Tag Archives: War Between The States.

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

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.

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.