C. W. Johnson, Jr.

That Should Be A Movie: The Battle of Poitiers

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Thursday, October 13, 2022

French and German leaders set aside their animosities to defeat Arabian invaders of Europe in one of the most decisive battles in world history.
Now that should be a movie.
It Is called The Battle of Poitiers
It is a War Epic.
In the vein of Red Cliff.
It is like The Northman meets 300: Rise of an Empire.
It follows a battle-hardened illegitimate son who had united his father’s kingdom Charles Martel
And a French self-proclaimed prince Eudes
As they defend Christian Europe from Islamic invaders and raiders who seek to rape, pillage, and conquer the world.
Problems arise when Eudes shelters enemies of Charles and a new Muslim leader with a strong army attacks France.
Together they will put aside their differences to defeat the invaders at the Battle of Poitiers.
The idea came to me when I read historical accounts that called Poitiers one of the most decisive battles in world history.
My unique approach would be a Game of Throne-style conflict that is interrupted by an invasion matching that of the Orc armies in Lord of the Rings.
A set piece would be when Charles Martel lines up his Frankish infantry to form a wall of shields. The Arab horsemen throw spears at the wall, but they cannot break it. Then the Franks begin to advance, slicing at the legs of the Arab riders and the flanks of their horses. One horse collapses and begins thrashing in pain. The ranks briefly break as the Franks shift to walk around the horse. One Frank kills the horse with a blow from his sword. A Moorish horseman sees the break in the line. He calls it out to his fellow horsemen and gallops toward the break. He throws a spear, killing a Frank. The line wavers as the man falls. Several horsemen are now charging the gap. Then the Franks, their discipline showing, close ranks. The charging horsemen meet an unbreakable wall of shields and are slain by the sword wielding infantry behind it.
Audiences would want to see the film due to the epic struggle of good vs. evil, the excitement of medieval fighting, the intrigue and suspense of Middle Ages politics, and the world changing event that is the battle of Poitiers.
Target audiences would be men, teens through forty, fans of Game of Thrones, El Cid, Vikings, The Last Kingdom, The Witcher, and Lord of the Rings, players of the games Rise of Kingdoms and Ages of Empires Middle Ages enthusiasts, history buffs and military historians.

Hurricane Katrina Louisiana

That Should Be A Movie: Last Bus Out

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Thursday, August 25, 2022

It is called Last Bus Out
It is a Rescue Drama.
In the vein of The Blindside.
It is like Hotel Rwanda meets The Pursuit of Happyiness.
It follows determined basketball player Courtney Miles
And streetwise drug dealer Jabbar Gibson
As they seek to help their friends and family escape the New Orleans area after Hurricane Katrina.
Problems arise when police block the highways.
Together they will trust in God and refuse to be stopped as they rescue over 300 people.
The idea came to me when I read Last Bus Out by Beck McDowell and thought it would make a great movie portraying the victims of Hurricane Katrina positively .
My unique approach would be showing the people of the New Orleans as their own saviors instead of helpless victims just standing around as portrayed by the media.
A set piece would be when Courtney is driving down an empty stretch of Highway 90, heading northwest away from New Orleans. Suddenly a Crown Vic, the car of a police officer, appears. Courtney slows down. He has no driver’s license, so if the police pull him over, he will be charged with a crime. There will go his clean record, along with his academic and sports future. The police officer looks up, does a double take, glances over his shoulder at the empty highway. Then he looks up at the jampacked bus and scans the faces of the passengers looking out of the windows at him. Then he makes eye contact with Courtney. He smiles, nods his head, and lets the bus continue.
Target audiences would be teenagers, educators, basketball fans, faith-based audiences and the people of the Gulf Coast region.
People would want to see the movie due to its universal themes of faith, determination, community, personal responsibility and making the right choice.

Hurricane Katrina Louisiana

That Should Be A Movie: No Ordinary Heroes

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Wednesday, August 17, 2022

Eight doctors and thirty nurses seek to serve and survive seven thousand prisoners when riots break out in a prison that the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina has trapped them.
Now That Should Be A Movie
It is called No Ordinary Heroes.
It is a disaster drama
In the vein of The Perfect Storm.
It’s like Shawshank Redemption meets Downfall.
It follows Air Force veteran and Medical Director of the New Orleans Jail Dr. Demaree Inglese
And a stickler for rules but dog loving deputy named Mike Higgins.
As they provide medical care and security at the New Orleans Community Correctional Center.
Problems arise when the power goes out and the prisoners begin rioting.
Together they will remain calm and professional as they carry out their duties until evacuated.
The idea came to me when I was doing research for a possible action film set in post-Katrina New Orleans and gave Dr. Inglese’s book read.
My unique approach would be the tense setting of being trapped between lawless, flooded streets and the cinderblock walls of a prison filled with hungry, rioting inmates.
A set piece would be when cells on the lower floor begin flooding. Inmates begin screaming and stand on the toilets. Because the power is out, the doors have to be opened manually. In their impatience, some inmates kick the doors off their runners. Prison guards have to use crowbars or sledgehammers to open the doors. The water is rising, so the deputies have to dive under the surface to position the crowbars. While the deputies are submerged, the inmates have to work with the guards as they push the door open. The water is up to inmates’ chests when the deputies resurface, and the prisoners swim out of the cells. Together, officers and prisoners make their way to dry ground.
Target audiences would be men and women (20-50), law enforcement, and fans of thrillers, action, suspense and disaster films.
Audiences would want to see the film because of the story of law enforcement, first responders, and medical personnel doing their job in the face of insurmountable obstacles, and for the themes of suspense, thrills, rising tenson, disaster, action, and devotion to duty.

Louisiana Saints

That Should Be A Movie: Patron Saints

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Sunday, August 14, 2022

It is called Patron Saints
It is a Sports Drama
In the vein of The Blindside.
It is basically American Underdog meets Invictus.
It follows a determined football franchise with an abysmal track record called the New Orleans Saints
And their downtrodden storm victimized fans The Who Dats
As they rebuild the team and the Golf Coast area after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
Problems arise when the team loses games and the longsuffering Who Dats began to wonder if the franchise has really improved.
Now they must feed off each other’s determination and faith as they show the world that the Gulf Coast is coming back.
This idea came to me when The Saints won XLIV 44.
My unique approach is the symbiotic relationship of a city and a football franchise as they recover from disaster and build a team of champions.
A set piece would be when the team is playing one of their first games. A dejected fan sits in his FEMA trailer looking at his damaged house that contractors have still not shown up to clean out. The team scores two field goals and a touchdown in the first quarter. The fan sits up. Then the team scores two more touchdowns in the second quarter. The fan stands up and starts pacing back and forth in his trailer. In the third quarter the team scores two field goals. The game is close. The fan leaves the radio blaring as he runs into his house and begins cleaning it out. By the time the team has won, 34-27, the fan has completely cleaned out his house.
Target audience would be football and sports fans, men and women 30-65 years, the faith-based market, and residents of the Gulf Coast region.
People would turn out to watch the film in theaters because of the universal themes of recovery, healing, and overcoming adversity and the indomitability of the human spirit.

Hurricane Katrina Louisiana

That Should Be A Movie: An Airboat on the Streets of New Orleans

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Wednesday, August 3, 2022

A couple in their fifties with a troubled past find redemption on the flooded streets of New Orleans when they rescue forgotten people in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
Now That Should Be A Movie
It’s called An Airboat On The Streets of New Orleans
It’s a rescue drama
In the vein of Dunkirk.
It is like Hard Rain meets Only The Brave.
It follows a criminal with a violent reputation Doug Bienvenu
And his adventurous common-law-wife with kidney failure Drue LeBlanc
As they seek to rescue people trapped in New Orleans by the flood waters of Hurricane Katrina.
Problems arise when police and the National Guard interfere with their rescue operations.
Together they will work on Doug’s attitude toward authority and push through Drue’s pain as they rescue 800 people.
The idea came to me when I found the book at the library and read it in search of Louisiana stories that should be filmed in Louisiana.
My unique approach would be to show an act of humanity that is challenged by both a natural disaster and a bungled response by authorities.
A set piece would be when Doug and Drue return to an island in the flooded city where they have been leaving the refugees they rescued. They are shocked to see that most of the people are still there. Then four police officers arrive. They are checking on rescue teams to keep them safe from sniper fire. Doug insists that the snipers are people just firing into the air to attract attention to their plight. Then he points out that the people on the island have still not been rescued due to bungled response at every government level to the disaster. Many of the people on the island have been there for two days in the heat of the sun while being bitten by fire ants. They’ve had little food and water. They start to take out their frustration on the police officers. Doug realizes the confrontation might turn violent. In a change of his negative attitude toward authority, Doug gets on his boat, maneuvers it between the officers and the people and revs his engine, drowning out the shouting. Then he tells the refugees that he had brought them to dry ground and the only thing he asked of them was to let the officers go in peace. Crisis averted.
Target audiences would be men and women 30-70, outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen, fans of adventure and rescue dramas, and Louisianians.
Audiences would like to see it due to its themes of redemption, challenging authority, romance, sacrifice and an exciting act of humanitarianism.

Uncategorized

That Should Be A Movie: Destiney of the Republic by Candice Millard

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Thursday, July 28, 2022

The train ride to Elberon, New Jersey was peaceful. All the engineers and conductors in the region switched off their engines and waited for the president to pass so that no sound of bell or whistle would disturb him. Along the train tracks thousands of ordinary men and women stood in silent respect. When the train reached Elberon it continued on 3,200 feet of track laid by two thousand people the night before so the president could be taken to the door of where he was staying, Franklyn Cottage. However, the train could not reach the cottage due to its steep hilltop location.
A crowd had been waiting all day for the president’s arrival. As soon as the problem became apparent, two hundred men ran forward. They grabbed ahold of the train cars and silently rolled them up the hill.

Curt Iles Louisiana

That Should Be A Movie: As The Crow Flies by Curt Iles

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Monday, July 11, 2022

A teenage girl fleeing her criminal past finds love and redemption in the Outlaw Strip of western Louisiana.
Now that should be a movie
Short Pitch.
It’s called As The Crow Flies.
It is a western romance.
In the vein of Redeeming Love.
It is like Tom Sawyer meets Anne of Green Gables.
It follows a book loving petty thief Missouri Cotton.
And teenage Redbone country boy Daniel Moore.
As they eke out a living and search for love and redemption in the No Man’s Land of Western Louisiana.
Problems arise when tensions between whites and the Redbone people turn violent and some of Daniel’s relatives think Missouri is not a good fit for him.
Together they will prove that no matter how wretched someone’s past or family background, love and redemption are stronger.
The idea came to I saw that Curt Iles had just published a new book. Having read and written blogposts about his other books and even grown personally from the messages in Iles’ books, I immediately thought “that oughta be a movie.”
My unique approach would be how the messages of the sophisticated novels like Les Misérables that Missouri likes to read share much in common with the unassuming back wood folk of western Louisiana.
A set piece would be at a bonfire on May Day. All the boys and men are jumping over the fire. Missouri has just learned that all the letters that she had written Daniel had been hidden from him by a family member. She has now realized her sadness and anger toward him were misplaced. Before anyone can stop her, she runs and jumps over the fire. “Feet don’t fail me now,” she yells as the flames leap up and singe her dress. As she comes down for a landing on the other side of the fire, she falls right into the arms of Daniel. “Girl, you are some kind of crazy,” he says. All is forgiven.
Target audiences would be men and women, 30 to 80 years old, fans of westerns and period romances, faith-based viewers, and Louisianans.
People would want to see it due to the themes of love, redemption and grace as well as its western and period piece settings.

Uncategorized

That Should Be A Movie: The Yazidis at Sinjar

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Monday, July 4, 2022

An evil not seen since the Nazis is carrying out a medieval genocide in the Middle East until modern technology and American representative democracy comes to the rescue.
Now That Should Be A Movie
Short Pitch
It is called Sinjar.
It is a survival drama.
In the vein of Defiance.
It is like 13 Hours meets Dunkirk.
It follows poor Yazidi widow Alifa Murad living in Iraq
And young professional reporter Dakhil Shammo living in America.
As they try to survive and alert the world of the genocide being carried out against the Yazidi by ISIS.
Problems arise when the Yazidi people are trapped on Mount Sinjar without food and water and the world does not seem to pay any attention to the unfolding crime against humanity.
Together they will survive and work with government agencies until the American military and its allies come to the rescue.
The idea came to me when I was thinking about great moments of humanitarianism in American history and vaguely remembered something about a rescue in northern Iraq in 2014.
My unique approach would be the juxtaposition and cognitive dissonance of representative democracy and comfort and security in America and Europe as modern forms of communication alert people to the medieval holocaust unfolding against the Yazidis in the harsh environment of Mount Sinjar.

World War II

That Should Be A Movie: The Battle for Castle Itter

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Monday, June 20, 2022

A set piece would be when Lee’s Sherman Tank is hit by enemy artillery. In the ensuing explosion, Americans survive by jumping into the ravine surrounding the castle. Inside the castle, A German mother throws herself over her children and is wounded by flying mortar and stones. The older, aristocratic French gentlemen who have been standing around in the courtyard are galvanized in action by the sacrificial actions of the German mother. They grab rifles and machine guns and join the Americans and Germans on the castle walls to fight off the SS.

American Civil War Courtroom Dramas

That Should Be A Movie: Incident At Otterville Station

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Monday, June 13, 2022

Short Pitch
It’s called Incident At Otterville Station.
It’s a Legal Drama.
In the vein of A Few Good Men.
It is like Rules of Engagement meets The Trial of the Chicago 7.
It follows idealist Union soldier Francis Merchant.
And strong slave husband John.
As they attempt to keep a slave owner from selling John’s family during the Civil War.
Problems arise when Union commanders charge Francis Merchant and his fellow soldiers with mutiny for freeing John’s family.
Together they will become the focus of internal political debates in both the Union government and the army command.
The idea came to me when reading the description of John Christgau’s book Otterville Station: A Civil War Story of Slavery and Rescue on Amazon.
My unique approach would be the nuanced experience of Union soldiers juxtaposition with the ambiguous goals of the Union high command and political leaders regarding slavery.
A set piece would be when the Union soldiers who freed the slaves are marched through Jefferson City like common deserters as Lincoln takes the stage in Gettysburg. As they are imprisoned in the basement of an abandoned hotel, Lincoln claims that the United States was conceived in liberty. As the soldiers are put on half rations, Lincoln declares that all men are created equal. As the soldiers convey to each other their feelings of betrayal by their officers, Lincoln declares that a “government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
Target audiences would be history buffs and men and women aged twenty-five through sixty-five.
People would turn out to see the film due to the universal themes of nuanced history, ambiguous political intrigue, and common soldiers fighting the system.