Hello All, Along with a Producer and an award winning Director, I'm laying the groundwork for a World War Two era short film. Although self-funded the film will benefit from the involvement of industry professionals, using high-end equipment used in the top cinema releases, including a full orchestral score and a special effects team. As a group we are all share a keen interest in this era of our history, with a director who is particularly knowledgeable about the period. We are setting out to make a respectful, engaging film about a British soldier's personal account of a sequence of events during an engagement. At the moment, we're putting together a story and would love to have the involvement of those who experienced the war first hand, or of those who have learned of a friend or relative's experience who think they may be able to help. As this will be a short film, we are really looking to hear accounts of a short time period (perhaps just a day), which we can condense into a script of the correct length with your cooperation. Any contributions are welcome, but as this is a self-funded production we are unlikely to be able to tell a story involving large scale conflict (eg. lots of tanks or aircraft). We are professionals in the film industry, putting this film together for the love of film-making and so we can hopefully bring somebody's personal story to a wider audience. The film will be shot in fields and forest of the UK, so that restricts us to European conflict. Further than that, we're more interested in finding a unique and engaging story rather than restricting our search to a specific period or battle. I welcome anybody who feels they have a story to tell. If you have a fictional story that you think will be of particular interest please get involved, although our main interest is in a personal account of a real event. Thanks for reading. If you think you might be able to help, I would be more than happy to answer any questions. Kindest regards, Richard
Greetings Richard, Your best bet to check for true accounts for inspiring stories would be to check up the recipants of awards (like medal of honor (if you plan to include USA), VC , DSC etc....) What i would advise you to do is to first narrow down on the forces you want in conflict : German, Italian on one side and USA, UK etc on the other side and then take your pick, (as you have already done for UK) Select the time Before pearl harbour? Before Normandy? Before fall of Rome? etc... Then you decide whether you want a conflict/battle or you want an espionage mission or a ... behind the lines commando raid (that includes a bit of both). How much props are you willing to spend on ? tanks, jeeps, aircraft, etc? what all can you construct? can you animate the rest? Many vets do not like telling their stories, but a few do. Check out this forum and you'll get all the first hand accounts the vets are willing to share. The other vets, most probably are not yet ready to recount their experiences, and you should give them space. Let us know what is being done, Regards, TBA
I posted this also in your Intro Thread. Ok Mr I'm going to make a short story I got an award winning Director, So this is in documentary Style or Move? Your all over my Battle Maps, you sound disoriented seeking one account of so many, one day Battles that caused sheer Carnage! Lets get this straight, your ask us to tell you a one day scenario in a Battle. If I tell you a story I woke up that day eat dug a Slit Trench took a nap watched for the Enemy all day eat then went to sleep. Would same thing but changed the Tanks tracks. Not very interesting. Have you ever heard the expression Hurry-Up and Waite. You need to have Direction The When Who What Where and Why, Questions you must ask yourself First. Which Country or many involved, A Battle in which theater? Like Normandy The US, Canadian, British with Polish 1944 after D-Day You want the Real Deal or a make believe story? Just surround one person or many, a Regiment or an Operation there were so many. Seems your asking us to submit a Short Story, Next question My Royalties$$$. I'll Give you a great Story of Pure "Gameness" one such Regiment, a one day battle of Pure Sheer Butchery. Taking part in some 30 battle actions across France, Belgium, Holland, and into Germany. This Canadian Regiment had already suffered heavy casualties. B.W. 1st Battalion suffered more casualties than any other Canadian infantry battalion in Northwest Europe according to figures published in “The Long Left Flank” Written by Jeffrey Williams. Considered as a well trained and Regimentalie motivated playing an Avangard Roll in many Battles, with 19 Battle Honours in WWII Their Heroic Gallantry is undeniably ever questionable, Queens Regulations. See Link Enjoy the read The Forgotten battle of the Sceldt & Woensdrecht on “Black Friday” The 13th!
Thank you TBA for your advice, and Spaniard for your input. The film is still very much in the concept stage so a lot is still to be decided, but I will answer any questions and queries as best I can here. TBA - Good advice about researching recipients of medals, I've done a bit of this already. There are some extraordinary stories behind some of the medals. The forces involved would simply be British and German. Timings would certainly be any time after the Normandy landings, throughout the push through Europe. I'm not setting a specific time bracket, as I'd like people to feel free to contribute without being concerned that their particular experience or story doesn't fit within the specified timings. With regard to whether we want a conflict/battle or espionage mission etc, I would say that the film will include an amount of action but this all depends on what kind of script we go with. I invite people to offer any kind of account or story, all will be considered. On the note of props, we will certainly have firing weapons and correct uniforms etc. When it comes to vehicles, its too early to say what might be available to us. This is a self-funded project and as a result, acquiring vehicles might be a little more difficult. If we find the right story and a vehicle is a necessity then we would do our upmost to provide one. You're absolutely right in saying that its wise to give Veterans space, and we would certainly not be pushing anybody for information that they aren't willing to provide. This project is all about respect and hopefully we will be able to pass somebody's experience on to a wider audience. Thanks again for your input. SPANIARD - Hi! This is a not a documentary project. Strictly speaking it will be fiction, but basing the story of the film on somebody's personal experience has been a big part of why we want to do this. The person providing their input will have their contribution treated with the upmost respect, and we wouldn't do anything with the story that didn't meet their approval. With regard to the length of the account we're looking for, unfortunately with the nature of a short film, we can't cover as much ground as we would all like. As a result, its really important for us to capture as much of the experience as we could hope to in this short time (although of course in reality, nobody is able to really capture these experiences in film). If people would like to submit to us a short story, we would gladly consider it. Although, what we are really searching for is an anecdotal account. We wouldn't by any means want to short change anyone or steal short story ideas. If you are intending to sell your short story, then it is probably best not to give it to us for consideration because unfortunately we aren't able to pay you for it. This film isn't a commercial project, and wont be making any money. To quote my original post, we're making it for the love of film-making. If at some point down the line it does make some money, then of course anyone contributing to the film would get a share. Thanks so much for suggesting a link, I'll have a read now! Thanks again to both of you... Richard
