HERO ONE - a short film

HERO ONE

From the Emmy Award Winning creative team that brought you VARMiNT (WINNER New Orleans Film Festival Audience Award, WINNER Dances with Film Festival Grand Jury Prize, Short of the Week, and Vimeo Staff Pick) and WARHORSE, brings you HERO ONE.

// WHAT'S IT ABOUT?

RECENTLY DECLASSIFIED INFORMATION

In early 2012 -- writer Chris Schieffelin and I were digging through the basement archives of the Cha Cha Lounge and stumbled upon recently declassified documents revealing the 'true story' of American astronaut R.J. Rippenkroager, the FIRST MAN IN SPACE, beating Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin into space by 2 months.

GETTING HERO ONE “OFF THE GROUND”

We have been trying to tell this story since we first found out about this story, 11 years ago (unseen HERO ONE crowd funding video from 2012 below). The American people deserve to know “The Ripper's" story, how he risked his life to become the first man in space, BUT not recognized. He’s a hero of the highest stature, and his story deserves to be known.

*HERO ONE crowdfunding video (shot by Sunanda Sachatrakul) w/ writer Chris Schieffelin from November 29th, 2012 (YES! REALLY 2012)!

BACKSTORY: THE MERCURY ASTRONAUTS

Announced to the world on April 9th, 1959, the Mercury Astronauts were to become the first men in space. Instantly famous, they performed all of their training under the eye of Life Magazine and the American public.

Unbeknownst to them, “Operation Touchdown” and Lt. RJ Rippenkroeger covertly worked under their large shadow in complete secrecy.

*Actual confidential press photo ahead of R.J. Rippenkroeger's launch, taken on January 30th, 1960.

The Mission: Launch ahead of the very public Mercury Astronauts and beat the Russian’s into space “at all costs.”

THE COVER UP

History states that HAM the Astrochimp was the first American in space. Launched on January 31st, 1960, his MR-2 space capsule splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean 15 minutes after launch to the cheers of the press and the American people.

*Press photo of "HAM" the astrochimp.

HISTORY IS WRONG.

*Recently declassified TOP SECRET diagram of Lt. Rippenkroeger's planned mission into space.

Pushing the limits of newly created technology and lack of time, the mission spiraled out of control and was covered up from the history books, until now….

When trouble befalls R.J. Rippenkroeger’s Mercury capsule (entitled "HERO ONE"), he must cope with his own mortality and the realization that his achievement will be covered-up and fame and legacy left to someone -- SOMETHING else...

// WHERE’S THE MONEY GOING?

We have already shot three out of our five days of HERO ONE over the course of four months (to save $$$), and your monies will support the last two scenes slated to be shot on April 1st and 2nd.

Additionally, your donation will support:

MR2 CAPSULE BUILD -- designed and built by Josh Giroux and Chris Schieffelin. Built from scratch.

*The capsule dashboard hand built from scratch.

*Chris, Jeff and Tegan researching the MR2 Capsule at the Air & Space Museum on January 29th, 2013.

*Jeff, Bobby, Chris and Randy esearching the Redstone rocket in Houston on October 29th, 2016.

We also shot all of the interior shots of the Mercury Space Capsule “HERO ONE,” all hand built by Josh Giroux and Chris Schiefffelin, at their house in Echo Park! As you can see, this is a labor of love and blood, sweat and tears!

* To penny pinch, we have received support from Band Pro Film & Digital, Sony, Angenieux, 360 Grip, EVS, Evidence Cameras, and The Camera Division.

*Me on garbage duty in front of the mobile toilets we had to rent for the Los Angeles Hall of Records.

WARDROBE

Supporting time-appropriate costumes are necessary and expensive, BUT "sell" the time-period.

*Early character sketches of R.J. Rippenkroeger done by Eric Yamamoto (2012).

*Early character sketches of MILBURY done by Eric Yamamoto (2012).

*Fittings with our costume designer Sami Martin Sarmiento.

PROPS

*Ripper's official patch -- recreated from research and source materials.

// WHAT WE’VE SHOT FOR HERO ONE SO FAR

Day 1 BTS: We shot the opening scene at the Los Angeles Hall of Records, using 200’ of dolly track.

Days 2 & 3 BTS: Shot over the weekend on Feb 4th & 5th supported by Band Pro Film & Digital in Burbank, CA.

*Working Periscope in console.

// OUR CAST

Billy Minshall as “Frank Milbury”

Travis Joe Dixon as “R.J. Rippenkroeger”

Greg Lutz as “The Superior”

// HERO ONE STILL FRAMES

Day 1: We shot day one in Downtown Los Angeles at the Los Angeles Hall of Records on October 16th, 2022.

Days 2 & 3: Shot at Band Pro Film & Digital in Burbank, CA.

// POSTERS & MARKETING

// ABOUT JOEL KAZUO KNOERNSCHILD

Born in Southern California, Joel's a half-Japanese, multi-hyphenate, Emmy award-winning film and commercial director.

Joel recently shadow-directed the last two episodes of FX’s upcoming feudal Japan show, “Shogun” with director Frederick E.O. Toye in Vancouver, Canada, spoken mostly in Japanese. Joel also directed all of the upcoming digital media.

Joel and Chris’ narrative short film, “VARMiNT” (also shot by Randy Wedick & edited by Barry O Donnell) challenges life lessons in adulthood, social conventions and man’s thoughtless disposals of life. It WON the Audience Award at the New Orleans Film Festival, WON the Grand Jury Prize at Dances with Films, featured on Short of the Week and received a Vimeo Staff Pick

Joel’s experimental short film “Sight Unseen” (presented by NOWNESS) features music by FKA Twigs and was screened at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles.

Joel has directed music videos for Tom Petty, Julianna Barwick ft. Jónsi" (Sigur Rós), Dr. Octagon featuring Paul Banks (Interpol), LANY, the Knocks feat. Foster the People, Summer Moon (Nikolai Fraiture of the Strokes) and Gary Numan.

Joel's clients include Apple Music, Disney+, Porsche, Nike, Microsoft, Adidas, Levis, Puma, Rothy's, FX Networks, Netflix, Micron, Elemis, Digitas Health, Merck, EHE Health, Abbvie, Comedy Central, Lululemon, MINI Cooper, RYOT Studio, IOC Olympic Channel, Warner Bros Records, W20 Group, Universal Records, Columbia Records, Polydor Records, Sony Records, Ryan Murphy Television and more.

***SHADOW DIRECTING PROGRAMS: Ryan Murphy Half Initiative 2018. FX Network. "The Politician." Shadowed Gwyneth Horder-Payton. Los Angeles. • "Shogun" 2022. FX Network. Shadowed Frederick E.O. Toye. Episodes 109 & 110. Vancouver, Canada.

***AWARDS: 1x Emmy WINNER. 5x Emmy Nominee. Clio silver WINNER for Microsoft Sister City Installation (Julianna Barwick, Bjork), Clio bronze WINNER Microsoft X Ambassadors Boom app, Clio bronze WINNER for Microsoft "Muse Simulation Theory VR Experience" and Clio bronze WINNER for Pose: Identity, Family, Community S2. New Orleans Film Festival Audience Award WINNER for narrative short film VARMiNT. Dances with Films Grand Jury Prize WINNER for VARMiNT.

More @ joelknoernschild dot com

// THANK YOU!!!

Your much-appreciated donation will go towards paying for building our last mission control set, time-appropriate wardrobe, specific props, location, actor pay, food, and rental truck/van. With your help it will allow us to complete our dream film and finally tell this ‘cover-up’ story for the world to know. Are you ready to help and donate?

HERO ONE // Starring BILLY MINSHALL TRAVIS JOE DIXON and GREG LUTZ Costume Designer SAMI MARTIN SARMIENTO co-producer JOAQUIN POBLETE production designer JOSH GIROUX sound by JP ROBELOT edited by BARRY O DONNELL director of photography RANDY WEDICK executive producers AARON BERGMAN STEPHEN BUCHANAN JOSH GIROUX produced by RANDY WEDICK JOEL KAZUO KNOERNSCHILD CHRIS SCHIEFFELIN written by CHRIS SCHIEFFELIN directed by JOEL KAZUO KNOERNSCHILD