Manfred the Movie- new MvR feature film?

rexee · 31 August 2008, 06:41 AM

LaserLoyd

I know you can't talk about the script...but at least let us know once and for all
...WHO SHOT HIM DOWN!!?
I really hope that Christopher finds the funding to make the film

Rex

Christopher Nicholson · 1 September 2008, 08:16 AM

Hello All,
I'm Christopher Nicholson and am the Writer/Director behind the rumoured MvR film called MANFRED. I can confirm that it is not a hoax, that it is almost 50% funded and that I am doing all I can right now to raise the balance of the finance in order to shoot next summer. If we do make that deadline, then the film will be ready for release in time for the Cannes Film Festival 2010 (May 2010).

I've spent the last 8 years trying to bring MANFRED into reality and am doing all I can to ensure that this film isn't a casualty of the "Hollywood Effect". I'm just not interested in making another "BOTTOM GUN" and don't want to re-write history. Instead, I'm trying to make a thrilling action/adventure/romance that will sell tickets without ever selling out.

There is a lot of flying in the film (9 dogfights and a Cavalry action sequence) and a great deal of work has already gone on to ensure that the flying sequences will look really great.

Don't expect a documentary on MvR, something like that belongs best on the History Channel. Instead, if I win my battles and raise the balance of finance, the film will be a exciting Saturday night movie. However, having said this, you might be pleased to hear that the actual events in the film are as truthful as possible (e.g. MvR isn't shot down by Captain Brown).

Since it's first days of life, I've been keen to avoid the American finance route. The budget is extremely squeezed and if I take the "Yankee Dollar", I'd have to dumb down the script, something I just will not do. This is because I wholeheartedly believe that it is wrong to insult the intelligence of the audience in order to justify the finance's wishes for maximum return on their investment.

I'm afraid I can't tell you any more at this current stage and most certainly can't reveal the script.

If you want to get involved in Production (e.g. assisting in raising finance, helping with the sourcing of the few remaining planes we need etc,) let me know. I don't know the particular skills of those on this bulletin board but if you think you have something to add to the project, drop me an email to info*at*christophernicholson*dot*com

With kind regards,

Christopher

Laserlloyd · 1 September 2008, 08:28 AM

Hi Christopher:

Welcome to the Aerodrome, I see that this was your first post but you joined up sometime ago. I hope that you have been enjoying drome so far. You will fine a lot of knowledge here.

Thanks for contributing and hope that you can let everyone here know what going on with the production and release.

Lloyd...

Christopher Nicholson · 1 September 2008, 09:18 AM

By the way, you might like to know that I've moved the Teaser Trailer that was on YouTube.

It is now here:
"http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=PaXXdbTO9sg"

I've put this video up on YouTube for those of you who may be interested in seeing what goes on behind the scenes of a film as I use this teaser is to give the Financiers a flavour of what the film will look like.

There are actually 7 different methods that one can use to create flying sequences and I have tested each and every method exhaustively. It was whilst testing that I was introduced to the technicians behind some of the footage used in this teaser and they'd come to the same conclusions I had, hence us agreeing to work together on MANFRED.

Christopher

tcrean7828 · 1 September 2008, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christopher Nicholson

By the way, you might like to know that I've moved the Teaser Trailer that was on YouTube.

It is now here:
"http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=PaXXdbTO9sg"

I've put this video up on YouTube for those of you who may be interested in seeing what goes on behind the scenes of a film as I use this teaser is to give the Financiers a flavour of what the film will look like.

There are actually 7 different methods that one can use to create flying sequences and I have tested each and every method exhaustively. It was whilst testing that I was introduced to the technicians behind some of the footage used in this teaser and they'd come to the same conclusions I had, hence us agreeing to work together on MANFRED.

Christopher

Mate,
Welcome to the flagship of the Aerodrome - where the greatest minds on the planet get together and talk about their favorite subject - WW1.

I thank you for your lust in presenting truth over the dollar. Very well said and wish you the very best of luck and much success with your endever. I'm looking forwared to the end result.

ttfn

tcrean7828

tom

P.S.

Werner Voss fan here.

FliegerJG1 · 1 September 2008, 05:17 PM

Hi Christopher,

Thank you for weighing in to set the record straight on the movie. Your goals are impressive and I will hope that you are successful in meeting all of them. As a historian with a special interest in

Manfred von Richthofen, I am especially impressed that you are working toward a movie with a more accurate depiction of him, although not a documentary. His life is rich with excitement, interest and drama without the need for fictional extras.

Very Best Regards,

FliegerJG1

Miroslav Pokorny · 4 September 2008, 04:02 AM

Sorry guys, sorry "Christopher", but too much of bullshitting...
Familiar with opening sequence footage, it's Lowe London ad agency commercial for Stella Artois. Shot (here) in Czech republic by director Ivan Zacharias, DOP Jan Velicky (a sport pilot too, by the way). Aircraft from Bianchi Aviation UK, crashed Camel by Barrandov studios and actually still around... Shot in North Bohemia, near town Most in 2004.
Aerial World War I dogfight in latest Stella Artois epic - Brand Republic News - Brand Republic
Glassworks Archive: Stella Artois - 'Pilot'
Tony Bianchi Aviation - The Home of Motion Picture Aviation
The other flicks from so called "trailer" notoriously know from several sources (The Four Years of Thunder e.g.).
It was only a TV commercial four years ago, I don't mind Christopher mocks with work of people I know in person, but no reason to bullshit to fellowship here at The Aerodrome.

Miroslav Pokorny,
Prague

crankcase · 4 September 2008, 04:57 AM

Sounds like some of us fishwives have been punk'd!
marc

Miroslav Pokorny · 4 September 2008, 05:20 AM

Great work done on trailer:

YouTube - Titanic: The Sequel

Christopher Nicholson · 4 September 2008, 05:21 AM

Miroslav,

Curious post you've just put up...
How on earth am I "mocking people you work with"?

I just posted the link to the teaser trailer that we made for showing at meetings with potential sources of finance because I thought some people on this list might like to see how films are put together. Financiers are, by definition, not very creative and they like to know what they are buying in advance of spending any money. They look at building mockups for building projects, competitors products for potential manufacturing investment etc. I can't show them what the film will look like until it is shot but instead, I can show them other people's work and say "it'll look a bit like this but be in colour and will tell a very different story". When George Lucas was trying to get finance for STAR WARS, he used footage from old movies about WW2 that showed dogfights so that the financiers would be able to conceptualize what he was talking about.

I am planning to have a videoblog that will be accessible to those who are interested via the web whilst we shoot and edit giving behind the scenes access to the project and it was in the spirit of this thinking that I put up that link.

I am not trying to pass off someone else's work as my own, am not taking credit for someone else's work and make it no secret as to where the source material came from. In fact, I talk about PILOT should ever a financier ask how do I intend to create the SFX and have had many meetings with some of the people who worked on bits of it.

Which brings me back to your posting. I just don't see how you could possibly think I am mocking anyone? I have nothing but the greatest respect for the people who worked on PILOT.

I also wouldn't dream of bullshitting anyone on this forum. I only started to reply to this thread when people thought that the film was a hoax as I thought that it may interest some of you to know about the project from the source.

Curious...or to paraphrase The Joker, "Why so negative?"

Christopher

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miroslav Pokorny

Sorry guys, sorry "Christopher", but too much of bullshitting...
Familiar with opening sequence footage, it's Lowe London ad agency commercial for Stella Artois. Shot (here) in Czech republic by director Ivan Zacharias, DOP Jan Velicky (a sport pilot too, by the way). Aircraft from Bianchi Aviation UK, crashed Camel by Barrandov studios and actually still around... Shot in North Bohemia, near town Most in 2004.
The other flicks from so called "trailer" notoriously know from several sources (The Four Years of Thunder e.g.).
It was only a TV commercial four years ago, I don't mind Christopher mocks with work of people I know in person, but no reason to bullshit to fellowship here at The Aerodrome.

Miroslav Pokorny,
Prague