does any of u chaps know about this WW1 movie project?

You were in the Camel?

I wish! only for some of the ground shots, only member of the team under 30! You might want to re-route via the north Bucks area at the mo if you fancy a bit of true dogfighting action 😉

Tom

Gosh, time does fly, but thanks for the confirmation. I was very tempted to join in the fun, but managed to restrain myself.- probably blew my only chance to shoot down the dastardly Baron! You were in the Camel?

Propstrike, it wouldn’t have been last year, must be over two years ago as the Tripehound moved to Breighton a few months after filming was complete. But, to answer your question it was filmed over the Stokenchurch cutting. Did you see the Eindekker out on the same day as well? only we did shoot the C4 doc ‘Who shot down the Red Baron?’ around the time you mention, if you see it again look out for ‘May’ (dodgy orange goggles) getting chased by ‘Von Richtofen’, my first time on the silver screen, darlings!

Tom

Tom, Do you happen to know if that sequence was filmed near the cutting of the M40 at Stokenchurch? I was flying past there last summer and found myself surrounded by a Camel, something else, and a Jet Ranger.

Hello Chaps,

We at PPS were heavily involved in the trailer-shoot for ‘American Knight’ and upon seeing the results it looked fantastic, amazing what can be done with 2 aircraft (Camel and Triplane)! I don’t know when the real thing will be shot yet though and yes it is a shame about the same old love story but as most say it’s about getting bums on seats in the cinema, not necessarily having a three hour long film which consists of more shots of planes than the people who fly them. If Peter Jackson does start filming soon on his WWI project it should be very good, landscape in NZ resembles the Western Front quite well in places, he’s got to do it soon, otherwise why buy so many Tripehounds? We also did the Stella ad last year in the Czech Republic, quite pleased with the outcome of that one too, the late nights were worth it…

Tom

Daz, I thought Amelie was brilliant

Each to their own, homes 😉

Dave, don’t forget my own film script idea! Mind you, if I can’t turn this one out on my own, I think a bunch of us should get together and work on something – kick some Hollywood ass!

This sounds like Neville Shute’s novel “Pastoral” – oh sorry, that’s got a love element in it.

Lighten up folks. I don’t like blatant distortion of true stories any more than the next man but many’s the novel that has been based on fact.
Film producers make films, mostly, to make money not to please aviation fans they want bums on seats. My view is that if they want to use vintage aircraft (or have replicas built) then that’s fine – they are injecting cash into the industry and there are plenty of replicas around that probably wouldn’t have been built but for the film industry.

Roger Smith.

You are right of course, and I know full well how the film industry works and thinks, but surely there are enough real true stories that could be filmed and still be able to generate a box office hit without twisting facts or writing in some Mills and Boon thread through it?

I see that this film we’re talking about on this thread is not the same film that’s mentioned on the thread with the Nieuport replicas. So two different WI films are being worked on, and a possible third one someday soon if Peter Jackson’s proposed film is made. Could be very interesting to see how they go.

Daz, I thought Amelie was brilliant

Well, if it has good reviews and such, I may look it up.

I saw the trailer, and saw it had WW1 stuff in it (a red, German biplane of some sort whizzing over the trenches, anyway!!), but since I didn’t enjoy Amelie, I gave it a miss. Don’t think it was out here long, anyway.

I’d like to see a film that follows a crew of an RAF bomber making a night raid on Europe, that follows their day and night. The briefing, the flight checks, the build up and tension, the raid, and getting shot down, then following them through an escape across Europe. I would want it to be gritty, real and scary. And I would want it to tell the truth, a real story or at least a combination of a couple of real stories. The crew would be very close friends, all looking out for one another – no tension at the top, no romantic subplot, no gung ho bull that makes no sense. Just the truth. Then, I guess it would fit into the documentary genere mentioend above, but at least it’s be damned good.

This sounds like Neville Shute’s novel “Pastoral” – oh sorry, that’s got a love element in it.

Lighten up folks. I don’t like blatant distortion of true stories any more than the next man but many’s the novel that has been based on fact.
Film producers make films, mostly, to make money not to please aviation fans they want bums on seats. My view is that if they want to use vintage aircraft (or have replicas built) then that’s fine – they are injecting cash into the industry and there are plenty of replicas around that probably wouldn’t have been built but for the film industry.

Roger Smith.

Dammit! I can’t see the pic! 🙁

I’m not going to give too much away, but I’ve been privy to conversations about a WW2/BofB-themed film recently and reckon on it having stalled since I haven’t heard much in the way of news about it from the director, nor has my German friend who was going to be helping to supply aircraft (yes, you did read that right!).

Money for movies can be a problem, but it’s not the only one. Script issues, directors, actors etc etc….

The SFX company may have just made up some short stuff to show what can be done for the company making the film. Just a thought.

Steve you have to remember that film was made on a very tight budget. The UPP people may make a much better job if they have more money and time. As Daz says, technology has progressed in leaps and bounds too.

According to one of the links I put up, work has been prograssing on this since 2003 so who knows if that’s a good sign (ie intense work to get it right) or bad sign (ie money keeps running out).

Mark, I would be surprised if this was connected with Peter Jackson. Talk has been around since he made Heavenly Creatures about his WWI epic, he’s mentioned it himself often too I believe. But there has never been an official announcement of the film. They have announced his WWII Rusaaian film and we haven’t seen anything from that yet either, plus he has another film in the wings after King Kong. He also annouced on April 1st that he’s planning a sequel or two to King Kong – I don’t know whether to believe this given the date. Talk is the WWI film will be about the Anzacs, so I look forward to it very much, if it ever happens.

And, why would Peter want the cgi work done elsewhere when he owns the best cgi workshop in the world?

the shot of the spitfire crashing into the sea…………………. :confused:

Cartridge shells are fair game, they are unobtrusive and blend with the action as opposed to cutting from a pure film shot to BBC-esque special effects. Sometimes what you DON’T see is more impressive than what you DO see.

OK, yeah, apart from that bit, but sea effects are particularly hard to replicate, unless you’re company is Pixar! 😉

IMO, the special effects were vastly superior to the much bigger-budget Pearl Harbor, despite Dark Blue World not having the money or resources for them. Not to mention that it’s been, what, four years since DBW, so technology will have improved a bit by now.

the shot of the spitfire crashing into the sea…………………. :confused:

Cartridge shells are fair game, they are unobtrusive and blend with the action as opposed to cutting from a pure film shot to BBC-esque special effects. Sometimes what you DON’T see is more impressive than what you DO see.

There only seems to be four types of aviation film or TV programme –

1) War is the backdrop to a romance, usually a love triangle (blerh!!) and the war facts are usually twisted beyond recognition (ie Pearl Harbor)
2) War is the backdrop to two commanders arguing about how they should run the joint (Command Decision, 12 O’Clock High and The Flying Leathernecks all have elements of this)
3) Factual documentary style (Tora, Tora, Tora, though this did also have the top brass arguments)
4) Total gung ho bull that just makes a mockery of history (ie Black Sheep Squadron)

Very few have broken out of these moulds and concentrated on purely the men themselves, or the crew as a unit. I guess Memphis Belle came close, though it still included friction between the pilots,is a bit all American gung ho, and has an icky romantic bit.

But surely someone can find a new way forward? Or, does that mean telling a TRUE story?? God forbid.

I’d like to see a film that follows a crew of an RAF bomber making a night raid on Europe, that follows their day and night. The briefing, the flight checks, the build up and tension, the raid, and getting shot down, then following them through an escape across Europe. I would want it to be gritty, real and scary. And I would want it to tell the truth, a real story or at least a combination of a couple of real stories. The crew would be very close friends, all looking out for one another – no tension at the top, no romantic subplot, no gung ho bull that makes no sense. Just the truth. Then, I guess it would fit into the documentary genere mentioend above, but at least it’s be damned good.

AWWW not another damn romantic film set in a war… Please GOD not another tedious goodbye scene with all the suspence of a 20year old rubber band. No more inaccurate scenes featuring incorrect aircraft, nationalities, dialogue. Just please remain faithful to the FACTS of the period, like shooting the red baron down in flames whilst he shakes his fist gallantly and spouts some obnoxious saying. Just have a bomb go off next to the damn woman in the first 5 minutes and concentrate on the damn action. Ive had it up to here (motioning to above my head) with arty films that fail on EVERY LEVEL. The veterans deserve a lot more than that.
BARNOWL

I say a bunch of us get together and do a screenplay.

All in favour say, “Cha’mone!”

AWWW not another damn romantic film set in a war… Please GOD not another tedious goodbye scene with all the suspence of a 20year old rubber band. No more inaccurate scenes featuring incorrect aircraft, nationalities, dialogue. Just please remain faithful to the FACTS of the period, like shooting the red baron down in flames whilst he shakes his fist gallantly and spouts some obnoxious saying. Just have a bomb go off next to the damn woman in the first 5 minutes and concentrate on the damn action. Ive had it up to here (motioning to above my head) with arty films that fail on EVERY LEVEL. The veterans deserve a lot more than that.
BARNOWL

American Knight, Stay Away From Me (Alternatively: Fokker This!)

Variety is reporting that Chris Roberts’ next film project with Ascendant Pictures is going into production! Chris plans to direct “The American Knight”, a romance set against a backdrop of World War I air combat. The script is written by Chris Roberts, Duke Selley and Joshua Rubin. Here’s the description: “An American pilot in a British air squadron is torn between fighting the good cause of the war and vying for the love of a French woman, the latter of which leads to an air-combat confrontation with the Red Baron.” That’s right, they’re finally making a movie of Wings of Glory.

Well, it might be good…

This company lists the film among its credits
http://www.kftv.com/company-15616.html

And this link (the html version of a pdf file) indicates that UPP have been working on it since 2003
http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:90y6VS8jZWgJ:www.dmp.cz/content/pages/solutions/files/DMP_2004.pdf+%22The+American+Knight%22+film&hl=en

This one here tells more about the film
http://www.wcnews.com/news/showupdate.php?id=5293
It;s another ruddy romance!!!