See how Henry Beston's book, "The Outermost House," became an inspiration for the establishment of the Cape Cod National Seashore.
In 1928, author Henry Beston wrote his Cape Cod nature classic, The Outermost House, after spending a year observing the elements in a 20x16 cottage on the dunes of Eastham’s Coast Guard Beach. The book became an inspiration for the establishment of the Cape Cod National Seashore by John F. Kennedy, and was acknowledged as such when Beston’s seaside shanty was dedicated as a National Literary Landmark in 1964.
The nonprofit Henry Beston Society of Cape Cod, led by co-founder and executive director Don Wilding, is producing the film. The Beston Society "carries on (Henry Beston's) legacy," according to Cape Cod National Seashore Historian Bill Burke. The Beston Society's Don Wilding has presented 60 lectures about Beston and The Outermost House on Cape Cod and across New England (watch a lecture here), produced stage performances, organized exhibits, published a book,Henry Beston's Cape Cod, and has acquired numerous artifacts from Beston's Outermost House (view some of them here and here).
We started the first phase of the documentary, which is being directed by Christopher Seufert of Mooncusser Films in Chatham on Cape Cod, last year through the help of donations and grants from the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod, the Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank Charitable Foundation Trust, Glenn and Sheila Mott, the Inn at the Oaks in Eastham on Cape Cod, Attorney Karen Underhill of North Eastham on Cape Cod, and numerous members and friends of the Beston Society. We screened sample footage to a standing room only crowd at the Cape Cod National Seashore, and have even taken it into the classroom.
"The preview of the Beston documentary that you are working on really sparked the students' interest," said Elaine Aschettino, an English teacher at Chatham High School on Cape Cod, after her 11th grade honors classes were treated to two screenings of the documentary film footage. "How wonderful to see the students so excited about Beston and what he represents to Cape Cod and naturalists and environmentalists everywhere."
Yes, the response and press have been great, but now we're on to the next phase!
Reenactments with an actor at the key sites from the text of The Outermost House are next. With the actor, sets and props, it's a little more demanding than the typical nature documentary. That's why we're here on Kickstarter.com with this campaign for our next phase, which will include production of a short trailer, while, at the same time, allow us to continue to collect material for the final production of the film.
Your donation can help us tell this untold story of not just an influence for the Cape Cod National Seashore, but an under appreciated founding father of nature writing. This film will be offered to public television outlets, nonprofit organizations and National Parks, as well as schools, and serve as an educational tool for the nonprofit Beston Society.
Beston and his house are gone now, but his words echo still in the wilds of Cape Cod’s Outer Beach. The Outermost House is considered to be one of the seminal works of today's environmental movements. Rachel Carson said it was the only book that ever influenced her writing.
But we can’t do this without your help. Over the next 30 days, we’ll be hosting a campaign to raise $5,000 to cover production costs for the film on kickstarter.com. For your tax-deductible contribution, you’re also eligible to receive a copy of our DVD of pre-production scenic footage and special Outermost House merchandise that’s available only through the Henry Beston Society.
So, please, help us on the way to producing this film. Thank you!
Watch a sample of our scenic footage shot for the documentary. Click here to watch samples of interview footage, featuring: Bill Burke, Cape Cod National Historian; Joan Anderson, New York Times best-selling author; Dr. Daniel Payne, Beston biographer and Associate Professor of English, SUNY/Oneonta; and Jonathan Moore of Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, who also worked on Cape Cod National Seashore legislation as a legislative assistant to Sen. Leverett Saltonstall.
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- First created · 1 backed
- Don Wilding 237 friends
- Website: henrybeston.org
Pledge $15 or more
3 backers
Private link to 26 minutes of footage for the film, featuring breathtaking scenics from the National Seashore married to a lyrical soundtrack with some of Beston’s most inspiring passages, plus one postcard, featuring a photograph of Henry Beston's "Fo'castle" taken by Nan Turner Waldron (author of the book, "Journey to Outermost House"), signed by "Henry Beston's Cape Cod" producer Don Wilding and director Christopher Seufert. Thank you on credits.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $25 or more
10 backers
The Beston Society produced DVD of breathtaking scenics from the National Seashore married to a lyrical soundtrack with some of Beston’s most inspiring passages, plus sample HD video footage shot for the documentary, and interview segments with: Bill Burke, Cape Cod National Seashore Historian; Dr. Daniel Payne, Professor of English at State University of New York in Oneonta and author of an upcoming Beston biography; Joan Anderson, author of the New York Times Best Seller, An Unfinished Marriage; and Jonathan Moore of Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, who worked on the legislation for the Cape Cod National Seashore with Senator Leverett Saltonstall. Segments of footage from the Outermost House National Literary Landmark dedication ceremony in 1964 are also included; private link to online film footage; signed Outermost House post card from director Christopher Seufert and producer Don Wilding. Thank you on credits.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $50 or more
11 backers Limited (39 of 50 left)
Special Cape Cod National Seashore 50th anniversary poster, commissioned and signed by film director Christopher Seufert. Frame not included. Plus, DVD and private link to online film footage and a thank you on credits.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $125 or more
3 backers
Exclusive movie poster for "Henry Beston's Cape Cod: Inspiration for a National Seashore," designed by the Henry Beston Society and signed by "Henry Beston's Cape Cod" producer Don Wilding and director Christopher Seufert. Frame not included. Plus, signed copy of Don Wilding's book, "Henry Beston's Cape Cod," DVD and private link to online film footage and a thank you on credits.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $250 or more
1 backer
Nan Turner Waldron photo of The Outermost House on 5" x 7" canvas gallery wrap; private link to online film footage; DVD; plus Exclusive to the Beston Society Outermost House coffee mug, featuring full color image of Henry Beston's "Outermost House," taken by Nan Turner Waldron (author of the book, "Journey to Outermost House"). Thank you on credits.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $500 or more
1 backer
Nan Turner Waldron photo of The Outermost House on 16" x 20" canvas gallery wrap; plus DVD and private link to online film footage; signed copy of Don Wilding's book, "Henry Beston's Cape Cod;" "Production Team" credentials and t-shirt; and one postcard, featuring a photograph of Henry Beston's "Fo'castle" taken by Nan Turner Waldron (author of the book, "Journey to Outermost House"), signed by "Henry Beston's Cape Cod" producer Don Wilding and director Christopher Seufert. Thank you on credits.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $1,000 or more
0 backers
Tickets for two to the first screening of the completed film at a Cape Cod venue when the film is released (transportation to/from and accommodations on Cape Cod not included). Exclusive movie poster for "Henry Beston's Cape Cod: Inspiration for a National Seashore," designed by the Henry Beston Society and signed by "Henry Beston's Cape Cod" producer Don Wilding and director Christopher Seufert. Frame not included; Nan Turner Waldron photo of The Outermost House on 20" x 30" canvas gallery wrap; plus DVD and private link to online film footage; "Production Team" credentials and t-shirt; signed copy of Don Wilding's book, "Henry Beston's Cape Cod;" Outermost House coffee mug; bottle of Cape Cod sand; and one postcard, featuring a photograph of Henry Beston's "Fo'castle" taken by Nan Turner Waldron (author of the book, "Journey to Outermost House"), signed by "Henry Beston's Cape Cod" producer Don Wilding and director Christopher Seufert. Thank you on credits.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $2,500 or more
1 backer
Tickets for two to the first screening of the completed film at a Cape Cod venue when the film is released (transportation to/from and accommodations on Cape Cod not included). Dune tour for two in Provincetown, Mass. on Cape Cod in Spring or Summer of 2013, accompanied by film producer Don Wilding (transportation to/from and accommodations on Cape Cod not included). VIP Access production assistant for the day on a film shoot (travel to and from Cape Cod and accommodations not included); Exclusive movie poster for "Henry Beston's Cape Cod: Inspiration for a National Seashore," designed by the Henry Beston Society and signed by "Henry Beston's Cape Cod" producer Don Wilding and director Christopher Seufert. Frame not included; Nan Turner Waldron photo of The Outermost House on 20" x 30" canvas gallery wrap; plus DVD and electronic download; "Production Team" credentials and t-shirt; Outermost House coffee mug; bottle of Cape Cod sand; and one postcard, featuring a photograph of Henry Beston's "Fo'castle" taken by Nan Turner Waldron (author of the book, "Journey to Outermost House"), signed by "Henry Beston's Cape Cod" producer Don Wilding and director Christopher Seufert. Thank you on credits.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $5,000 or more
0 backers
Associate Producer status for the film; VIP seating for two to the first screening of the completed film at a Cape Cod venue when the film is released (transportation to/from and accommodations on Cape Cod not included). Dune tour for two in Provincetown, Mass. on Cape Cod in Spring or Summer of 2013, accompanied by film producer Don Wilding (transportation to/from and accommodations on Cape Cod not included). VIP Access production assistant for the day on a film shoot (travel to and from Cape Cod and accommodations not included); Exclusive movie poster for "Henry Beston's Cape Cod: Inspiration for a National Seashore," designed by the Henry Beston Society and signed by "Henry Beston's Cape Cod" producer Don Wilding and director Christopher Seufert. Frame not included; Nan Turner Waldron photo of The Outermost House on 20" x 30" canvas gallery wrap; plus DVD and private link to online film footage; signed copy of Don Wilding's book, "Henry Beston's Cape Cod;" "Production Team" credentials and t-shirt; Outermost House coffee mug; bottle of Cape Cod sand; and one postcard, featuring a photograph of Henry Beston's "Fo'castle" taken by Nan Turner Waldron (author of the book, "Journey to Outermost House"), signed by "Henry Beston's Cape Cod" producer Don Wilding and director Christopher Seufert.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $10,000 or more
0 backers
Executive Producer status for the film; VIP seating for two to the first screening of the completed film at a Cape Cod venue when the film is released (transportation to/from and accommodations on Cape Cod not included). Dune tour for two in Provincetown, Mass. on Cape Cod in Spring or Summer of 2013, accompanied by film producer Don Wilding (transportation to/from and accommodations on Cape Cod not included). VIP Access production assistant for the day on a film shoot (travel to and from Cape Cod and accommodations not included); Exclusive movie poster for "Henry Beston's Cape Cod: Inspiration for a National Seashore," designed by the Henry Beston Society and signed by "Henry Beston's Cape Cod" producer Don Wilding and director Christopher Seufert. Frame not included; Nan Turner Waldron photo of The Outermost House on 20" x 30" canvas gallery wrap; plus DVD and private link to online film footage; "Production Team" credentials and t-shirt; signed copy of Don Wilding's book, "Henry Beston's Cape Cod;" Outermost House coffee mug; bottle of Cape Cod sand; and one postcard, featuring a photograph of Henry Beston's "Fo'castle" taken by Nan Turner Waldron (author of the book, "Journey to Outermost House"), signed by "Henry Beston's Cape Cod" producer Don Wilding and director Christopher Seufert.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
