The Wereth Eleven Earns Emmy® Nomination
New York, N.Y. – July 12, 2012 – Nominations for the 33rd Annual News and Documentary Emmy® Awards were announced yesterday by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS). The News & Documentary Emmy® Awards will be presented on Monday, October 1 at a ceremony at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, located in the Time Warner Center in New York City. The Wereth Eleven earned a nomination in the promotion category for our compelling trailer that editor and co-exec. producer Frederic Lumiere and I labored over for at least three 18 hour sessions. I remember quite well finishing this trailer around 1AM in the morning and Frederic and I both toasted it's completion with a beer (maybe two). It is very gratifying that our work has been recognized as among the very best by industry standards and I believe this will bring even more attention to the film.
Statement from NATAS:
"The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is delighted to honor the outstanding work being done by journalists and documentarians throughout the television industry,” said Malachy Wienges, Chairman, NATAS. "In addition, we are pleased to be honoring Jorge Ramos and Maria Elena Salinas, the co-anchors of Univision’s nightly newscast, with our prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. We are happy to highlight their work which represents the very best in news reporting.”
Bought Shaara's new book
I was in Gettysburg to help promote next year's 150th film. There was great interest in all things 150th. I even signed a few DVD's for folks. All were in good spirts- despite the record heat. In fact on my way back to town at 6:30P I glanced at the car thermometer and it read 105 degrees! Nothing like Gettysburg in heatwave - you have to experience it to believe it.
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Gettysburg 150th
The Russian van Gogh - First in forthcoming Series
Excerpt from The Russian van Gogh:
HARVARD U. KENNEDY SCH OF GOVT.
AUD., CAMBRIDGE, MA
A tall, attractive blue eyed
woman, 32, with long dark hair, classic features and ample curves moves
confidently across a stage casting a shadow on a projector screen. She has a
man intimidating educated air coupled with approachable all-American good
looks. A study in contrast she is Harvard Art History Professor and Forensic
Art Detective, Riley Spenser and she moves a red laser pointer to the screen.
On screen a painted seascape is
illuminated. The words below the painting reveal it as a Rembrandt with the
title, Storm on the Sea of Galilee. Above
the painting is a dollar figure, $500 Million.
Spenser looks at the image a moment and turns to her
audience of 300 people, “and finally the infinitely irreplaceable, Storm on
the Sea of Galilee by Rembrandt rounds out
the 13 works of art stolen in the St. Patrick’s Day heist at the Gardener
Museum in 1990. This combined with the stolen Vermeer make this burglary the
largest single property theft in recorded history at $500 million and the items
have yet to be recovered.”
Letting this sink in a moment she
continues, “Art theft has gone on since the age of the Egyptians and mostly
during times of war. The spoils of war become the scared national treasures of
the victor. And no one questions it - even though most of the Italian art hanging
in the Louvre was stolen by Napoleon in his Italian campaign of 1796.” Smiling
she humorously adds, “In fact the terms his Modena Armistice were simple, ‘you
give us your art, or we don’t stop shooting.” The audience chuckles and Riley,
impassioned, concludes her talk. “Art endures ladies and gentlemen. It
transcends boundaries and conquerors. It is the only object we will ever see
during our lifetimes that can be said to be truly immortal. In each original
piece the artist has left something of himself or herself. The same Mona Lisa
you admire today is the exact one da Vinci labored over for more than five
years in his studio. That is what personally connects us to him and only
original works of art can accomplish that. No one person or country can possess
art in perpetuity. In the end the artist intended that it belong to all of us.
Thank you ladies and gentlemen. Thank you very much.”
Professor Spenser exits to
audience applause and is quickly speeding north in her Audi on Memorial Drive
alongside the Charles.
*Stay tuned for future book excerpts and updates in this new series.
Image credit: keeweeboy
/ 123RF Stock Photo
The Captain Who Court Martialed His Crew
This is the first in as series of posts for this Patriotic Week in America. Over the past year I wrote and directed two military films, The Wereth Eleven and USS Franklin: Honor Restored. These are two very different films which both illustrate the heroism in the American soldier and sailor. And what I have noticed is so many people who have watched both films really lean towards the Franklin. Their comments back are very gratifying as the whole mission of the film and the title speaks to it was to "restore honor" to the men who served aboard the ship.
Early on March 19, 1945 reports began flooding the Franklin from nearby ships that Japanese zeros were headed their direction. But Captain Gerhes for some reason that was known only to himself did not put the ship on full alert. In fact the carrier was sailing at a condition that was similar to cruising off the coast of San Diego. General Quarters was not called and hundreds of men were actually below decks having breakfast in the galley when a single Japanese dive-bomber cut through the clouds and dropped a dead center strike on the flight deck. The bomb was so deadly that it not only blew out three decks and smashed the galley deck up flat against the flight deck but it set off a chain reaction of hundreds of explosions of the ship's own bombs. It was a massive catastrophic strike.
Sailors were literally blown over board 90 feet into the freezing Pacific and those that had no choice being either surrounded by fire or cut off by parts of the blown apart ship jumped into the 50 degree water. Once rescue shipped started coming along side the burning carrier the men who could crawl scrambled off the ship. Many others were carried off both wounded and dead.
Once the explosions on the ship subsided and the fires were under control the carrier went under tow back to port. But even before reaching Hawaii rumors began circulating that Capt. Gerhes planned to charge the men who left the ship under their own power or otherwise with desertion. Desertion is a very serious charge in the military and the penalty is death. He issued a letter to the men who left the ship demanding an explanation in writing. It was unprecedented in Naval history that a Captain would charge his own crew with desertion but this is exactly what he did.
USS Franklin: Honor Restored is available just about everywhere on DVD and streaming platforms including Amazon Instant Video and Hulu. Here is a link to purchase the DVD on AMAZON.
You see this film depicts an injustice that was not well known or even talked about outside Navy circles but it was what drew me to the story. When Joseph Springer and Joe Small asked me to do film I said alright but I have to tell the story of Captain Gehres - no holds barred. And all agreed.
And for folks who have not seen the film and I hope that you do this is the story...
In March 1945 the Carrier USS Frankin was sailing under 50 miles off the coast of Japan. And it made a very enticing target for Japanese dive-bombers who were sent out in waves to sink the prize of the fleet. Piloting the Essex-class ship was Captain Leslie Gerhres and one look at his photo and the footage of him aboard ship and you can tell he had a lofty opinion of himself.
Sailors were literally blown over board 90 feet into the freezing Pacific and those that had no choice being either surrounded by fire or cut off by parts of the blown apart ship jumped into the 50 degree water. Once rescue shipped started coming along side the burning carrier the men who could crawl scrambled off the ship. Many others were carried off both wounded and dead.
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| James Forrestal |
Many believed later that it was a tactic to shift attention away from his own failure to put the crew on battle ready high alert status. Gerhes pursued this course all during the time the ship sailed back to Brooklyn for repairs and he did not drop his charges. Finally the situation reached the attention of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal who put an immediate end to the court martial.
The anguish of being labeled a deserter by your own Captain was a burden these Franklin vets had to carry the remainder of their lives. And in interviewing the surviving men for the the film it was readily apparent the pain had not lessened in more than the sixty years since the disaster.
And for many having the story finally told meant as one veteran put it to Joseph Springer that, "he could now die in peace". That, in my opinion, is what makes this film resonate. It finally "restored honor" to men who desperately needed it. And all of us on the production are proud that we were able to finally give some solace to these American heroes.
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Breaking News: Wereth 11 Wins Gold at film fest
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| On location with actors in Wereth Eleven |
Last evening we were notified that The Wereth Eleven took the top honor at the 35th Annual Philadelphia International Festival, the Leigh Whipper Gold Award for documentary. We are honored and we like to thank the judges as well as our fantastic production team.
About Phila Film:
PhilaFilm is the region’s longest-running, international, Independent film and video competition. PhilaFilm was established in 1977 as an event to showcase the productions of Independent, multicultural film and video artists worldwide and is managed by the PhilaFilm Festival Committee.
Gettysburg 150th Pre-order Now
Gettysburg: Final Measure of Devotion, the 150th Gettysburg Commemorative film went on sale during this year's reenactment in Gettysburg on July 6th 2012.
The film will feature noted Gettysburg historians as well as battle reenactments filmed with 3D camera technology. The climax of the three-day event, Pickett’s Charge, will be broadcast live around the world on cable Pay Per View and also streamed live on the Internet.
“The 150th commemoration of the Battle of Gettysburg is an unequaled opportunity to bring history to life for a vast and enthusiastic audience. Civil War history buffs, students, people of all ages and backgrounds from around the world will be expecting something quite special in the 150th Gettysburg film. That is why I plan to push the technology envelope and produce our film with the latest 3D camera technology. Our goal is make the audience feel like they are there, on the battlefield, shoulder to shoulder with the soldiers in the midst of the heat, the noise and the mighty fury of war,” Child said.
The Gettysburg Anniversary Committee has said that interest in the 150th is strong and reaching fever pitch. Everyone knows it is going to be, "the big one". They are calling it Gettysburg's "Olympic Moment."
Cover art revealed today. The cover design was specially commissioned by a member of the Gettysburg Anniversary Committee from artist, Dan Nance, based in North Carolina. The painting is called. "Fury At The Wall" and depicts the clash of Confederate and Union soldiers at the wall during Pickett's Charge. Poster and shirts featuring the image may be available for sale at this year's reenactment as well.
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Gettysburg 150th
Blood Betrayal Just in Time for Father's Day
Now released just in time for Father's Day Amazon is releasing my debut novel, Blood Betrayal, an FBI crime thriller on Kindle which I adapted from my screenplay of the same name which was a top ten finalist in a prestigious screen writing competition in Los Angeles in 2011. I hope you are able to check it out. Keep watching Amazon.com for the release.
About Blood Betrayal:
A modern day Untouchables set in Philadelphia.
Blood Betrayal is based on a true story and the memoirs of
retired FBI Agent, Charles B. Warner. Just released mob boss, Nicodemo
Scarponi, has returned to Philadelphia after a three-year stint in federal
prison. Greeted by the media at the airport like a conquering hero, Scarponi
laughs off his time away as a short “vacation”. One crusading reporter, Mark
Stein, however, badgers him with questions about the escalating mob violence
downtown and Scarponi’s suspected involvement.
With Stein’s question, Scarponi cuts the media circus short and storms off but Stein shouts one last follow-up – “Any scores to settle, Nick? Scarponi reveals, under his breath, that there is, his single-minded ambition to kill the FBI agent who sent him to prison, Frank Murray.
FBI Special Agent, Frank Murray, (Warner), meanwhile, tired of the filth he deals with on a daily basis in the fugitive squad, pushes his gruff supervisor, Hans Bauer, to reassign him to the (OC) organized crime squad. Murray, unaware of Scarponi’s murderous intentions towards him put both men on a bloody collision course.
Battling demons and weaknesses that his supervisor, Bauer, continues to point out, Murray is temporarily assigned back on OC to reopen unsolved mob murders cases that have become embarrassingly high in number. Murray develops informants and discovers a shocking picture of murder, mayhem and corruption that reaches deep into the fiber of the city of Brotherly Love.
Recognizing that actually defeating the mob might be impossible, Murray is informed by the US Attorney, Joel Friedberg, that a Federal law exits to counter organized crime and prosecute entire mob families but it expires at the end of that year. And Frank does not have enough evidence for the US Attorney to even consider starting federal RICO proceedings - the law that would destroy the mob.
Subsequently, a multimillion-dollar extortion scam by Scarponi is revealed to the FBI. The scam, led by mob con man, Nick Consiglioni, seeks to get a piece of the waterfront development pie from the lead development firm. The FBI assigns an agent to masquerade at the developer’s moneyman. All goes according to the FBI’s plan until Murray asks to make the bust on Consiglioni. The con man slips through Murray’s fingers and Murray’s life spirals downward rapidly. He eventually ends up walking in on his wife in their bed with another man.
With his world shattered, his kids and wife gone and on indefinite FBI suspension, Murray tries to end his life but is saved by a retired cop buddy, Center City Charlie, who convinces him, he has much more to live for and if he ever wants to get his job back, which is his life, he better find that escaped mob fugitive, Consiglioni.
Together, Murray and Center City Charlie discover that Consiglioni has fled to the Caribbean and Charlie shames Frank into taking him on as his partner for saving him from killing himself.
Consiglioni, now, not only has the Murray and Charlie after him but the mob as well as he fled with the last extortion payment due Scarponi. Unknown to both the mob and Murray, Consiglioni kept a secret diary on Scarponi’s mob activities. If ever revealed, the diary could be the critical piece of devastating evidence the US Attorney needs to wipe out the mob. But first, Murray and Charlie have to run the gauntlet in the Dominican Republic which includes appeasing the head of the Dominican Secret Police and trying to locate Consiglioni before the six mob hit men Scarponi has sent ahead of them find and kill him first.
Hard hitting, gritty but with surprising heart and humor, Blood Betrayal is the modern day, "Untouchables" set in Philadelphia.
With Stein’s question, Scarponi cuts the media circus short and storms off but Stein shouts one last follow-up – “Any scores to settle, Nick? Scarponi reveals, under his breath, that there is, his single-minded ambition to kill the FBI agent who sent him to prison, Frank Murray.
FBI Special Agent, Frank Murray, (Warner), meanwhile, tired of the filth he deals with on a daily basis in the fugitive squad, pushes his gruff supervisor, Hans Bauer, to reassign him to the (OC) organized crime squad. Murray, unaware of Scarponi’s murderous intentions towards him put both men on a bloody collision course.
Battling demons and weaknesses that his supervisor, Bauer, continues to point out, Murray is temporarily assigned back on OC to reopen unsolved mob murders cases that have become embarrassingly high in number. Murray develops informants and discovers a shocking picture of murder, mayhem and corruption that reaches deep into the fiber of the city of Brotherly Love.
Recognizing that actually defeating the mob might be impossible, Murray is informed by the US Attorney, Joel Friedberg, that a Federal law exits to counter organized crime and prosecute entire mob families but it expires at the end of that year. And Frank does not have enough evidence for the US Attorney to even consider starting federal RICO proceedings - the law that would destroy the mob.
Subsequently, a multimillion-dollar extortion scam by Scarponi is revealed to the FBI. The scam, led by mob con man, Nick Consiglioni, seeks to get a piece of the waterfront development pie from the lead development firm. The FBI assigns an agent to masquerade at the developer’s moneyman. All goes according to the FBI’s plan until Murray asks to make the bust on Consiglioni. The con man slips through Murray’s fingers and Murray’s life spirals downward rapidly. He eventually ends up walking in on his wife in their bed with another man.
With his world shattered, his kids and wife gone and on indefinite FBI suspension, Murray tries to end his life but is saved by a retired cop buddy, Center City Charlie, who convinces him, he has much more to live for and if he ever wants to get his job back, which is his life, he better find that escaped mob fugitive, Consiglioni.
Together, Murray and Center City Charlie discover that Consiglioni has fled to the Caribbean and Charlie shames Frank into taking him on as his partner for saving him from killing himself.
Consiglioni, now, not only has the Murray and Charlie after him but the mob as well as he fled with the last extortion payment due Scarponi. Unknown to both the mob and Murray, Consiglioni kept a secret diary on Scarponi’s mob activities. If ever revealed, the diary could be the critical piece of devastating evidence the US Attorney needs to wipe out the mob. But first, Murray and Charlie have to run the gauntlet in the Dominican Republic which includes appeasing the head of the Dominican Secret Police and trying to locate Consiglioni before the six mob hit men Scarponi has sent ahead of them find and kill him first.
Hard hitting, gritty but with surprising heart and humor, Blood Betrayal is the modern day, "Untouchables" set in Philadelphia.
