About the Film
In just a year and a half, San Francisco will celebrate the centennial year of the “1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition” held in that city. This new feature-length documentary-dramatic film will commemorate that event in 2015. This remarkable world-class fair lasted only 9 months, yet hosted almost 19 million visitors. It was a showcase for over 2 dozen foreign countries, all 48 states, and every county in California. Though the fair was meant to salute the newly-built Panama Canal, it became a celebration of the rebuilding of San Francisco following the devastating earthquake and fire of 1906. Besides the impressive buildings, the exposition spotlighted the newest designs and technologies, many for the first time. On display were airplanes, automobiles, telephones, electric flood lighting, motion pictures, and machinery. Luther Burbank was there growing his potatoes, plums, and flowers in the Horticulture Palace. Henry Ford himself was there and built a working Model T auto assembly line where many cars were built during the course of the fair. Also among those who attended were former Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft and future President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Inventor Thomas Edison was there, film stars Charlie Chaplin, Mabel Normand, and Fatty Arbuckle were present. Composers Camille Saint-Saens, the Boston Symphony, and John Philip Sousa performed. Some of the attractions at the 635-acre exposition included the Tower of Jewels, Palace of Fine Arts, Festival Hall, the international pavilions, including Japan, France, Canada, Argentina, Turkey, Cuba, Siam and China. A marvelous Amusement Zone had the Dayton Flood and a working model of the Panama Canal. The original Liberty Bell from Philadelphia was even brought to the fair. The film will cover these and many other highlights of the fair in a dramatic and entertaining way.
![Palace of Fine Arts]( "Palace of Fine Arts")
Why This Film is Important and Unique
The film will be written and directed by R. Christian Anderson, who is also co-producing the project. Asked about preparations for the production, Anderson says: “I’ve had a head start, since I’ve been collecting memorabilia and souvenirs of historic San Francisco for over 40 years. For the past year I’ve been painstakingly collecting, sorting, and digitally restoring over 500 images of the fair especially for this the film". 260 of the images belonged to the late Reyna Belasco Rosenthal, niece of the famed Broadway producer David Belasco. Reyna’s father Solomon Belasco was a shareholder and, with her family, she was able to see the fair 2 days before the grand opening, so her photos show it in pristine condition. She returned to visit the expo several times during its run that year. Reyna was only 20 years old at the time and the film will be told through her eyes. Anderson believes this production will bring the audience closer to the fair than anything has previously because Reyna's experiences will be conveyed to the audience in a dramatic way, not with dry narration. A professional actor will be engaged to portray Reyna and her impressions. Also, an original music score is being composed especially for the film. When completed, this feature will be entered in a number of domestic and international film festivals. The producers also plan to donate copies of the film to the San Francisco Public Library, various schools, and selected civic organizations. Crescentius Films will be the production company of this unusual and entertaining film.
![Tower of Jewels]( "Tower of Jewels")
What We Need
We will need 20,000 to fund this film. This is not a short film, but a full feature length, wide-screen motion picture with stereo soundtrack. The funds are needed to prepare over 800 images for this production, secure rights for many of the images, supply transportation and lodging for the crew narrator, meals, meetings, period music and the score, cinematography, editing, promotional costs and festival entry fees. If our goal isn't reached, we will seek additional funds through other means, since we are determined to make this important film in time for the 100th anniversary of the exposition in 2015, but we hope to be fully funded for anyone who loves the city of San Francisco, it's history and legacy.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you have objects, historic images, or other memorabilia from the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco, please feel free to contact us for possible inclusion in our production. If you’re an authority or historian on this fair, we would love to hear from you! Corporate sponsors are most welcome to contribute, as well. This film is a Crescentius Films production.
