the colonial fight for freedom.

Problems arise when the British capture the capitol after the Continental Army cannot hold its own against the better trained royalist forces and must face a brutal winter at Valley Forge.

Together they will face the king’s troops, weather the elements, survive political conspiracies, and train to become a force that go the distance against the British Army on the battlefield.

The idea came to me when studying the iconic moments American of history like Valley Forge and Monmouth Courthouse I realized that the campaign had the inspirational themes of a sports movie, like the Rocky franchise.  

My unique approach to the subject matter would be telling the epic scale of the campaign through the human relationships of the participants with the themes similar to those in sports movies like going the distance, training, determination, and a strong mindset.

A set piece would be when Lafayette gets the word out that officers are trying to get Washington replaced with Horatio Gates. General Gates is considered the hero of Saratoga, having captured an entire British Army. Many of the Continental Soldiers have seen Washington walk among them and view their suffering. They have observed him do his uttermost to alleviate their sufferings. They have watched him shame inactive Congressmen into taking off their own shoes in the snow and giving them to the soldiers. The soldiers come out of their huts and hovels, shivering as they clutch rags to their malnourished bodies. Then they fill the hollers and dells of Valley Forge with “Washington or No Army! Washington or No Army! Washington or No Army!” Washington remains in command.

Target audiences would be teenagers, men and women 20-90, history nerds, gamers, military buffs, veterans, Americans, South Koreans, Eastern Europeans, and fans of action movies and blockbuster summer releases.

Audiences would want to see it for its themes of determination, resilience, motivation, inspiration, survivalism, brotherhood, friendship, the relationships of historical characters, like the father-son relationship of Washington and Lafayette, excitement, epic scale, romance of another era, fighting for freedom, strong women figures and cameos of characters from the hit musical Hamilton.

 FFFRRRREEEEEDDDDDOOOOMMMMM!!!!!

That Should Be A Movie: The Gettysburg Rebels

Short Pitch

It is called Gettysburg Rebels

It’s a War Drama.

In the vein of Gettysburg

It is like Gone With The Wind meets Titanic

It follows adventurous young soldier Wes Culp

And love-struck young woman Jennie Wade

As they choose sides during a colossal national conflict.

Problems arrive when the Confederate army that Wes is in invades his and Jennie’s hometown of Gettysburg.

Together they will make sacrifices for the causes of their own choosing.

The idea came to me when I was studying the Battle of Gettysburg and found out that there was connection between the two human interest stories of Jennie Wade and Wes Culp.

My unique approach is a massive, history changing battle told through the story of common soldiers and civilians on different parts of the field.

A set piece would be when Wes Culp receives a pass from a Confederate staff officer that knows he has family in Gettysburg. He slowly walks down an empty street, no citizens to recognize him and welcome him home since they are hiding from the invading army of which he is a part. He gently knocks on a door, careful not to raise his voice less the neighbors recognize that of a traitor. The door is slowly unlatched and opened. “Why, Wes!” declares his sister Ann. “You have come!” He embraces his sisters, a sister-in-law, and a nephew. It is a family reunion three years in the making but delayed by war.

Target Audiences would be men and women, teenagers, history and military buffs, war movie fans, and readers of historical romances.

Audiences would want to see it for its meta narrative of private individuals against the backdrop of an important historical evet, its themes of courage, bravery, friendship and romance.