Costume budget for 1814 period film
Donation protected
Hi
My name is Blake Sporne I'm from Nottingham, England. I have a passion about telling accurate historical stories. Growing up I adored military history. The tales of against the odds victories were my world. I served in the Royal Marines for a short while but after an injury I was discharged. To prove them wrong I became a Film and TV Stuntman but after ten years, once again my body let me down. I had a seven year period of illness, three of my closest family passed away and it's not until now I am standing back on my own feet.
This new determination in me has led me to pick up a sceenplay idea I wrote several years ago.
The Battle of Waterloo is one of the most remarkable days is in history. Three armies, thousands of soldiers from all over Europe and a twenty three year long world war ended on one day.
The screenplay I have written is set against four days in June 1815. It tells the story of a British Cavalry officer, torn between loyalty to the men around him and the women of his dreams. He has to survive the day whilst fighting demons of his own and the man he betrayed.
Consider this: No modern, accurate and realistic film has been made of this epic time of history. With new, modern filming techniques we can show the scale and give a true representation of the time. We also know far more about the events of those four days. We can depict them with a realism and accuracy that would at last create the film we all want to see.
The Stage: The screenplays narrative is about three fictional characters set against the backdrop of the Battle of Qautre Bras, the reargaurd of the 17th June and the Battle of Waterloo itself. By having factual events witnessed by a fictional character, it allows me to place the character where I need them to tell the story. The stories of Waterloo are told by the soldiers themselves. It is dramatic enough and does not need altering. However, to tell them in the right way, witnessed by a fictional character, it allows us to bring them to life as they would of happened.
So we have the story of the three fictional characters witnessing the factual soldiers stories set against the last four days of Napoleon.
But we have to start somewhere.
I am halfway through shooting the short film 'A Near Run Thing'. This is the backstory to the feature. It introduces the three fictional characters, Elizabeth Westwood (the heroine), Captain Howard Lynch ( the hero) and Captain Quentin Forbes.
Elizabeth is arranged to marry Forbes, but falls for Lynch. Lynch is struggling with his demons but meeting Elizabeth sparks him into life.
The short film will accompany concept art, the script and treatment, all to be used as a pitch vehicle to studios and Producers. It is important to achieve the right look and get the right people attention.
We are scheduled to film the half of the short in the first weekend of March 2016 at the statley home Stanford Hall in Leicestershire. I have tried Kickstarter, however, trying to work and connect with potential pledgers didn't mix and I had to cancel the Crowdfunding.
Although I have, through friends and contacts, raised £2500 to date outside of crowdfunding. This includes a promanent published historian Carole Divall and professional artist Chris Draper. I am working with Carole on presenting to Waterloo 200 in 2016.
The Rub: For me to create something that is accurate, I need quality costumes. Angels and Bermans in London are the go to people for this and, with help from my costume experts, SJ Seamstress, we aim to carefully choose the right costumes and apparel for the scenes.
This costs money and something I cannot do myself. I need help and generosity from people who know this film needs to be made.
So, to summarise: I need to raise £2000 to cover the costume budget of a Jane Austen style period short film, that will be used as a pitch vehicle for a biographical film about the last four days of the Napoleonic Wars, showing the never before stories of the soldiers who took part in it, all set behind the narrative of three fictional characters caught up in the events of the day. I need to raise this by the middle of January 2016.
This simply needs to be done. It keeps in the public eye the need to remember our history and the events that shaped our world today. It is needed to remember those who suffered and sacrificed so much in a time when so much was at stake.
Every penny raised will go infront of the camera. All the cast and crew are providing thier time for free. The location is helping with a generous cost for the use of the Hall.
I simply cannot pitch the screenplay without something to hook people, I have to have something to show them.
Here is some links to the footage we have shot so far and the original Kickstarter Video & You Tube Channel
The Facebook Page
I very much hope you can help.
If you have any questions, please contact me via Go Fund Me.
Thank you for reading.
Blake Sporne
Writer/Producer
A Near Run Thing
My name is Blake Sporne I'm from Nottingham, England. I have a passion about telling accurate historical stories. Growing up I adored military history. The tales of against the odds victories were my world. I served in the Royal Marines for a short while but after an injury I was discharged. To prove them wrong I became a Film and TV Stuntman but after ten years, once again my body let me down. I had a seven year period of illness, three of my closest family passed away and it's not until now I am standing back on my own feet.
This new determination in me has led me to pick up a sceenplay idea I wrote several years ago.
The Battle of Waterloo is one of the most remarkable days is in history. Three armies, thousands of soldiers from all over Europe and a twenty three year long world war ended on one day.
The screenplay I have written is set against four days in June 1815. It tells the story of a British Cavalry officer, torn between loyalty to the men around him and the women of his dreams. He has to survive the day whilst fighting demons of his own and the man he betrayed.
Consider this: No modern, accurate and realistic film has been made of this epic time of history. With new, modern filming techniques we can show the scale and give a true representation of the time. We also know far more about the events of those four days. We can depict them with a realism and accuracy that would at last create the film we all want to see.
The Stage: The screenplays narrative is about three fictional characters set against the backdrop of the Battle of Qautre Bras, the reargaurd of the 17th June and the Battle of Waterloo itself. By having factual events witnessed by a fictional character, it allows me to place the character where I need them to tell the story. The stories of Waterloo are told by the soldiers themselves. It is dramatic enough and does not need altering. However, to tell them in the right way, witnessed by a fictional character, it allows us to bring them to life as they would of happened.
So we have the story of the three fictional characters witnessing the factual soldiers stories set against the last four days of Napoleon.
But we have to start somewhere.
I am halfway through shooting the short film 'A Near Run Thing'. This is the backstory to the feature. It introduces the three fictional characters, Elizabeth Westwood (the heroine), Captain Howard Lynch ( the hero) and Captain Quentin Forbes.
Elizabeth is arranged to marry Forbes, but falls for Lynch. Lynch is struggling with his demons but meeting Elizabeth sparks him into life.
The short film will accompany concept art, the script and treatment, all to be used as a pitch vehicle to studios and Producers. It is important to achieve the right look and get the right people attention.
We are scheduled to film the half of the short in the first weekend of March 2016 at the statley home Stanford Hall in Leicestershire. I have tried Kickstarter, however, trying to work and connect with potential pledgers didn't mix and I had to cancel the Crowdfunding.
Although I have, through friends and contacts, raised £2500 to date outside of crowdfunding. This includes a promanent published historian Carole Divall and professional artist Chris Draper. I am working with Carole on presenting to Waterloo 200 in 2016.
The Rub: For me to create something that is accurate, I need quality costumes. Angels and Bermans in London are the go to people for this and, with help from my costume experts, SJ Seamstress, we aim to carefully choose the right costumes and apparel for the scenes.
This costs money and something I cannot do myself. I need help and generosity from people who know this film needs to be made.
So, to summarise: I need to raise £2000 to cover the costume budget of a Jane Austen style period short film, that will be used as a pitch vehicle for a biographical film about the last four days of the Napoleonic Wars, showing the never before stories of the soldiers who took part in it, all set behind the narrative of three fictional characters caught up in the events of the day. I need to raise this by the middle of January 2016.
This simply needs to be done. It keeps in the public eye the need to remember our history and the events that shaped our world today. It is needed to remember those who suffered and sacrificed so much in a time when so much was at stake.
Every penny raised will go infront of the camera. All the cast and crew are providing thier time for free. The location is helping with a generous cost for the use of the Hall.
I simply cannot pitch the screenplay without something to hook people, I have to have something to show them.
Here is some links to the footage we have shot so far and the original Kickstarter Video & You Tube Channel
The Facebook Page
I very much hope you can help.
If you have any questions, please contact me via Go Fund Me.
Thank you for reading.
Blake Sporne
Writer/Producer
A Near Run Thing
Organizer
Blake Sporne
Organizer