Summary
I'm Brenda Tropf and I was born, raised, and currently live and teach in northwestern Kansas. This area, and the history of it, has been a growing passion of mine. That passion, combined with my passion for filming have made this a perfect time to work on this project. There is no better place to work than this area and the story of Thof's Dragon is one begging to be told.
Historian and author Deb Goodrich is a veteran of many documentary projects and hosts a syndicated television show. She has written a script about the life of Turner while here on the Plains. Through researching his family history and reading the many letters of correspondence between Turner and his family while in the army, she has pieced together a colorful narrative of his time at Fort Wallace and the discovery of the famous fossil.
We would like to produce an hour long documentary, along with other shorter vignettes, about Turner and the fossil. A project of this magnitude takes a lot of financial resources. More advanced video equipment is needed along with compensation for all those involved including actors, historical consultants, film crew, and production crew. There are also transportation and promotional costs.
With the project, we want to reach a national audience and bring attention to the vast amount of history that this area contains. Turner was never really recognized for his contribution to paleontology before his tragic death at the young age of 29. We would like to bring to light his life and passion, and at last honor his discovery of this unique fossil. The fossil itself remains in the holdings of Drexel University's Academy of Natural Sciences and castings are displayed above that museum's visitors desk and in the Fort Wallace Museum.
Your Support
Here is what your money will help us do:
- We would like to raise $5,000 to help us get a good jump on this project. That money will go towards purchasing filming equipment and paying transportation costs to transport horses, wagons, actors, film equipment, crew, etc., to Fort Larned to film some scenes since Fort Wallace structures no longer exist.
- With a donation of $50 or more, you will receive a DVD containing the documentary and bonus footage of interviews with historians as well as behind-the-scenes footage.
- Even if the entire amount we are asking for is not raised, your funds will still be used for this project. Any amount helps us get closer to the end product.
Impact
Fort Wallace, and western Kansas, played an integral role in the settling of the United States. When it was decomissioned, pioneering families dismantled the structures of the old fort and the museum nearby was established to share that post's legacy, This documentary will bring to life the richness of the time and varied experiences that make up the story of westward expansion. With its sparse population, western Kansas is often overlooked in the history books and it is vital that school children especially learn that important events occurred here, in their fields and bluffs.
Brenda and her high school class produced an online video for Western Vistas Scenic By-way about the lost Wild West town of Sheridan. Deb has written numerous books and has served as a historian on documentaries such as the "The Road to Valhalla," winner of the Wrangler Award, American Experience's "Jesse James," Discovery's "Aftershock," and AHC's series, "Gunslingers."
Brenda and Deb both live in western Kansas and understand what it takes to succeed and thrive in an area that others might see as desolate or non-relevant to the world today. They have a passion for telling others about the history of this area as well as all of the benefits of living in such a rural setting.
Our Challenges
Much time and effort has been donated to research and preparation but we all know it takes money to bring those efforts to fruition.
This is western Kansas:The value of our area lies in the people and all they are able to do with limited resources. Everyone involved with this production is doing his or her best to maximize time, talents, and equipment. Our production will embody that spirit of industry and economy as we take advantage of the resources we have at our disposal to bring this story to life.
