ERROL FLYNN, CHE & CASTRO IN A UNIQUE DOCUMENTARY
CUBAN STORY - The Film
THE GOAL
We need $13,000 ($14,500 posted inc Indiegogo fees) to restore and reedit the film CUBAN STORY (1953), a unique, historical documentary narrated and presented by Errol Flynn featuring Che, Castro and Batista.
NOTE: This is part II of Cuban Story Campaign where we raised 700$ which I have put aside till we raise the funds needed. We decided to only request the funds to directly restore and edit.
THE PURPOSE
CUBAN STORY has attracted the attention of many TV stations, but they UNANIMOUSLY want a different cut: The same can be said for the major Internet distribution platforms, but again, they ALL want a technical upgrade.
Once the documentary is restored and reedited, it will be shown at key festivals (The Toronto Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, etc.), presented to the press, and once traction has been built via word-of-mouth it will be released to the general public via TV, Cable, and the Internet.
ARTE/ZDF (France/Germany) broadcasted it in 2007 in spite of its condition because of its extraordinary content. CUBAN STORY also had a limited DVD distribution (US 2002) and a UK release this summer which was covered by the Financial Times:
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/a3a41f96-c5e5-11e1a3d5-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2DgAhUHQ7
THE DOCUMENTARY
My father, Victor Pahlen, and Errol Flynn owned a movie theater in Havana at the time of Batista. They were present as the Revolution began, and Victor Pahlen convinced Errol Flynn to film and narrate the events as they were happening.
The story of Cuba; Batista's regime, the rise and taking of power by Castro and the administration of power by Castro unfurls on film, including never seen before shots of Castro and his men, the events at Santa Clara, his guerrilla trainer from Mexico, Fidel's entrance into Havana, Che Guevara and the revolutionaries, Batista's executions, Fidel's first speech at the camp of Columbia, the people's excavations of the student bodies killed by Batista's men, the post revolutionary trials, and the executions that followed...
CUBAN STORY taps into the feelings of injustice, unrest, and disillusionment felt by Cuba's population at the time. The student demonstrations - the reaction of the people. It's about men who acted upon their convictions and conveys the time frame, the context, in which this took place. Retroactively, it is FASCINATING.
The material was held at Rank Laboratories in the UK for almost half a century, and is now held by the Academy of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles.
The former Head of the ICAIC Archives in Cuba saw the film and stated that most of the material is unique and not available even in their archives! It is an extraordinary historical document.
The existing film is 50 minutes long, and was shot in classic black and white.
WHERE YOUR DONATION WILL GO
Post-production costs are as below and WE NEED YOUR HELP to finish the film. If we are able to raise the funds to do so, we will use our compounded networks to promote and distribute it.
EVERY $5 HELPS!
Funds will be used for:
• Editing and organizing the raw footage
• Color correction
• Sound mixing
THE TEAM
* Kyra Pahlen. PRODUCER
* Thom Noble. EDITOR Academy Awards, USA 1992 Nominated Oscar
Best Film Editing for Thelma & Louise (1991).
1986 Won, Oscar. Best Film Editing for Witness (1985).
American Cinema Editors, USA 1986. Won, Eddie
Best Edited Feature Film for Witness (1985).
BAFTA Awards 1992 Nominated, BAFTA Film Award.
Best Editing for Thelma & Louise (1991).
Nominated, BAFTA Film Award (1986). Best Editing for Witness (1985).
* Justine Harari. PROJECT DESIGNER
The historic and unique quality of Cuban Story is a valuable contribution to History. Help us save the film for posterity by donating to this worthy cause!
* Cuban Story was the first film to show Castro's face to Russia.
* The existing film is 50 minutes and shot in classic black and white.
* The film material is held at the Academy of Motion Pictures in LA.
INFO-BITE: The prior Head of the ICAIC Archives in Cuba saw the film and stated that most of the material is unique and not available even in the ICAIC archives!
Even if you can't donate, you can still be a crucial part of this campaign. Please spread the word about Cuban Story: the re-mix by liking it on Facebook or posting about it on Twitter. We hope you enjoy and are as amazed as all when you see it.
THANK YOU!
INVESTMENTS
THANK YOU to those who have shown support and sent the first 700$.
We will keep you informed as we ask Celebrity Film VIP interested in History, Events, and Film to comment on the film. We will keep you appraised as we progress with the Film Festivals, and any and all developments.
Even if you can't donate, you can still be a crucial part of this campaign. Please spread the word about Cuban Story: the re-mix by liking it on Facebook or posting about it on Twitter and we hope you enjoy and are as amazed as all when you see it.
