A full length, 90 minute documentary about Theodore W. Case, the man who made sound movies possible.
TALKIES: Q&A
Q. What exactly is your project?
A. TALKIES is a full-length, 90 minute documentary about Theodore W. Case, the man who made sound movies possible. He invented the "soundtrack" and put it right on the film so that movies could be synchronized.
Q. Can you tell us a little about Theodore W. Case?
A. A graduate of Yale and the son of a scientist, Theodore W. Case began working on a sound-on-film process right after World War I. His assistant and close associate was Earl I. Sponable, a graduate of Cornell University. They conducted their experiments at the Case Research Lab, which still exists in Case's hometown of Auburn, NY.
It was in that lab that Theodore Case perfected a method of putting the soundtrack right on the film itself, thus assuring synchronization, something that had eluded scientists for years. It made "talkies" practical, and it revolutionized movie-going. In 1926, Case signed an agreement to sell his patents to William Fox of the Fox Film Corporation, where it became the basis of Movietone News, and eventually 20th Century Fox.
Our feature documentary, TALKIES, relates not only what Case did, but also reveals something about the man himself. TALKIES will be the first major film to tell the Case story. It's being produced in Los Angeles by Pequod Productions and is being directed by Al Steigerwald, a former Auburnian and the grandson of Frank H. Steigerwald who was Case's electrician for over 15 years.
Q. Why do you need backers from Kickstarter?
A. “TALKIES” is a major motion picture. It has an original budget of just over $700,000 which is high for the average documentary. We have raised all of the big money for the film through in-kind grants, fee waivers, equipment grants, etc., because people in the film business want to be associated with a documentary that is going to change an important part of film history. They want their names attached to it. This alone has been an enormous incentive.
We need operating capital - the
day-to-day expense stuff - to finish the film. Travel, meals, lodging,
transportation, etc. really add up, and we now need those funds to
finish the remainder of the filming.
This story about the birth
of sound-on-film is not being made by a couple of guys with a camcorder
for sale in the gift shop. This is a major motion picture, shot with the
new Scarlet camera, made by the RED Company and is the high end of new
digital cinema.The finished product will be owned by every film school
in the world, will be seen in as many film festivals as we can afford
and will always be a permanent record of the origins of sound film.
The camera has already been paid for and provided to us by a major grant.
Our
award-winning cinematographer and our Hollywood-based music composer
are completely donating their services. The same goes for the Lady from
the Oscars who is doing our narration. And the list goes on...
If you have seen our project video, you should know that movie actor, ROBERT HAYS
("Airplane"), has also donated his talents. If you haven't watched our
project video yet, be sure to see what Robert has to say about
"TALKIES."
All of these expensive components are made possible by the donors for one reason:
THIS MOVIE WILL CHANGE THE HISTORY OF FILM AND THEY ALL WANT TO BE A PART OF IT.
Q. What if you exceed your goal?
A. We hope for this. It will enable us to enter more and more important film festivals around the world. Festivals are becoming an expensive proposition so every dollar helps.
Q. How far along are you?
A. We have been in production for over a year and a half. All of the extensive research is done. All of the legal work is done. We have conducted nearly 200 interviews. Even the opening and closing credits are designed and await a final finish. The music has been composed and orchestrated. What we really need is to travel for some more location filming both in California and upstate New York.
Q. Why is this film important?
A. Because it will change movie history. The single person most responsible for the change from silent to sound will finally get credit for it.
Q. What do you see as the viewing market?
A. Everywhere. Theaters, film festivals, PBS, HBO, etc. Every film school will want a copy. We hope this will be the last word on the subject and that TALKIES will be seen and used for generations.
Q. Has there ever been a film like this before?
A. Not specifically centered on the one man - Theodore W. Case - who made sound film possible and practical. He was also an interesting character. Case was as fascinating himself as the work he did. This is a great story.
Q. What makes this such an unusual project?
A. Because anyone contributing can rightfully say that they helped to change and correct a part of Hollywood history and that of world cinema.
Be sure to watch our video presentation to hear what actor Robert Hays has to say about TALKIES. (You might remember Robert as the young pilot in the classic comedy, "Airplane.")
Risks and challenges Learn about accountability on Kickstarter
One of our biggest challenges to date has been to overcome a tremendous amount of inaccuracies, not only about Theodore Case, but also in the history of film itself. There are those who claim to be experts on both subjects who have continued to further false information about Case and give credit to the wrong person for making TALKIES possible. We have the physical proof to present our story completely and accurately, finally correcting an important part of film history. And, as a financial supporter of our film, YOU will actually be helping to correct an important piece of film history.
As with any major film, the biggest hurdle is acquiring the funds needed to carry the project from infancy to completion. This includes costs for legal services, writers, film crews, composers, editors, equipment, insurance, and the list goes on.
Our original total production budget for TALKIES is just over $700,000. Most of the big money has already been raised through in-kind grants, fee waivers, equipment grants, etc. Once we have raised the remaining fees needed to complete our project, our goal is to see our project hit the big screen, film festivals, and film schools around the world. As a financial supporter of $10 or more, your name will appear in the film’s credits.
The funds we are currently seeking are completion funds in order to finish the film. Any money received over and above our goal will aid in getting our film to as many film festivals around the world as possible.
From there, our challenge will be to get our film placed in theaters and the likes of PBS, HBO, and basically to anyone who is interested in knowing the true story of how the world of film moved from silent films to TALKIES.
Because of the talented people that we have already assembled as part of our TALKIES team, and with your help and support, we feel we have the connections to make those goals happen. For more information on our team, you may also visit our website at www.facebook.com and search “TALKIES: The Invention of Theodore W. Case”.
We urge you to send your tax deductible donations to us here at Kickstarter.com so that we can reach our needed goal.
Theodore W. Case was a larger-than-life character and his accomplishments lead to the process which allows the synchronization of sound on film. This is the man who invented the process of sound on film. Considering the challenges he faced in giving us talking movies and so much more, our challenges in telling his story pale in comparison.
Thank you for your continued support. With your support, you are helping to correct a piece of film history.
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
11
Backers
$710
pledged of $19,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding Unsuccessful This project reached the deadline without achieving its funding goal on October 19, 2012.
Funding period
Sep 24, 2012 -
Oct 19, 2012
(25 days)
- 2 created · 0 backed
- Jonathan Barrick Griffiths 793 friends
Pledge $1 or more
0 backers
Thank You note and documentation showing the amount of your tax deductible donation, plus TALKIES Newsletter subscription. *(Pequod Productions is a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations to our organization are tax deductible.)
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $10 or more
1 backer
Thank You note and documentation showing the amount of your tax deductible donation, plus TALKIES Newsletter subscription; plus name in the movie credits. *(Pequod Productions is a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations to our organization are tax deductible.)
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $25 or more
2 backers
Thank You note and documentation showing the amount of your tax deductible donation, plus TALKIES Newsletter subscription; plus name in the movie credits; plus an 11” x 17” TALKIES poster (signed by Director). *(Pequod Productions is a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations to our organization are tax deductible.)
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $50 or more
3 backers
Thank You note and documentation showing the amount of your tax deductible donation, plus TALKIES Newsletter subscription; plus name in the movie credits; plus an 11” x 17” TALKIES poster (signed by Director); plus a *DVD copy of TALKIES [*This item available after final edit]. *(Pequod Productions is a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations to our organization are tax deductible.)
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $100 or more
5 backers
Thank You note and documentation showing the amount of your tax deductible donation, plus TALKIES Newsletter subscription; plus name in the movie credits; plus an 11” x 17” TALKIES poster (signed by Director); plus a *DVD copy of TALKIES [*This item available after final edit]; plus Robert Hays autographed photo. *(Pequod Productions is a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations to our organization are tax deductible.)
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $200 or more
0 backers
Thank You note and documentation showing the amount of your tax deductible donation, plus TALKIES Newsletter subscription; plus name in the movie credits; plus an 11” x 17” TALKIES poster (signed by Director); plus a *DVD copy of TALKIES [*This item available after final edit]; plus Robert Hays autographed photo; plus a TALKIES T-shirt (with “Crew” on the back). *(Pequod Productions is a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations to our organization are tax deductible.)
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $300 or more
0 backers
Thank You note and documentation showing the amount of your tax deductible donation, plus TALKIES Newsletter subscription; plus name in the movie credits; plus an 11” x 17” TALKIES poster (signed by Director); plus a *DVD copy of TALKIES [*This item available after final edit]; plus Robert Hays autographed photo; plus a TALKIES T-shirt (with “Crew” on the back); plus a TALKIES baseball cap (with “Crew” on sides). *(Pequod Productions is a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations to our organization are tax deductible.)
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $500 or more
0 backers
Thank You note and documentation showing the amount of your tax deductible donation, plus TALKIES Newsletter subscription; plus name in the movie credits; plus an 11” x 17” TALKIES poster (signed by Director); plus a *DVD copy of TALKIES [*This item available after final edit]; plus Robert Hays autographed photo; plus a TALKIES T-shirt (with “Crew” on the back); plus a TALKIES baseball cap (with “Crew” on sides); plus Special Limited Edition CD of original music score (signed by Composer). *(Pequod Productions is a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations to our organization are tax deductible.)
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $750 or more
0 backers
Thank You note and documentation showing the amount of your tax deductible donation, plus TALKIES Newsletter subscription; plus name in the movie credits; plus an 11” x 17” TALKIES poster (signed by Director); plus a *DVD copy of TALKIES [*This item available after final edit]; plus Robert Hays autographed photo; plus a TALKIES T-shirt (with “Crew” on the back); plus a TALKIES baseball cap (with “Crew” on sides); plus Special Limited Edition CD of original music score (signed by Composer); plus **Special Edition of TALKIES on DVD or Blu-Ray (signed by Director) [**This item available after final edit]. *(Pequod Productions is a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations to our organization are tax deductible.)
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $1,000 or more
0 backers
Thank You note and documentation showing the amount of your tax deductible donation, plus TALKIES Newsletter subscription; plus name in the movie credits; plus an 11” x 17” TALKIES poster (signed by Director); plus a *DVD copy of TALKIES [*This item available after final edit]; plus Robert Hays autographed photo; plus a TALKIES T-shirt (with “Crew” on the back); plus a TALKIES baseball cap (with “Crew” on sides); plus Special Limited Edition CD of original music score (signed by Composer); plus **Special Edition of TALKIES on DVD or Blu-Ray (signed by Director) [**This item available after final edit]; plus Large, lobby-size TALKIES poster (signed by Director, Composer, Screenwriter, Cinematographer, Narrator, Technical Advisor, Voice-Over Artists, Head of Special Effects Department). *(Pequod Productions is a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations to our organization are tax deductible.)
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $2,500 or more
0 backers
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER CREDIT; plus Thank You note and documentation showing the amount of your tax deductible donation, plus plus TALKIES Newsletter subscription; plus name in the movie credits; plus an 11” x 17” TALKIES poster (signed by Director); plus a *DVD copy of TALKIES [*This item available after final edit]; plus Robert Hays autographed photo; plus a TALKIES T-shirt (with “Crew” on the back); plus a TALKIES baseball cap (with “Crew” on sides); plus Special Limited Edition CD of original music score (signed by Composer); plus **Special Edition of TALKIES on DVD or Blu-Ray (signed by Director) [**This item available after final edit]; plus Large, lobby-size TALKIES poster (signed by Director, Composer, Screenwriter, Cinematographer, Narrator, Technical Advisor, Voice-Over Artists, Head of Special Effects Department). *(Pequod Productions is a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations to our organization are tax deductible.)
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $5,000 or more
0 backers
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER CREDIT; plus Thank You note and documentation showing the amount of your tax deductible donation, plus plus TALKIES Newsletter subscription; plus name in the movie credits; plus an 11” x 17” TALKIES poster (signed by Director); plus a *DVD copy of TALKIES [*This item available after final edit]; plus Robert Hays autographed photo; plus a TALKIES T-shirt (with “Crew” on the back); plus a TALKIES baseball cap (with “Crew” on sides); plus Special Limited Edition CD of original music score (signed by Composer); plus **Special Edition of TALKIES on DVD or Blu-Ray (signed by Director) [**This item available after final edit]; plus Large, lobby-size TALKIES poster (signed by Director, Composer, Screenwriter, Cinematographer, Narrator, Technical Advisor, Voice-Over Artists, Head of Special Effects Department). *(Pequod Productions is a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations to our organization are tax deductible.)
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012
