After May 30, please go to our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Californiasealsdoc or email: take2mark@sbcglobal.net
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WHY?
The history of the California Golden Seals includes white skates, orange pucks, female streakers, some future NHL superstars, a flamboyant owner, and even a young Tom Hanks.
With such a wild background, the time for a documentary about this long-defunct hockey franchise is way overdue.
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THE BACK STORY
In the late 1960s and early 70s, I was a young, transplanted Canadian kid growing up in Northern California. Naturally, my dad would take my brothers and I to see the new, local NHL hockey team - the California Seals. (later renamed the "Oakland Seals" and then: "California Golden Seals.")
Through nine seasons, we watched as our team suffered through poor ownership, disasterous trades, crazy uniforms, and of course - their infamous Polar Bear White ice skates. And every time the struggling Seals seemed ready to start firing on all cylinders, another calamity would strike. As one writer stated: "Everything that could go wrong, did."
I always felt that the Seals would make for a fascinating documentary. And since I grew up to become a television producer, I was in a great position to do something about it. My credits include shows for E! Entertainment Television (25 episodes of "True Hollywood Story") as well as documentaries for the TV Guide Network, NBC, and the Reelz Channel.
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WHAT'S ALREADY COMPLETED
Beginning last summer, I travelled across Canada and the U.S. to interview more than 25 former Seals players, team officials, journalists, fans, and current NHL players.
The interviews have all been transcribed and I'm currently writing the script.
Everyone told great stories which will be augmented by an incredible collection of rare photos, documents, memorabilia, and home movies that have been generously donated.
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THE NEXT STEP: ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE
This is where you come in: we're seeking to license a wealth of archival footage featuring the Seals. This crucial material includes old game highlights, plus an amazing collection of 16mm news stories that have sat in storage for 40 years.
This is the single biggest cost with the documentary. The 16mm film has to be retrieved by an archivist, cleaned and prepped, transferred to videotape, and then licensed for use from local TV stations.
The old videotapes of televised games featuring the Seals also need to be licensed, as well as transferred to current video formats.
Finally, we also need to pay a fee to the NHL to use images of the various teams. (The folks at the NHL are aware of this documentary and are being quite helpful.)
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THE PAY-OFF
You'll be helping to tell the story of one of hockey's most-fascinating and little-known chapters. In return, we've assembled a variety of perks we hope will make contributing fun.