Oshkosh... & Flyboys Premier

RobW · 13 July 2006, 08:06 PM

Anybody from the forum planning a trip to Oshkosh? I'm making my first pilgrimage this year... with the family + tent + Cherokee Six.

Looks like they are premiering Flyboys at Airventure... I guess I picked a good year to go!

If anyone else is going and wants to meet up, send me a note.

Rob W

Dogtail2 · 15 July 2006, 01:18 AM

I hope the film will be better than its corny title. I remember excitedly waiting for the release of 'Pearl Harbour'. What a lot of crap that turned out to be! The corniest film Ive ever seen

RobW · 15 July 2006, 02:44 AM

If you go back to the main forum page you'll find a category for movies... in it is a thread on the Flyboys movie... to include posts by the Director. Sounds like it won't be too shabby.

Dogtail2 · 15 July 2006, 06:48 AM

Thanks Rob W, I'll check it out

baldeagle · 15 July 2006, 07:57 AM

I think that it's more of "a" premiere than "the" premiere, as hopefully there will be a big one in LA nearer to the time of the release date. The Oshkosh one is mostly for invited guests, although the EAA web site does say that members and volunteers can win contests at Oshkosh to go see the movie. I'll be there, saw it back in January and looking forward to seeing it again.

And don't worry, it's a lot better than "Pearl Harbor".

From the EAA:

Major Motion Picture 'FLYBOYS' to Premiere at AirVenture
The movie FLYBOYS, set for theatrical release across the nation on September 29, 2006, will debut in unique fashion with a special screening at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, "The World's Greatest Aviation Celebration," on the evening of Wednesday, July 26. The film's producers are calling the event the "aviation-world premiere" of the movie.

"Hollywood recognizes that Oshkosh is the place to be for celebrating aviation," said Tom Poberezny, EAA president. "This film's premiere reflects on the importance of AirVenture Oshkosh to the aviation community and to people everywhere who are passionate about flight."

Approximately 500 EAA volunteers and members, winners of contests at EAA Member Village on the event grounds, will enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend a major motion picture premiere.

Additionally, FLYBOYS director and longtime EAA member Tony Bill will join members of the cast in attending the premiere. Bill's movie credits include producing and/or directing the films The Sting, My Bodyguard, and several others.

"Most major motion picture premieres take place in New York or LA, but we chose to bring the film to the gathered aviation community in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It may be in America's heartland, but for one week every July, Oshkosh is the world's heart and soul of aviation. There is no better place to debut a film with such a pervasive aviation theme," Bill said.
When FLYBOYS Producer Dean Devlin, renowned for producing Independence Day and The Patriot, approached Bill for the directing job, he attached a note to the script alluding to Bill's notoriety as an avid aviation enthusiast and skilled pilot: "THIS IS THE MOVIE YOU WERE BORN TO DIRECT."

Inspired by the true story of the legendary Lafayette Escadrille, the movie tells the story of a handful of young Americans who volunteered to join the French forces in World War I before the U.S. entered the war. They trained to become pilots and formed a unique squadron flying combat missions against the Germans.

"The lucky EAA members who get to attend this premiere will have a rare opportunity to experience some of the history from aviation's early days before viewing an on-screen portrayal evoking that era," Poberezny said. "Biplanes and other aircraft from aviation's dawn will be on display at our EAA AirVenture museum and in the vintage aircraft area on the AirVenture grounds."

jumpinjan · 15 July 2006, 09:59 AM

Tony Bill is here in Dayton today to be the M.C. of the 45th annual National Aviation Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony.
Its a black tie event, and that's a good reason why I haven't gone to one.
Jan

baldeagle · 15 July 2006, 10:46 AM

In the replica vein, I should also mention that our own bofusfly, of the Sands Triplane builders group, will have his Fokker Triplane replica at Oshkosh as part of the Flyboys display. I tried to get them to get a group of Triplanes there, but I think they're just going to have the one. Also, David Ellison, who is one of the actors, will be flying his Extra 300 in the airshows at Oshkosh.

RobW · 22 July 2006, 01:30 PM

Well, I'm packing up and getting ready to head out Sunday morning. I'd enjoy linking up with folks from the list. I'll probably park in the North 40. Look for N3665W... and a tired dad with 4 kids.

Bald Eagle, you still going?

ercoupepilot · 28 July 2006, 05:07 AM

I've seen the Fokker D.VII, the triplane, the 28, the 3/4 Eindecker. Any other on the field at OSH this year?

What does that blue and white Fokker D.VII have for an engine?

Ryan Wubben

hognose · 28 July 2006, 07:17 AM

Hey guys

Here at Oshkosh. WWI freak by avocation and aviation journalist by trade -- drop by the Aero-News mobile office (in the parking lot at the media centre) and say hey, and scam a cold water or coke off us.

Two of our writers, one a professional screenwriter in his "day" job, saw the movie. Both liked it. Screenwriter guy classes it as more of a popcorn movie than an Oscar movie (not a bad thing in my book). If it gets a statuette it will probably be a technical one. I could have gone but I can wait till the show's in theaters and give Tony Bill cash money instead. I haven't had time to read the site but I understand that we have a review up and some mention of the thing in our podcasts, including comments from Burt Rutan and Bob Hoover (they dug it).

It's the first movie ever in this digital technology, so it will go down in movie history regardless, but let's all drag our flying and nonflying friends alike to it and make Tony filthy rich.

There are a couple of inaccuracies in the film which Tony is very upfront about, that are there for dramatic, Hollywood reasons... if the film was just a slice of life on the Western Front viewers would stay away in great swarms. ("Today we flew for six hours and did not see the enemy. Went to bed tired"). But the movie is in many ways the most accurate ever made about WWI. Ever see the operating handles on a Vickers cycle before?

About the aircraft -- the N.28 was not used in the film, I believe, as it was finished afterward. Several N.17 (? bebe anyway) replicas were used. The most accurate were used in the closeups. Bob Baslee (www.airdromeairplanes.com) built 4 Nieuports in under two months for the show. The N.28 and the 7/8 blue/white DVII are also his designs, he offers full scale Nieuports and a triplane (with wire bracing, unlike the original) and several subscale planes. The best flying is probably his 7/8 DVIII.

There's also some breathtaking CGI. (Having seen some previews and clips, but not the whole film). There is a preview at flyboysthemovie.com. I think you guys are going to love it.