Curt Iles – That Should Be A Movie

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.

Curt Iles Louisiana

That Should Be A Miniseries: A Good Place By Curt Iles

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Monday, August 23, 2021

Since western Louisiana remained a wild frontier due to American settlement bypassing it as the US borders expanded westward, much like Appalachia, the genera of the miniseries would be western. Although a cattle drive is seen when cowboys drive a herd cross the Calcasieu River on the way to feed the Confederate armies east of the Mississippi, the thrilling excitement of one occurs when the men of the community, known as Ten Milers, perform a log float.

Curt Iles Louisiana Uncategorized

That Should Be A Movie: The Wayfaring Stranger by Curt Iles

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Friday, January 11, 2019

It is called The Wayfaring Stranger.
It is a Western Romance
In the vein of When Calls The Heart.
It is like Hatfields and McCoys meets 1883.
It follows Irish Immigrant searching for peace Joseph Moore
Abd Redbone teenager full of joy Eliza Clark
As they search for peace and freedom in the Outlaw Strip of western Louisiana.
Problems arise when outlaws don’t take kindly to outsider Joseph and timber companies try to drive the Redbone people off their land.
Now together Joe and Eliza will through the love of God and the power of community overcome hardships and sustain a relationship.
The idea came to me when I read The Wayfaring Stranger while traveling through western Louisiana.
My unique approach is a Western set in the forests, hills, and swamps of Louisiana.
A set piece would be when the timber companies set fire to the forest to drive off the Redbone people. The people gather at a creek crossing for safety. Someone shouts that a widow is missing. Joseph jumps on his horse and rides through the smoke. “Who is that fool,” some wonder. He rides to a creek, soaks his horse and saddle in the water, climbs up the bank and takes off into the firestorm. The widow is sitting on her porch, praying as the flames approach her cabin. Suddenly Joseph comes galloping out of the billowing smoke. He takes the widow and places her on his horse. Then with her in his arms he takes off into the flaming forest as the cabin burns. The smoke clouds choke him and stings his eyes. His hair is being singed but he gallops on. Then he burst out of the firestorm and is at the creek crossing! The Redbone people cheer!
The target audience would be men and women (30-80), fans of westerns and period pieces, nature lover and Louisianans.
People would want to watch the miniseries because of the themes of love, freedom, forgiveness, finding peace, the power of community and the romance, adventure and excitement frontier Louisiana in the 1840s.