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STORMDANCER©
INDEPENDENT FEATURE FILM
Aposse/CMC 2014 All Rights Reserved
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
7MM BUDGET (FUNDED)TENTATIVE SHOOTING in SPRING-SUMMER OR FALL 2015
ON LOCATION @ AINSWORTH, NEBRASKA31-45 DAYS
6 LEADS – MOST ROLES SHOOT 14 DAYSCO-PRODUCTION POSSIBLE
PACKAGING POSSIBLE
Company APOSSE/CMC MULTIMEDIA CORPORATIONProducers Johnny Lage, Thom MacNamaraFilm Type Family Entertainment, Live Action (PG MPAA Rating)Length 100 - 115 minutesBudget 7mm, Schedule F, AACP BudgetFunding Cash.Distribution TBD – End Pick-UpP&A Prints & Ads allowance. 700K included in budget. Provides “release support”.Incentives 20% state or local budget offset incentive secured in NebraskaCast Six ensemble leads (see cast breakdown)Asset Delivery End Month 8Sales Month 9Dir. Short List Edward James Olmos, Jodie Foster, Caleb Deshanel, Carroll Ballard, Peter Fonda, Tony BillDP Short List Caleb Deshanel, John Toll, Dean Semler, Roger Deakins, John RichardsonMusic & Score Bill Meyers Music (confirmed)Title Holder USCO/WGA held by CMC – Chelsea Multimedia CorporationStory By Katherine Huston & Johnny Lage - WGA RegisteredScreenplay Katherine Huston & Johnny Lage - USCO CopyrightedSource Material Original ScreenplayAwards Angel Award / Best Original Screenplay – Monaco International Film Festival, 2009Start Date Spring, Summer 2015Shoot 31 - 45 Days Location North Central Nebraska – Ainsworth, Valentine, O'Neill and othersStrategy One off or three picture trilogy.
STORMDANCER – INDEPENDENT FEATURE FILM TOP SHEET
STORMDANCER©™ 2014
Monaco's Angel Film Awards reveals winners9 December, 2009
The Angel Monaco International Film Festival has handed the Angel Award for best family adventure screenplay to StormDancer.
The screenplay, written by John A. Lage and Katherine Huston , tells the story of a young disabled girl who attempts to rescue a horse who she has formed a bond with. It is being produced by American producers John Lage
and Gary Hudson. The Angel Awards, now in its 7th year, focuses on non violent film and family entertainment.
For a full line-up of winners please visit the festival’s website.
AWARDS Winner “Angel Award” Best Original Family Adventure Monaco Film Festival, Dec 2009
PRODUCER’S INTRO
Thanks, in advance, for your interest in evaluating Stormdancer. It should be a wonderful film. Stormdancer is based on an award-winning script, and has been in development and planning for over a year. In fact, we fielded several offers to sell the script outright. We passed because the script is too good. Now, with financing in place, we’re ready to package the talent and shoot it for cash next spring, summer or fall, 2015. We welcome partnerships. We encourage you to request the story and script.
A 7mm dollar budget is nothing in Hollywood these days, but then again, Hollywood can’t shoot movies for 7mm dollars; independents can. We know the average studio cost for family genre is about 37mm, before P&A. Some ask, what kind of production value can you get out of 7mm budget? We say a look of a 28mm movie...if it’s cast well, shot right...and scored nicely. The list of music friends who are contributing to the soundtrack is humbling. So, we’re going for broke and going to make the picture. We invite you to explore with us. Besides, it takes a village to get anything made these days...even with money in place.
We have the highest expectations for the finished end-pick up picture, and believe we have the elements in place to make a go of it with a major picking it up and taking it out. We believe this so much that we’re willing to put it in the can without wide distribution in place. We believe there’s a shortage of good family content, and this film will be the exception to the rule and to the plethora of mediocre finished content out there already that ends up solely on Netflix and Redbox. No insult intended there either because Netflix will become what Blockbuster once was and maybe more...
Finally, we’re inspired by the reception the script has garnered with hundreds of people, young and older. If we listen, they're telling us there’s not much to see in theaters for family audiences, outside of the stranglehold of Disney and Pixar animation. We listened and tried to build a compelling script outside the box, outside of “predictable”. Paige, the lead character, starts off the film in a wheelchair and ends up on crutches. But we don’t fall into the trap of “healing her” by end of script. People said they appreciated the effort. I should know. My sister is handicapped and will never really walk. But she endures and so does Paige.
We implore you to take the time to cover the script. It’s worth the time. It’s definitely an ensemble film, with six leads and two supporting roles, but each role has its own depth and texture. The lead role of Paige steals the show, as did Dakota Fanning in Dreamer. And then there’s the magnificent stallion Stormdancer. We think the film will win the hearts of the moviegoer and perhaps an award to two. We have a sequel and trilogy planned. Just sayin’. We invite all thoughts, comments and direction. We’re open-minded and reasonable. We just want to make movies. Most of us have been around for forever.
Sincerely,
Johnny LageLead Producer & Co-Writer, Stormdancer
PRODUCTION SUMMARYStormdancer, the motion picture, has been developed to date by Lead Producer and Writer, Johnny Lage, Gary Hudson and team at CMC to fill a demand which is not currently being met in live-action family adventure, a broad market. It has been pre-financed at a total negative cost of $7mm, which includes reserve cash of 10% or $700K for P&A support in release. The picture is intended to be filmed for cash and delivered as a pick-up entry, and/or major festival entry in late 2015 or early 2016. The Producers believe the script is that good. Of course the venture is aiming for wide distribution. We believe the production value we’re creating will make the picture a valuable end-pick up picture. Aposse/CMC Productions owns the rights, copyrights and all schema to StormDancer. Aposse/CMC is located at www.AposseDevco.com. Co-Production is always possible.
The award-winning screenplay, written by Huston & Lage, took the coveted Angel Award at the Monaco Film Festival for Best Original Screenplay in 2009. The story takes place on the Beel Ranch; in the rolling sand hills of Nebraska, present day, on the Niobrara River Valley; an exceptional “River Runs Through it” type location for the rural, small town setting; which passes for The Beulah Land or perhaps Heaven.
Stormdancer is the hopeful story of 17-year old Paige McKenzie, a spirited teenager who dreams of training horses until a car accident shatters those dreams. Through sheer will and determination, Paige learns to mend the physical wounds. By discovering the meaning of faith and self-sacrifice, she learns all things are possible. In the process she rallies people in her favor to reach her goal. By the end of her journey, she grows into a woman before our eyes and learns courage, self-esteem and faith through her love for an animal.
Stormdancer is an ensemble cast of six lead roles, Paige carries the picture (70%). We consider the role of Paige an award-potential role for an established 17 year-old actress looking for a challenge or a career-making role for a newcomer.
Will McKenzie (40’s-50’s) is Paige’s father, Will is lead trainer. His relationship with Paige is oftentimes standoffish till the night she witnesses the birth of a spirited young foal. The role of Will is a solid supporting role and 40% of the picture. Think Kurt Russell ‘s character in Dreamer.
Other notable roles include Zeke, (50’s-60’s-70’s or older) a man of wisdom, charm, and vision. Zeke is 40% of the picture and the moral compass of the film. The role of Zeke is potentially an award-winning role. Could be any nationality.
Zander (40’s-50’s) is Zeke’s brother and provides character, humor and is the voice of reason in the picture. Like Zeke, could be any nationality.
Topping the cast is Jughead, a 40’s or so strong-willed, female truck driver. At first the skeptic of the film, she becomes Paige’s greatest ally (50% of the picture). Jughead is a complex, edgy woman with a secret. Multifaceted part and character arc. She’s “Racer X” to Paige.
Filling out the cast are six smaller multi-day supporting roles, a dozen featured roles and 42 day player parts.
The entire picture takes place in and around rural locations in Ainsworth and Valentine Nebraska. All locations are within 50 miles of center .
Actual physical photography is estimated to be 31-45 days on location.
STORMDANCER CAST BREAKDOWN
Sanchez:Owns the Ranch for many generations. A just and righteous man. His definition of “character” is “always doing the right thing when nobody’s watching”. This magnificent ranch has been in the hands of the Sanchez family for over 150 years and is now in danger of being sold because of forces of nature. Supporting: 20% of the picture.
Will McKenzie Paige's father- 40’s - 50’s. Will feels responsible for his wife's death and his daughter's paralysis. His guilt and misplaced desire to protect his child from the pain of pursuing the "impossible dream" (training horses) blinds him to his daughter's talents and potential and drive a wedge of anger and resentment between them. Lead 40% of the picture.
Paige McKenzie16 – 17 years old. Presently crippled by an automobile accident that killed her mother, Paige is confined to a wheelchair. Perhaps psychosomatic, her disability has kept her isolated and bitter. With her dream of training horses shattered, she finds life, hope and the courage to fight for her dream through the love of a horse. A star vehicle for an established young actress looking for a challenging, and perhaps award-winning role. Lead 70% of the picture.
Chance Walker17 years old. Wiser than his years might indicate, Chance is smart, mature and full of dreams. Working summers on the Ranch since he was a kid, he’s a young horse-whisperer and has loved Paige from afar for as long as he can remember; only she might not know it. Quiet, soft-spoken, respectful and charming, he’s always been her guardian angel. Supporting: 25% of the picture.
Zeke CunninghamHead trainer of StormDancer on the Sanchez Ranch for nearly 40 years, he and his brothers have watched Paiges father, Will grow up; and now Paige. He is wise and pragmatic. Zeke is a complex men of soft spoken simple eloquence and a will of well tempered steel; a patient man, who with simple acts of courage has fought prejudice all his life; the way Martin Luther King intended. Zeke refuses to see Paige as a "cripple" and encourages the girl to follow her heart and to do what she knows to be right though other people think it to be wrong. Could be an award-winning role. Lead 40% of the picture.
Rose Broderick aka Jughead Paige’s aunt. A tough as nails women who has never met her niece. Once in love with Will, she hit the road and never looked back. Jughead is a long-haul truck driver. She is a cynical lone-wolf type. Could be a refugee from the 70’s or 80’s. A life of lost love and harsh reality has left her believing in nothing and trusting no one until Paige's courage and unselfish love for her friend, StormDancer, convinces Jughead there’s still causes worth fighting for. Lead 50% of the picture.
Zander CunninghamZeke’s younger brother – 40’s 50’s. Zander is the voice of reason, but also the eternal optimist of the picture. Growing up with Will on the Ranch, they act like brothers. Supporting: 40% of the picture.
LOCATION DETAIL -Niobrara River Valley – North Central Nebraska The Niobrara River Gorge and surrounding valley and wildlife refuge offer panoramic and scenic vistas comparable to more well known areas in the U.S. and abroad, at a considerable time and cost savings to The Production.
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Tentative shooting schedule is anytime between June 1, 2015 and September 30, 2015
Gateway to the “Beulah Land”, a place which might be a figment of Zeke’s imagination
LOCATION DETAIL - Ainsworth NE / Valentine NE / Niobrara River The city locations offer believable backdrops to those envisioned in the original script and can lend realism and credibility to the picture without the necessity of major changes to the written material.
From a financial standpoint, due to the cost of labor, city and county support, trade-out potential and a number of relevant factors benefiting offset of soft costs in The Production, the Producers favor Brown and Cherry counties, and the use of cities Ainsworth and Valentine NE for preproduction and actual physical photography.
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LOCATION / Nebraska Nebraska is affordable and has offered an attractive production incentive.
LB863. Nebraska offers believable locations for Stormdancer and its “Sanchez Ranch, Home of the Peruvian Paso” scenes. Additionally, Nebraska offers a cost effective solution to the trio of looks of the movie – open range style shooting , small home-town feel and scenic overlook for the compelling scenes involving the animals final attempt at freedom in the “Beulah Land”; a place which just might be a figment of Zeke’s vivid imagination.
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Zeke’s Map – The Depiction of the “Beulah Land”
STORMDANCER©™ 2014
TIMELINES & AVAILS & DRAWDOWNS
Workflow 9 Mont
3 months Admin, payroll, office, pre-production, logistics, casting, scouting, additional preparation 1 month Physical production (stage and location) 3 months Picture editorial. Includes sound editorial and scoring (usually starts after picture is locked) 2 weeks Picture finish/conform/grade 2 weeks Audio mix (re-recording mix)
Month 8 Deliverables ready for review and inspection
Timeline Drawdown on $6,400,000.
Month 1-3 Preproduction - 5% (300K, 3 months) On location for one month. Admin 5% (300K) Month 4 Principal Photography - 60% (3.6mm, 30 days) Start to finish of principal photography. Month 5-7 Post production phase - 30% (1.8mm, 3 months). Editing, grooming, scoring and finishing. Month 8 Deliverables ready for review and inspection. Screenings, previews, sign-off of insurance.
Month 9-12 Sales & Distribution – 4% (240K, 3-4 months) Trade shows, distributor meetings, festivals. Prints & Ads P&A monies 10% of budget (600K) will position The Production to support the film at market.
Timeline
February 2015 Preproduction June, July or August 2015 Principal Photography September 2015 Post Production January 2016 Deliverables ReadyFebruary 2016 Sales & Distribution
Avails / 31-45 Day Shoot / Most Roles Shoot in 12 Days / Can be Shot Consecutively
Role #Days % of the Picture
Paige McKenzie 21 Days 70%Jughead aka Rose 14 Days 50% Will McKenzie 12 Days 40%Zeke Cunningham 12 Days 40%Zander Cunningham 12 Days 40%Chance Walker 10 Days 25%Mr. Sanchez 6 Days 20%Jack Kelly 6 Days 20%Billy 5 Days 15%Mick Jarrett 3 Days 10%Mr. Nakamura 3 Days 10%
COMPARISONS - SIMILAR FILMS 1995 – 2013
HEAVEN IS FOR REAL (2014) GROSS 101 MILLIONTHE MIGHTY DUCKS GROSS 125 MILLIONFREE WILLY GROSS 187 MILLION THE BLACK STALLION GROSS 400 MILLION SEABISCUIT GROSS 120 MILLIONWARHORSE GROSS 80 MILLIONDREAMER GROSS 32 MILLION
SIMILAR FILMS # THEATERS AVERAGES
WHEN RELEASED IN 1138 THEATERS $25,318,000WHEN RELEASED IN 2300 THEATERS $44,533,000
#THEATERS GROSS FILM YEAR COMPANY2735 $32,751,000 DREAMER (2006) DREAMWORKS1662 $7,294,000 WILD HEARTS (1991) BUENA VISTA1376 $12,049,000 BLACK STALLION RETURNS (1983) MGM
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STORMDANCER©™ 2014
PERFORMANCE OF SIMILAR FILMS Rank Title (click to view) Studio Date
1 Seabiscuit Uni. $120,277,854 2,573 7/25/20032 War Horse BV $79,884,879 2,856 12/25/20113 The Horse Whisperer BV $75,383,563 2,362 5/15/1998
4 Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron DW $73,280,117 3,362 5/24/20025 Hidalgo BV $67,303,450 3,065 3/5/20046 The Electric Horseman Col. $61,801,971 - 12/21/1979
7 Secretariat BV $59,713,955 3,108 10/8/2010
8 Racing Stripes WB $49,772,522 3,185 1/14/2005
9 The Black Stallion UA $37,799,643 - 10/17/1979
10 Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story DW $32,751,093 2,735 10/21/2005
11 Flicka Fox $21,000,147 2,877 10/20/200612 The Man From Snowy River Fox $20,659,423 517 11/5/1982
13 Return to Snowy River BV $13,687,027 1,121 4/15/1988
14 The Black Stallion Returns MGM $12,049,108 1,376 3/25/1983
15 Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken BV $7,294,835 1,662 5/24/1991
16 International Velvet MGM $7,009,238 - 7/12/1978
17 Hot to Trot WB $6,436,211 1,157 8/26/1988
18 Into the West Mira. $4,790,801 550 9/17/1993
19 Black Beauty WB $4,630,377 1,312 7/29/199420 Phar Lap Fox $2,878,404 - 4/13/198421 Sylvester Col. $385,687 35 3/15/1985
22 Champions AVCO $200,498 55 4/20/1984
23 The First Saturday in May Truly $124,294 20 4/18/2008
24 Running Free Sony $117,608 100 6/2/2000
25 Wild Horse Wild Ride Scre. $111,205 21 8/24/2012
26 The Ride RS $86,307 53 12/5/199727 The Turin Horse CGld $56,391 3 2/10/2012
28 Moondance Alexander RM $37,895 14 10/19/2007
29 American Mustang Vita. $16,459 2 1/17/2014
30 And They're Off KBR $5,154 10 10/28/2011$759,546,116 - -$25,318,204 1,138 -
-
AVERAGE(Wide Releases Only):
$44,533,224 2,339 -
Gross / Theaters
TOTAL (All Movies):AVERAGE (All Movies):
TOTAL(Wide Releases Only):
$623,465,138 -
CREATIVE & PRODUCTION TEAM
“Sledge”
Journeymen and women with talent and expertise in producing multimedia products
John A. Lage 30 years producing, writing, packaging and development.Thom MacNamara 30 years pre and post production, 2000 hours Sony EntertainmentShari Hamrick 25 Years producing, directing, financing and packaging.Gary Hudson 30 year creative executive, director and actor in film/TV.William Homeier 30 years in analytics, business affairs, strategic relationships.Fred Bruno 25 years in structure and finance.Gabriel Shumba 25 years in international finance, and debt-equity structures.
“Mac”
“Shumba The Lion King”
“Homey”
“Face” “Ham”
CREATIVE PRODUCTION TEAM John Alphonse Lage Producer, Writer, MarketingEarning his bachelors in Marketing, John headed west to Los Angeles. Starting out as a development executive, Lage acquired hands-on experience developing new product for film and television production. As story editor, Lage provided coverage on over 1,000 scripts per year. Joining New World Pictures, Lage was tutored by Brandon Tartikoff. Lage was instrumental in the development of projects such as the highly acclaimed Second Noah and Tour of Duty series, and in the success of syndication hit “Real Stories of the Highway Patrol, the long-running reality prototype.
Gary Hudson Producer, Writer, ActorHudson hails from Newport News, Virginia. Gary hit Los Angeles in 1979, but always considers Virginia his home. For the last eight years he has split his time between the States and Canada where he acts and produces. Hudson is now a dual citizen, utilizing this asset to CMC’s advantage in CMC-Canadian co-pro deals. Adept at co-production deals, licensing, portfolio leverage deals and sponsorship, Hudson brings over 25 years experience to CMC.
Thom MacNamara Producer, Post, Public RelationsMacNamara was director of production for Sony Entertainment with over 2000 hours of programming. His expertise in multimedia encompasses media vertical & external, public relations, international environmental affairs, and public works. MacNamara is a veteran award-winning producer. Previously he served as VP of sales and marketing at B&W Digital Post.
Shari Hamrick Supervising Producer, Production Manager, Distribution Hamrick’s expertise ranges from line production to supervising production ensuring budgets are met and films come in on time. She is also well-versed on foreign distribution requirements, structuring of contracts and in-out co-pro government deals having nurtured production relationships in Bosnia, Australia, China, Serbia and the German-speaking countries. Gabe Shumba Financial Management, Finance Structures & ComplianceShumba is a veteran business financial manager, consultant, and auditor. He has worked with many Fortune 500 clients. He understands corporate structure, compliance and deal architecture.
William Homeier DevelopmentHomeier brings expertise in project development, operational modeling, strategic planning, international sales, construction & pre-construction consulting, real estate entitlement and development, foreign sales.
MUSIC, SCORE, ORCHESTRATION The Producers of StormDancer are proud to announce the addition of Bill Meyers. Meyers is an award-winning composer and musician whose music stirs the soul and imagination of listeners.
Bill Meyers
In addition to being an accomplished musician in his own right. Meyers has produced, arranged, composed and orchestrated music for some of the most prolific artists. His credits read like a who’s who of American music; Justin Timberlake, Babyface, Whitney Houston, Neil Diamond, Michael Jackson, Donna Summers, Earth, Wind & Fire, Madonna, Rod Stewart, Brian McKnight and many more. As if this weren’t enough, he’s also conducted, arranged or composed music for films such as DreamGirls, (starring Jamie Foxx & Beyonce Knowles), Armed & Dangerous (starring the late John Candy) and Dick Tracy (starring Madonna).
Upon moving to Los Angeles, Meyers joined the prestigious ranks of the industry’s most requested studio musicians. His musical expertise graced the works of artists such as Natalie Cole, David Foster, Dionne Warwick, Jennifer Holiday, Olivia Newton-John, Sheila E., and Four Tops. While as a songwriter, his compositions were recorded by performers like Neil Diamond, Rufus, Donna Summer, the Emotions and others.
As an arranger, Meyers topped the charts with his string arrangement for Madonna’s “Papa Don’t Preach” as well as arrangements on her Like a Prayer and I’m Breathless albums. Additionally, Meyers arranged the horns on the classic EWF track “Let’s Groove”, the strings on the Bee Gee remake “Emotion” by Destiny’s Child and orchestration on Brian McKnight’s “Back at One”. Meyers’ creativity was not limited exclusively to other artists. Somehow, in the midst of his extensive work with other artists, he managed to find the time to record three solo albums – the Grammy nominated, all-instrumental Images, his first vocal LP, The Color of Truth and All Things In Time.
STORMDANCER©™, an APOSSE/CMC Production 2014
John Lage Aposse/CMC516-448-3965
Alex Burke Aposse/CMCMedia Relations
CONTACTCMC makes this presentation available for exploratory purposes.
No contracts are implied or inferred.The materials contained herein are the property of Chelsea Multimedia Corporation.
CMC offers to sign the appropriate releases so that you may cover and review the award-winning screenplay for your clients.
STORMDANCER©™
