In Honor of USS Iowa BB-61 Part 1 of 2…

    A Century of November continues to have many positives and special moments in development as a feature film.

Beginning with, learning and researching about the forgotten history of the First World War. The stories, the sacrifices, the journey’s, the trials and tribulations, the strength of families, nations and countries ability to endure.

Followed by, recreating aspects of the First World War for a proof-of-concept promotional teaser that maintained an onsite sense of appreciation for what human beings tolerated. 

From holding genuine weapons and artillery shell casings, to trying on replica uniforms and clothing, to firing authentic rifles...

...all the while creating the worst possible conditions to accurately portray the nearly unimaginable environment human beings were subject to.

At times, it can seem to pale in comparison, to stepping foot onto a legendary battleship that has withstood and survived countless encounters, standing the test of time.

USS Iowa BB-61 Battleship.

Recently, producer Nicolas Awde had the opportunity and the honor to walk in the footsteps of the navy on board the Iowa-Class Battleship.

He met and spoke with some vets, listened to speeches about the various routes that the battleship took through many excursions and asked many first hand questions about serving on BB-61.  

He described the comparison of researching, working and developing a feature film project with the canvas of the First World War to stepping foot on a Battleship that had served through many wars and survived WW2, The Korean War, Vietnam and Desert Storm.  

“Unbelievable” he stated as he stood in front of turret #2

His ongoing appreciation and respect, for all the people, through the decades who served on the USS Iowa continued to explore every facet of the mighty battleship.

This included the President, Captain and Crew quarters and living conditions. The radio room, lookouts, control room’s, strategy and planning areas, corridors with seeming endless hallways and so many other areas… too many to name…

Thank you… It was an honor to walk on, listen and learn about the USS Iowa Class BB-61 Battleship he stated.

To be continued…

A Century of November Jay Wolpert Interview Part 4

This is part 4 of a nearly one-hour uncut interview recorded with one of the people responsible for helping to create one of the most successful and largest Film Franchises in Hollywood History.

He is also credited for the screenplay adaptation of a novel that maintains an iconic stature.

He is the very talented and charismatic screenwriter Jay Wolpert of Pirates of the Caribbean and The Count of Monte Cristo.

Jay shares his thoughts on characters, personality, taking a gamble with producers unhindered by tradition in development of a feature film project entitled A Century of November.

Jay, also chats about his Hollywood experiences, signing a Hollywood screenwriter, building story around character, shooting locations, success, failure, the pressure to deliver a fantastic script and why the world should see this film.

https://youtu.be/Mv979S4Pj0I     

A Century of November Jay Wolpert Interview Part 3

       

This is part 3 of a nearly one-hour uncut interview recorded with one of the people responsible for helping to create one of the most successful and largest Film Franchises in Hollywood History.

He is also credited for the screenplay adaptation of a novel that maintains an iconic stature.

He is the very talented and charismatic screenwriter Jay Wolpert of Pirates of the Caribbean and The Count of Monte Cristo.

Jay shares his thoughts on his early career as a game show producer for the Price is Right, his second career as a screenwriter, Nancy Meyers, life in Hollywood, film genres, war and politics and the tragedy associated with them.

Along with his knowledge and experience about the source material from script to screen, the strength that bonds a father and son and how far would a parent travel and sacrifice to endure the love of a child and family, on the development of a feature film project entitled A Century of November.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0s2O3-vxSk

A Century of November Jay Wolpert Interview Part 2

This is part 2 of a nearly one-hour uncut interview recorded with one of the people responsible for helping to create one of the most successful and largest Film Franchises in Hollywood History.

Jay is also credited for the screenplay adaptation of a novel that maintains iconic stature.

He is the very talented and charismatic screenwriter Jay Wolpert of Pirates of the Caribbean and The Count of Monte Cristo.

Jay shares his thoughts on his early career as a game show producer, life in Hollywood, story and characters on Gone with the Wind and Casablanca.

The source material from script to screen, the strength that bonds a father and son and how far would a parent travel and sacrifice to endure the love of a child and family, on the development of a feature film project entitled A Century of November.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7q_a-V_y8E

A Century of November Jay Wolpert Interview Part 1

This is part 1 of a nearly one-hour uncut interview recorded with one of the people responsible for helping to create one of the most successful and largest Film Franchises in Hollywood History.

Jay is also credited for the screenplay adaptation of a novel that maintains Iconic stature.

He is the very talented and charismatic screenwriter Jay Wolpert of Pirates of the Caribbean and The Count of Monte Cristo. 

Jay shares his thoughts on his early career as a game show producer, life in Hollywood, story and characters on Gone with the Wind and Casablanca. 

The source material from script to screen, the strength that bonds a father and son and how far would a parent travel and sacrifice to endure the love of a child and family, on the development of a feature film project entitled A Century of November.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvqpfL8RoW8

Journey of a Lifetime Part 2

To look forward is to always remember where we have come from and how we came to be where we are today.

Reflecting on this Journey of a Lifetime;

In addition to a completed Oscar caliber Script from Jay Wolpert, a 5 min short film was shot based on the story recreating moments of The Great War.

A very well thought out, aggressive shot list was put together and over the course of 7 months Richard Schmon was hired by Pacific Empire Corporation to document a part of the Journey of a Lifetime, to shoot stills and time-lapse video for A Century of November short film.

Producer Nicolas Awde.

A Century of November is based on the acclaimed novel by award winning American Author W.D. Wetherell with a screenplay adaptation by Hollywood Screenwriter Jay Wolpert (Pirates of the Caribbean / The Count of Monte Cristo).

Cinematographer Joel Ransom watching the monitors at video village.

On a Saturday that produced some of the most undesirable conditions for human beings (really cold, overcast, wet, muddy and raining) (perfect conditions for recreating the First World War), over 100 cast and crew began at 6:00am and an average of 300 people gathered throughout the day in Mission, BC to shoot a promotional teaser for A Century of November. With cinematographer Joel Ransom behind the camera, everybody forged through a blustery wet day in the mud.

Many other key department heads included First Assistant Director Jack Hardy (RIP), Oscar Nominated Production Designer Peter Lando, Oscar Nominated Costume Designer Monique Prudhomme, Visual Effects Supervisor John Gajdecki, Key Grip Tony Whiteside, Stunt Coordinator JJ Makaro, and Props Master Jimmy Chow.

The promotional teaser was captured with a combination of Panavision Genesis cameras as well as Arriflex 435 film cameras and Kodak's 5219 Vision 3 film stock, all with Panavision's gorgeous glass. The camera crew also had the epic 50 foot Super Technocrane with the Mega 3 three axis remote head at their disposal.

The 11:1 Primo Zoom. An optical marvel. 24-275mm at a fixed T2.8.

The set at “Westwood” in Mission B.C. was divided into two halves, the first being the elaborate trench set and the second being "No Man's Land", the lethal bombed out space separating enemy and friendly lines on the western front. These were constructed one piece at a time over the course of the last seven months.

As the local coniferous trees and foliage do not accurately match those found in France and Belgium, both blue and green screens were employed to enable the Visual Effects team to composite the war torn backgrounds of the era.

Below are some of my images and time lapse from the set. Over the course of 12 hours Richard Schmon captured over 600 raw files and my three time-lapse cameras shot more than 35,000 jpegs!

Again, there are some moments from their story that help illustrate that nothing’s impossible: respectful persistence, drive, determination, heart, passion and a never give up attitude is everything.

They have recognized their opportunity.

A Century of November... Imagine… 

Development endures to the next stage…

A Journey of a Lifetime continues…