C. W. Johnson, Jr.

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That Should Be A Movie: The Battle of Blair Mountain

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Wednesday, September 6, 2023

Short Pitch

It is called The Battle of Blair Mountain

It is a historical drama

In the vein of Peterloo

It is like Newsies meets Hatfields & McCoys

It follows educated but aggressive coal miner Frank Keeney

And deliberative, restrained widower Fred Mooney

As they fight for their fellow miners’ justice, human dignity, and constitutional right to unionize.

Problems arise when a sheriff who is a friend of the miners is murdered, a corrupt sheriff begins locking up miners without due process, and an army of 10,000-armed miners marching on Blair Mountain turns into a disorganized mob, the largest civil insurrection since the Civil War.

Together they will use their power of persuasion and patriotism to diffuse a tense situation.

The idea came to me while watching a documentary on The History Channel about hillbillies when I was visiting the Appalachian foothills.

My unique approach would be several different nuanced perspectives as individuals navigate a brutal world set against the beauty of the West Virginia mountains.

A set piece would be when Keeney and Mooney have convinced the marching miners to turn back just 12 miles from Blair Mountain and meet in a ballpark. Guards at the entrances to the park ask for the password. “I come creeping,” reply the miners. Soon, the field, dugouts and bleachers are full of miners, armed to the teeth, seething with anger, ready to hear what their leaders have to say. Keeney and Mooney stand before them in fancy suits, but their faces and hands are worn and haggard like theirs. “Just over that ridge is Chaifn and Logan County,” says Keeney. He points to the south. Then he points to the northeast. “And coming from that way is the US Army.” There are murmurs in the crowd. “Some of ya’ll fought in France,” says Keeney. “The army you fought with defeated the Hun, a professionally trained army. So, you darn well know you can’t fight it here.” There are a few angry retorts from the field. “ Put it plainly,” says Mooney, motioning for Keeney to step back. “They’ve sent the entire U. S. government and Army to stop us. We are patriotic men who will not fight our government. Go home. There are trains coming, promised to take ya there.” There is silence. Some murmuring. Finally, an old black man stands up from the bleachers. A white beard barely hides a R branded into his cheek. “Boys, he’s right,” he softly says. Men continue to speak, drowning him out. A giant, red bearded hillbilly next to him stands up. “Shut up! Pappy here is talking!” The old man smiles. “You ain’t foolin’ no more. This is your daddy talkin’. It’s your real Uncle Sam.” Slowly men stand, begin dispersing. Keeney and Mooney smile, relieved.

Target audiences would be men and women 30-90, history buffs, bluegrass, folk, country and western music fans, citizens of Appalachia, coal miners and their communities and blue-collar workers and their communities.

Audiences would want to see it for its universal themes of standing in the face of adversity, action, adventure, community, fighting for human dignity, liberties, and constitutional rights, the bluegrass soundtrack, honoring the working men and women of America and the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains.

That Should Be A Movie: The Brees Way By Mike Nabors

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Sunday, August 20, 2023

Short Pitch

It’s called The Brees Way

It is a Sports Drama

In the vein of American Underdog

It is like Invictus meets We Are Marshell

It follows short free agent quarterback Drew Brees

And practice squad member Lance Moore

As they build the cohesion and chemistry a team needs to have to win the Super Bowl.

Problems arise as Drew’s shoulder injury slowly heals, his elbow is dislocated, and he gets up set when he loses competitions.

Now together the team will learn to respect Drew’s competitive nature rubs off on the other players and drivers them to be the best Saints on and off the field.

The idea came to me when reading Bree’s Coming Back Stronger and I wanted to do more research on his career for a movie about Super Bowl XLIV.

My unique approach would be a football player challenging himself to excel at excellence not to win career accolades but uplift a devastated city and region whose hopes and dreams were riding on his shoulders.

A set piece would be when Lance Moore has just received word that he has been loaned out to play for a football team in Germany for the 2006 season. He is sitting in the neglected corner of the locker room meant for the practice squad. Suddenly Drew Brees, the star quarterback is tapping him on his shoulder “Hi, I’m Drew Brees, nice to meet you. Let me know if you need anything?” “Thank you,” replies Lance. “I’m Lance Moore.” “Lance Romance,” ask Drew, probing. “Yeah,” replies Lance. “You can call me back.”

The target audiences would be football fans, sports fans, athletes, fans of the great outdoors, men and women 20-80, Germans (because Lance played for the Berlin Thunders), Louisianas, the people of the Gulf Coast and the Who Dat Nation.

Audiences would want to see it for its themes of hope, resilience, determination, personal sacrifice and responsibility for a higher goal, community and overcoming devastation and adversity.

Who Dat!

American Civil War

That Should Be A Movie: Carrying the Flag by Gordon C. Rhea

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Wednesday, August 2, 2023

Short Pitch

It is called Carrying The Flag

It is a War Drama.

In the vein of Fury.

It is like Glory meets All Quiet on The Western Front.

It follows epileptic washout Private Charles Whilden

And young veteran officer James Armstrong

As they fight to survive the hellish combat of the Overland Campaign

Problems arise when their regiment is almost annihilated and they retreat, disgracing themselves in front of General Robert E. Lee

Now together Charles’ dedication to his duty and James’ respect for him will help them achieve victory and save the army.

The idea came to me when reading Carrying the Flag by Gordon C. Rhea, which is a more exciting read with more intimate details than some novels.

My unique approach would be a focus on a few soldiers, their intimate army life, horrific combat experience, and the effects of their actions upon the overall campaign.

A set piece would be when Charles and James are pinned down in bloody mud by heavy firepower from Union troops positioned atop high ground known as The Bloody Angle. Confederate officers who rise to lead charges are immediately cut down. They can’t retreat across the bullet swept open ground behind them. Charles reaches for the regiment’s battle flag. No words are spoken as James hands it to him. Charles climbs up the barricades, slippery from the pouring rain. Then he begins charging the Angle. Soldiers rise up from the trenches, gather around him and rush the high ground. Charles becomes a target for Union minie balls. He’s hit in the shoulder but continues. He shakes from epilepsy but holds the pole steady. Then he sees that the flag is coming loose from the pole. If it falls and floats away, the charge will falter. He grabs the flag from the pole, wraps it around his body, and, as a human flagpole, rushes on toward the Angle. He and his comrades reach the high ground. Hand to hand combat breaks out as men wrestle in the mud. Finally, the Yankees retreat and the high ground is in the Confederate hands thanks to Charles’s bravery.

Target audiences would be men (18-80), military service members and veterans, war movie fans, history buffs, Southerners, Civil War reenactors, and gamers.

Audiences would like to see it due to its unique battlefield scenarios of the Wilderness and The Bloody Angle at Spotsylvania Court House, themes of courage, bravery, devotion to duty, brotherhood, and redemption, and the human interest story of a washout overcoming his past and epileptic handicap to just once do something significant in his life.

American Revolution

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

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Tuesday, July 4, 2023

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!!!!!

American Civil War

That Should Be A Movie: The Gettysburg Rebels

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Monday, July 3, 2023

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.

Christmas

That Should Be A Movie: An Invisible Thread

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Friday, December 16, 2022

A set piece would be when Laura takes Maurice to visit her sister Annette’s family in the suburbs on Christmas Eve. Her niece comes home crying from a friend’s house. When she had mentioned Santa Claus, her friends had laughed at her, saying Santa Clause was not real. She asked her brother and sister if that was true, and they said yes. She began wailing. Later that evening she was dressed in wings and a halo to play an angel in the church pageant, but was still inconsolable, making the family run later. Maurice watches her throw a tantrum expecting that at any moment she would be shouted at or hit by someone. He thought, “She better quiet down before she gets a whipping.” He sees her father, Bruce, approach and just knows she’s going to have a whipping. Instead, Bruce sits next to her, picks her up, puts his arms around her and strokes her hair. Instead of punishing her, he was loving her. Maurice could not believe what he had just seen. He vows to be a father like that someday.

Korean War

Movie Review: Devotion

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Wednesday, December 14, 2022

Go see Devotion in theaters! You will consider it time well spent and will not regret the $7-$15 price of a ticket. I do not usually do movie reviews, but since I have written a blogpost about Adam Makos’ book, I have decided to give my thoughts on J. D. Dillard’s adaption. Who knows, I …

Korean War

That Should Be A Movie: A Christmas Far From Home by Stanley Weintraub

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Saturday, December 10, 2022

A set piece would be when the 5th and 7th Marines, including 600 wounded walking with the help of ice-glazed tree limbs, march into Hagaru. They had fought their way there over fourteen miles for four days and three sleepless nights. Their comrades gather on the surrounding hills to greet the arrival of their comrades who were covered with ice and stubble. At 600 yards from the perimeter, the column stops. The wounded and frost bitten who could walk, crawled out of their trucks and fell in line with their comrades, their boots stomping the snow in perfect cadence. In the snow. As the column enters the perimeter, some grunts join them, marching along side the column “From the Halls of Montezuma…”They began singing “…To the shores of Tripoli…” It is the Marines Hymn. “…We will fight our nation’s battles…” Rugged veterans were brought to tears. “Look at those bastards,” they say. “Those magnificent bastards.”

Korean War

That Should Be A Movie: Single Handed: The Story of Tibor Rubin

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Wednesday, November 16, 2022

It is called Single Handed
It is a Prison Camp Drama
In the vein of Unbroken.
It is like Son of Saul meets Hacksaw Ridge.
It follows courageous Holocaust survivor Tibor Rubin
And compassionate World War II veteran Randall Briere
As they fight North Korean and Chinese Communists and American antisemites.
Problems arise when Tibor and Randall are captured by the communists and Tibor is denied his medals by a bigoted officer.
Now together Tibor’s death camp experience and Randall’s determination will help them survive a POW camp and get Tibor his Medal of Honor.
My unique approach would be a movie in five acts. Tibor the Holocaust Survivor. Tibor the Immigrant. Tibor the Soldier. Tibor the Prisoner of War. Tibor the American Hero.
A set piece would be when North Korean guards call the American prisoners out of their huts and line them up, execution style. Some prisoners cry out for mercy. Others wet themselves. Some fall on their hands and knees. Tibor pulls them back up. He tells the group to pray and begins chanting in Hebrew. His fellow POWs join him. The guards raise their weapons to firing position. Then the Chinese officers show up and stop the North Koreans just in time.
Target audiences would be men and women (20 to 80), Jewish people, South Koreans, Hungarians, history buffs, military veterans, and teachers.
Audiences would want to watch Tibor’s story due to the themes of bravery, determination, excitement of battle, suspense of surviving in a POW camp, courage in the face of adversity and antisemitism, and the human-interest story of the only Holocaust survivor to receive the Medal of Honor.

South America. Strong Women

That Should Be A Movie: The Journey of Isabela Godin

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Tuesday, November 1, 2022

It’s called The Journey of Isabela Godin.
It is a romantic drama.
In the vein of Adrift.
It is like The Revenant meets Wings of Hope.
It follows an upper-class gentlewoman with an iron will Isabela Godin
And an awkward French scientist Jean Godin
As they struggle to make their way from colonial South American to Europe.
Problems arise when diplomatic issues strand Jean on the east coast of South America and he is unable to reach Isabela on the west coast. For twenty years. Then Isabela becomes lost in the jungle.
Together their love, faithfulness, and devotion to each over will overcome the distance and the greatest life-and-death situations.
The idea came to me when I read The Mapmaker’s Wife by Robert Whitaker from beginning to end during one shift when I was a nightguard.
My unique approach would be the fish-out-of-water experiences of French Jean Godin in Spanish Peru and of upper-class Isabela in the Amazonian wilderness.
A set piece is when Isabela is lying on the jungle floor, surrounded by the bodies of family members. Starvation and dehydration have taken a toll on her body. She is being assailed by insects. Then she sees a figure. It is a hallucination of her husband. Then she hears his voice. “Get up,” Jean tells her. She struggles to stand up from the jungle floor. Then she cuts the shoes off the feet of her dead brothers and makes a pair of sandals for herself. Then she throws a scarf over her body and, with machete in hand, plunges into the jungle.
Target audiences would be men and women (20 to 80), Latin Americans, students of history, nature lovers, and environmentalists with a concern for the Amazon basin.
People would want to see the movie due to the themes of romantic love, faithfulness, devotion, adventure, endurance, inspiration, and the epic, exotic settings of the Andes mountains and the Amazon rainforest.