Short Summary
During the Barbarian Invasions of Europe in the 13th Century, two brothers face the ultimate decision in the face of certain death.
THE MARSCHER LORDS:Brotherhood or Death
"THE MARSCHER LORDS: Brotherhood or Death" is a timeless story, about the ages for the ages & for all ages. It is a story that resonates not only for today, but for all times. When someone is in need, we go to their assistance. But if standing by them at this time means the possible ( or likely) forfeiture of our own life, do we still have the nerve to see it through?
The writer, director and one of the actors in this film - one Robert E Wilhelm by name - has extensive experience on the stage and in short films. A produced playwright (his original works "My Kind of Girl" & "Learning to Fly" premiered in Los Angeles in 2005) he has also been a Military Historian from a young age, which led to his novel of historical fiction "All the Iron Men" now available on Amazon.com. His historical expertise has also led to guest appearances on such shows as Spike's Tv's hit Deadliest Warrior. With THE MARSCHER LORDS: Brotherhood or Death, he's been able to combine some very real and exceedingly dramatic elements together to create a unique short film that could easily be upgraded to a full length feature as well as a franchise. Wilhelm is of the mind that a exceptional & captivating film starts out with an excellent well-rounded story, with a healthy dose of escapism contained therein: "It's all about the story -' Wilhelm says, 'And I think that's what we've got here, something truly unique that every man, woman, & child can relate to."
Storyboard artwork by Jane Brewster www.janebrewster.com
Both he and his fellow actor in the film - Edwin H. Bravo - have both studied together in Los Angeles and have appeared together in numerous stage adaptations of Shakespearian works, including Richard III, Julius Caesar, & Henry V. The response to the script has been overwhelmingly positive and has afforded us the opportunity to assemble an exceptional - and well seasoned - production team. We've got an excellent location scouted out, and - complete with several beautiful Arabian horses handled by a veteran wrangler - we're looking forward with your help to creating something really memorable.
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THE MARSCHER LORDS:Brotherhood or Death is the story of two brothers caught in the maelstrom of the Barbarian Invasions of Europe during the 13th Century. Maxim von Marscher and his adopted brother Petrus meet for the first time in several years. Maxim - as a member of the Teutonic Order - has been away at war while Petrus has expanded his Nobility in the land of his brothers birth, becoming a very high, respected, and influential Lord. Maxim informs his brother that the Barbarian Hordes quickly approach and that haste must be made to get the innocent and women and children out of harm’s way; not to do so is tantamount to a death sentence. However Petrus’s main concern is that of the landed estates and their contents and how best to secure their property from the advancing enemy. The two brothers - hitherto very close - quickly find themselves at an impasse as precious time ticks away.
Of course, the most important element in all this is you - our supporters & contributors. All of the above is great (we hope) but NONE of it will go anywhere without you. If you like what you see please choose the level you can comfortably come in at and we'll do the rest! We want to give back to you for believing in and supporting us by giving you the well-deserved bragging rights of showing your family & friends that you have become a successful movie producer in your own right and can show them something magical and powerful that no one can ever take away from you: something that - because of your interest & your support - was artfully & beautifully completed. It is a gift that will give to you till the end of time.
Moreover, our page on Facebook clearly shows that there is a market for this film. Take a look and see how many "likes" we already have. Interest in this project has been building not only here in the United States, but also in Great Britain & Germany. People are hungry for new material.
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What We Need & What You Get
After budgeting - and keeping things as "bare bones" as possible - it is our belief that we can achieve a wonderful cinematic presentation for $70,000.
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Your investment will be specifically utilized for the following:
- Production Permits
- Storyboards
- Production Design
- Post-Production
- Production Sound
- Production Insurance for Cast, Crew & Horses
- Editing
- Horse Transportation, feeding & housing
- Horse Wrangling
- The point here is, of course, not just to produce a short film. The point is to produce a short that is so stellar in aspect and wins awards at film festivals that it leads to feature film development (you'll see a multi-award winning producer tell you why in the video). Not to state THE MARSCHER LORDS: Brotherhood or Death has franchise opportunities would be to ignore the obvious, and all those that help support us here we will give first opportunity of involvement (in whatever capacity we can: production, walk-on, PR, etc.) in both feature & franchise. Moreover, all those that support us here on indiegogo.com will receive recognition in the credits commensurate with the support level they choose.
- If we do not reach our goal, the funds will be utilized for out-of-pocket expenses we've already incurred, such as: website development & launch, website maintenance, shooting, editing, & scoring the pitch video (with full rights to the music btw!), transportation costs (gas - we've been in a lot of meetings!), the donation made to the Ride On Therapeutic Horsemanship for their graciousness in opening up their stables & grounds to us.
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Colorized storyboard rendering from our Storyboard Artist
Jane Brewster.
The Impact
THE MARSCHER LORDS:Brotherhood or Death is a story about the love between two brothers, boldness and courage and how far is one willing to take them. This is a story that’s as old as time itself, and many will relate to this film because they've experienced the same questions themselves:
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Where does the line of duty, love, or devotion divide us from our family - if ever?
- When in need, who can we count on to stand with us?
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When disaster looms are the bonds of character & family strong enough to weather the storm?
This story has already had a major impact: the strength of the story has afforded us the opportunity to assemble an Academy Award-nominated & multi-award winning production staff, including an actual knight: Emmy Award-winner as our Executive Production Design - Sir Oliver "Brick" Price, Knight Commander, Order of St. Constantius, a veritable pioneer in the field of special effects for over thirty years in the motion picture business; Dean Andre at Production Sound, a two time Grammy Award-nominated Composer; and from the Emerald Isle: Director of Photography John Lynch , who won Best Cinematography Award at the Toronto Film Festival along with awards at Cannes and in his home country of Ireland. The venerable Charles E. Santacrose, who produced the excellent short film The Angel, which won scores of awards at film festivals, weighed in with his acute eye. Santacrose has been especially excited about THE MARSCHER LORDS: Brotherhood or Death script, which he says is "the best i've seen in years" and "it is a short that has real and immediate potential for feature film upgrade." And even though these seasoned veterans are devoting a lot of their time, talents, and expertise, these types of productions can’t run on air. We still need to meet a bare minimum to bring it to a professional grade level for the screen. Your participation will make this production possible. Our goal is - $70,000 - will will allow us the bare minimum of quality, cinema-grade production: high-quality HD cameras, professional sound, location, editing, and post-production. Anything (and everything) beyond that will go into making this production even grander.
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Shield of Konrad I of Thuringia.Other Ways You Can Help
Economically, we understand completely that times are tough, and if you're a little short of cash right now (aren't we all?) but that doesn’t mean you can't make an invaluable contribution. YOU can help make this project a reality by:
- Getting the Word Out!!! Post it on your Facebook page with a link here to our page on Indiegogo.com. Email your friends, family, and then email them again!!! Mention it to your friends on the street. Ask them - "Don't you find the prospect of seeing something radically different exciting?" Here's your chance for YOU to make the difference!!!
- And don't forget to use the Indiegogo share tools!!!
And that’s all there is to it.