FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
STORMDANCER
©
INDEPENDENT FEATURE FILM
7MM BUDGET (FUNDED)
TENTATIVE SHOOTING in SPRING-SUMMER OR FALL 2015
ON LOCATION @ AINSWORTH, NEBRASKA
31-45 DAYS
6 LEADS – MOST ROLES SHOOT 14 DAYS
CO-PRODUCTION POSSIBLE
PACKAGING POSSIBLE
Aposse/CMC 2014 All Rights Reserved
STORMDANCER – INDEPENDENT FEATURE FILM TOP SHEET
Company
Producers
Film Type
Length
Budget
Funding
Distribution
P&A
Incentives
Cast
Asset Delivery
Sales
Dir. Short List
DP Short List
Music & Score
Title Holder
Story By
Screenplay
Source Material
Awards
Start Date
Shoot
Location
Strategy
APOSSE/CMC MULTIMEDIA CORPORATION
Johnny Lage, Thom MacNamara
Family Entertainment, Live Action (PG MPAA Rating)
100 - 115 minutes
7mm, Schedule F, AACP Budget
Cash.
TBD – End Pick-Up
Prints & Ads allowance. 700K included in budget. Provides “release support”.
20% state or local budget offset incentive secured in Nebraska
Six ensemble leads (see cast breakdown)
End Month 8
Month 9
Edward James Olmos, Jodie Foster, Caleb Deshanel, Carroll Ballard, Peter Fonda, Tony Bill
Caleb Deshanel, John Toll, Dean Semler, Roger Deakins, John Richardson
Bill Meyers Music (confirmed)
USCO/WGA held by CMC – Chelsea Multimedia Corporation
Katherine Huston & Johnny Lage - WGA Registered
Katherine Huston & Johnny Lage - USCO Copyrighted
Original Screenplay
Angel Award / Best Original Screenplay – Monaco International Film Festival, 2009
Spring, Summer 2015
31 - 45 Days
North Central Nebraska – Ainsworth, Valentine, O'Neill and others
One off or three picture trilogy.
AWARDS
Winner “Angel Award” Best Original Family Adventure
Monaco Film Festival, Dec 2009
Monaco's Angel Film Awards reveals winners
9 December, 2009
The Angel Monaco International Film Festival has handed the Angel Award
for best family adventure screenplay to StormDancer.
The screenplay, written by John A. Lage and Katherine Huston , tells the
story of a young disabled girl who attempts to rescue a horse who she has
formed a bond with. It is being produced by American producers John Lage
and Gary Hudson. The Angel Awards, now in its 7th year, focuses on non
violent film and family entertainment.
For a full line-up of winners please visit the festival’s website.
STORMDANCER©™ 2014
PRODUCER’S INTRO
Thanks, in advance, for your interest in evaluating Stormdancer. It should be a wonderful film. Stormdancer is based on an
award-winning script, and has been in development and planning for over a year. In fact, we fielded several offers to sell the
script outright. We passed because the script is too good. Now, with financing in place, we’re ready to package the talent and
shoot it for cash next spring, summer or fall, 2015. We welcome partnerships. We encourage you to request the story and script.
A 7mm dollar budget is nothing in Hollywood these days, but then again, Hollywood can’t shoot movies for 7mm dollars;
independents can. We know the average studio cost for family genre is about 37mm, before P&A. Some ask, what kind of
production value can you get out of 7mm budget? We say a look of a 28mm movie...if it’s cast well, shot right...and scored nicely.
The list of music friends who are contributing to the soundtrack is humbling. So, we’re going for broke and going to make the
picture. We invite you to explore with us. Besides, it takes a village to get anything made these days...even with money in place.
We have the highest expectations for the finished end-pick up picture, and believe we have the elements in place to make a go of
it with a major picking it up and taking it out. We believe this so much that we’re willing to put it in the can without wide
distribution in place. We believe there’s a shortage of good family content, and this film will be the exception to the rule and to
the plethora of mediocre finished content out there already that ends up solely on Netflix and Redbox. No insult intended there
either because Netflix will become what Blockbuster once was and maybe more...
Finally, we’re inspired by the reception the script has garnered with hundreds of people, young and older. If we listen, they're
telling us there’s not much to see in theaters for family audiences, outside of the stranglehold of Disney and Pixar animation. We
listened and tried to build a compelling script outside the box, outside of “predictable”. Paige, the lead character, starts off the
film in a wheelchair and ends up on crutches. But we don’t fall into the trap of “healing her” by end of script. People said they
appreciated the effort. I should know. My sister is handicapped and will never really walk. But she endures and so does Paige.
We implore you to take the time to cover the script. It’s worth the time. It’s definitely an ensemble film, with six leads and two
supporting roles, but each role has its own depth and texture. The lead role of Paige steals the show, as did Dakota Fanning in
Dreamer. And then there’s the magnificent stallion Stormdancer. We think the film will win the hearts of the moviegoer and
perhaps an award to two. We have a sequel and trilogy planned. Just sayin’. We invite all thoughts, comments and direction.
We’re open-minded and reasonable. We just want to make movies. Most of us have been around for forever.
Sincerely,
Johnny Lage
Lead Producer & Co-Writer, Stormdancer
PRODUCTION SUMMARY
Stormdancer, the motion picture, has been developed to date by Lead Producer and Writer, Johnny Lage, Gary Hudson and team at CMC to fill a
demand which is not currently being met in live-action family adventure, a broad market. It has been pre-financed at a total negative cost of $7mm,
which includes reserve cash of 10% or $700K for P&A support in release. The picture is intended to be filmed for cash and delivered as a pick-up entry,
and/or major festival entry in late 2015 or early 2016. The Producers believe the script is that good. Of course the venture is aiming for wide
distribution. We believe the production value we’re creating will make the picture a valuable end-pick up picture. Aposse/CMC Productions owns the
rights, copyrights and all schema to StormDancer. Aposse/CMC is located at www.AposseDevco.com. Co-Production is always possible.
The award-winning screenplay, written by Huston & Lage, took the coveted Angel Award at the Monaco Film Festival for Best Original Screenplay in
2009. The story takes place on the Beel Ranch; in the rolling sand hills of Nebraska, present day, on the Niobrara River Valley; an exceptional “River
Runs Through it” type location for the rural, small town setting; which passes for The Beulah Land or perhaps Heaven.
Stormdancer is the hopeful story of 17-year old Paige McKenzie, a spirited teenager who dreams of training horses until a car accident shatters
those dreams. Through sheer will and determination, Paige learns to mend the physical wounds. By discovering the meaning of faith and self-sacrifice,
she learns all things are possible. In the process she rallies people in her favor to reach her goal. By the end of her journey, she grows into a woman
before our eyes and learns courage, self-esteem and faith through her love for an animal.
Stormdancer is an ensemble cast of six lead roles, Paige carries the picture (70%). We consider the role of Paige an award-potential role for an
established 17 year-old actress looking for a challenge or a career-making role for a newcomer.
Will McKenzie (40’s-50’s) is Paige’s father, Will is lead trainer. His relationship with Paige is oftentimes standoffish till the night she witnesses the birth
of a spirited young foal. The role of Will is a solid supporting role and 40% of the picture. Think Kurt Russell ‘s character in Dreamer.
Other notable roles include Zeke, (50’s-60’s-70’s or older) a man of wisdom, charm, and vision. Zeke is 40% of the picture and the moral compass of
the film. The role of Zeke is potentially an award-winning role. Could be any nationality.
Zander (40’s-50’s) is Zeke’s brother and provides character, humor and is the voice of reason in the picture. Like Zeke, could be any nationality.
Topping the cast is Jughead, a 40’s or so strong-willed, female truck driver. At first the skeptic of the film, she becomes Paige’s greatest ally (50% of
the picture). Jughead is a complex, edgy woman with a secret. Multifaceted part and character arc. She’s “Racer X” to Paige.
Filling out the cast are six smaller multi-day supporting roles, a dozen featured roles and 42 day player parts.
The entire picture takes place in and around rural locations in Ainsworth and Valentine Nebraska. All locations are within 50 miles of center.
Actual physical photography is estimated to be 31-45 days on location.
STORMDANCER CAST BREAKDOWN
Paige McKenzie
16 – 17 years old. Presently crippled by an automobile accident that killed her mother, Paige is confined to a wheelchair. Perhaps psychosomatic, her
disability has kept her isolated and bitter. With her dream of training horses shattered, she finds life, hope and the courage to fight for her dream through
the love of a horse. A star vehicle for an established young actress looking for a challenging, and perhaps award-winning role. Lead 70% of the picture.
Will McKenzie
Paige's father- 40’s - 50’s. Will feels responsible for his wife's death and his daughter's paralysis. His guilt and misplaced desire to protect his child from the
pain of pursuing the "impossible dream" (training horses) blinds him to his daughter's talents and potential and drive a wedge of anger and resentment
between them. Lead 40% of the picture.
Rose Broderick aka Jughead
Paige’s aunt. A tough as nails women who has never met her niece. Once in love with Will, she hit the road and never looked back. Jughead is a long-haul
truck driver. She is a cynical lone-wolf type. Could be a refugee from the 70’s or 80’s. A life of lost love and harsh reality has left her believing in nothing
and trusting no one until Paige's courage and unselfish love for her friend, StormDancer, convinces Jughead there’s still causes worth fighting for.
Lead 50% of the picture.
Zeke Cunningham
Head trainer of StormDancer on the Sanchez Ranch for nearly 40 years, he and his brothers have watched Paiges father, Will grow up; and now Paige. He is
wise and pragmatic. Zeke is a complex men of soft spoken simple eloquence and a will of well tempered steel; a patient man, who with simple acts of
courage has fought prejudice all his life; the way Martin Luther King intended. Zeke refuses to see Paige as a "cripple" and encourages the girl to follow her
heart and to do what she knows to be right though other people think it to be wrong. Could be an award-winning role. Lead 40% of the picture.
Zander Cunningham
Zeke’s younger brother – 40’s 50’s. Zander is the voice of reason, but also the eternal optimist of the picture. Growing up with Will on the Ranch, they act
like brothers. Supporting: 40% of the picture.
Sanchez:
Owns the Ranch for many generations. A just and righteous man. His definition of “character” is “always doing the right thing when nobody’s watching”.
This magnificent ranch has been in the hands of the Sanchez family for over 150 years and is now in danger of being sold because of forces of nature.
Supporting: 20% of the picture.
Chance Walker
17 years old. Wiser than his years might indicate, Chance is smart, mature and full of dreams. Working summers on the Ranch since he was a kid, he’s a
young horse-whisperer and has loved Paige from afar for as long as he can remember; only she might not know it. Quiet, soft-spoken, respectful and
charming, he’s always been her guardian angel. Supporting: 25% of the picture.
LOCATION DETAIL -Niobrara River Valley – North Central Nebraska
The Niobrara River Gorge and surrounding valley and wildlife refuge offer panoramic and scenic vistas comparable
to more well known areas in the U.S. and abroad, at a considerable time and cost savings to The Production.
Tentative shooting schedule is anytime between June 1, 2015 and September 30, 2015
Gateway to the “Beulah Land”,
a place which might be a
figment of Zeke’s imagination
7
LOCATION DETAIL - Ainsworth NE / Valentine NE / Niobrara River
The city locations offer believable backdrops to those envisioned in the original script and can lend realism and
credibility to the picture without the necessity of major changes to the written material.
From a financial standpoint, due to the cost of labor, city and county support, trade-out potential and a number
of relevant factors benefiting offset of soft costs in The Production, the Producers favor Brown and Cherry
counties, and the use of cities Ainsworth and Valentine NE for preproduction and actual physical photography.
8
LOCATION / Nebraska
Nebraska is affordable and has offered an attractive production incentive.
LB863. Nebraska offers believable locations for Stormdancer and its “Sanchez Ranch,
Home of the Peruvian Paso” scenes. Additionally, Nebraska offers a cost effective
solution to the trio of looks of the movie – open range style shooting , small hometown feel and scenic overlook for the compelling scenes involving the animals final
attempt at freedom in the “Beulah Land”; a place which just might be a figment of
Zeke’s vivid imagination.
9
Zeke’s Map – The Depiction of the “Beulah Land”
TIMELINES & AVAILS & DRAWDOWNS
Timeline
February
June, July or August
September
January
February
2015
2015
2015
2016
2016
Preproduction
Principal Photography
Post Production
Deliverables Ready
Sales & Distribution
Avails / 31-45 Day Shoot / Most Roles Shoot in 12 Days / Can be Shot Consecutively
Workflow
9 Mont
Role
#Days
Chance Walker
10 Days
Jack Kelly
Billy
Mick Jarrett
Mr. Nakamura
6 Days
5 Days
3 Days
3 Days
% of the Picture
 3 months
Admin, payroll, office, pre-production, logistics, casting, scouting, additional preparation
Timeline
Drawdown
on $6,400,000. 70%
 1Paige
monthMcKenzie
Physical production
21 Days (stage and location)
 3 months
Picture editorial. Includes sound editorial and scoring (usually starts after picture is locked)
Jughead
aka
Rose
14- 5%
Days
50%
 
Month
1-3
Preproduction
(300K, 3 months) On
location for one month. Admin 5% (300K)
2 weeks
Picture finish/conform/grade
Will
McKenzie
12
Days
40%
 
Month
4
Principal
- 60%mix)
(3.6mm, 30 days) Start to finish of principal photography.
2 weeks
Audio Photography
mix (re-recording
Zeke
12 Days
 Month
5-7Cunningham
Post production
phase - 30% (1.8mm, 340%
months). Editing, grooming, scoring and finishing.
 
Month
8 8 Cunningham
Deliverables
ready
for for
review
andand
inspection.
Zander
12 ready
Days
40% Screenings, previews, sign-off of insurance.
Month
Deliverables
review
inspection
25%
 Month
Sales & Distribution
Mr.9-12
Sanchez
6 Days– 4% (240K, 3-4 months)
20% Trade shows, distributor meetings, festivals.
 Prints & Ads
P&A monies 10% of budget (600K) will position The Production to support the film at market.
20%
15%
STORMDANCER©™10%
2014
10%
COMPARISONS - SIMILAR FILMS 1995 – 2013
HEAVEN IS FOR REAL (2014)
THE MIGHTY DUCKS
FREE WILLY
THE BLACK STALLION
SEABISCUIT
WARHORSE
DREAMER
SIMILAR FILMS
WHEN RELEASED IN
WHEN RELEASED IN
# THEATERS
1138 THEATERS
2300 THEATERS
FILM
GROSS 101 MILLION
GROSS 125 MILLION
GROSS 187 MILLION
GROSS 400 MILLION
GROSS 120 MILLION
GROSS 80 MILLION
GROSS 32 MILLION
AVERAGES
$25,318,000
$44,533,000
#THEATERS
GROSS
2735
1662
1376
$32,751,000 DREAMER
(2006) DREAMWORKS
$7,294,000 WILD HEARTS (1991)
BUENA VISTA
$12,049,000 BLACK STALLION RETURNS (1983) MGM
YEAR COMPANY
12
PERFORMANCE OF SIMILAR FILMS
Theaters
Title (click to view)
Studio
1
2
3
4
5
6
Seabiscuit
War Horse
The Horse Whisperer
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Hidalgo
The Electric Horseman
Uni.
BV
BV
DW
BV
Col.
$120,277,854
$79,884,879
$75,383,563
$73,280,117
$67,303,450
$61,801,971
2,573
2,856
2,362
3,362
3,065
-
7/25/2003
12/25/2011
5/15/1998
5/24/2002
3/5/2004
12/21/1979
7
8
9
Secretariat
Racing Stripes
The Black Stallion
BV
WB
UA
$59,713,955
$49,772,522
$37,799,643
3,108
3,185
-
10/8/2010
1/14/2005
10/17/1979
10
Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story
DW
$32,751,093
2,735
10/21/2005
11
12
Flicka
The Man From Snowy River
Fox
Fox
$21,000,147
$20,659,423
2,877
517
10/20/2006
11/5/1982
Date
13
Return to Snowy River
BV
$13,687,027
1,121
4/15/1988
14
The Black Stallion Returns
MGM
$12,049,108
1,376
3/25/1983
15
Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken
BV
$7,294,835
1,662
5/24/1991
16
17
International Velvet
Hot to Trot
MGM
WB
$7,009,238
$6,436,211
1,157
7/12/1978
8/26/1988
18
19
20
21
22
Into the West
Black Beauty
Phar Lap
Sylvester
Champions
Mira.
WB
Fox
Col.
AVCO
$4,790,801
$4,630,377
$2,878,404
$385,687
$200,498
550
1,312
35
55
9/17/1993
7/29/1994
4/13/1984
3/15/1985
4/20/1984
23
The First Saturday in May
Truly
$124,294
20
4/18/2008
24
25
26
27
28
Running Free
Wild Horse Wild Ride
The Ride
The Turin Horse
Moondance Alexander
Sony
Scre.
RS
CGld
RM
$117,608
$111,205
$86,307
$56,391
$37,895
100
21
53
3
14
6/2/2000
8/24/2012
12/5/1997
2/10/2012
10/19/2007
29
American Mustang
Vita.
$16,459
2
1/17/2014
KBR
$5,154
$759,546,116
$25,318,204
10
1,138
10/28/2011
-
$623,465,138
-
-
2,339
-
30
STORMDANCER©™ 2014
Gross /
Rank
And They're Off
TOTAL (All Movies):
AVERAGE (All Movies):
TOTAL
(Wide Releases Only):
AVERAGE
(Wide Releases Only):
$44,533,224
CREATIVE & PRODUCTION TEAM
“Sledge”
“Mac”
“Face”
“Ham”
Journeymen and women with talent and expertise in producing multimedia products
John A. Lage
Thom MacNamara
Shari Hamrick
Gary Hudson
William Homeier
Fred Bruno
Gabriel Shumba
“Homey”
30
30
25
30
30
25
25
years producing, writing, packaging and development.
years pre and post production, 2000 hours Sony Entertainment
Years producing, directing, financing and packaging.
year creative executive, director and actor in film/TV.
years in analytics, business affairs, strategic relationships.
years in structure and finance.
years in international finance, and debt-equity structures.
“Shumba
The Lion King”
CREATIVE PRODUCTION TEAM
John Alphonse Lage
Producer, Writer, Marketing
Earning his bachelors in Marketing, John headed west to Los Angeles. Starting out as a development executive, Lage acquired hands-on
experience developing new product for film and television production. As story editor, Lage provided coverage on over 1,000 scripts per
year. Joining New World Pictures, Lage was tutored by Brandon Tartikoff. Lage was instrumental in the development of projects such as
the highly acclaimed Second Noah and Tour of Duty series, and in the success of syndication hit “Real Stories of the Highway Patrol, the
long-running reality prototype.
Gary Hudson
Producer, Writer, Actor
Hudson hails from Newport News, Virginia. Gary hit Los Angeles in 1979, but always considers Virginia his home. For the last eight years
he has split his time between the States and Canada where he acts and produces. Hudson is now a dual citizen, utilizing this asset to
CMC’s advantage in CMC-Canadian co-pro deals. Adept at co-production deals, licensing, portfolio leverage deals and sponsorship,
Hudson brings over 25 years experience to CMC.
Thom MacNamara
Producer, Post, Public Relations
MacNamara was director of production for Sony Entertainment with over 2000 hours of programming. His expertise in multimedia
encompasses media vertical & external, public relations, international environmental affairs, and public works. MacNamara is a veteran
award-winning producer. Previously he served as VP of sales and marketing at B&W Digital Post.
Shari Hamrick
Supervising Producer, Production Manager, Distribution
Hamrick’s expertise ranges from line production to supervising production ensuring budgets are met and films come in on time. She is
also well-versed on foreign distribution requirements, structuring of contracts and in-out co-pro government deals having nurtured
production relationships in Bosnia, Australia, China, Serbia and the German-speaking countries.
Gabe Shumba
Financial Management, Finance Structures & Compliance
Shumba is a veteran business financial manager, consultant, and auditor. He has worked with many Fortune 500 clients. He understands
corporate structure, compliance and deal architecture.
William Homeier
Development
Homeier brings expertise in project development, operational modeling, strategic planning, international sales, construction & preconstruction consulting, real estate entitlement and development, foreign sales.
MUSIC, SCORE, ORCHESTRATION
The Producers of StormDancer are proud to announce the addition of Bill Meyers.
Meyers is an award-winning composer and musician whose music stirs the soul and imagination of listeners.
In addition to being an accomplished musician in his own right. Meyers has produced, arranged,
composed and orchestrated music for some of the most prolific artists. His credits read like a who’s
who of American music; Justin Timberlake, Babyface, Whitney Houston, Neil Diamond, Michael
Jackson, Donna Summers, Earth, Wind & Fire, Madonna, Rod Stewart, Brian McKnight and many
more. As if this weren’t enough, he’s also conducted, arranged or composed music for films such as
DreamGirls, (starring Jamie Foxx & Beyonce Knowles), Armed & Dangerous (starring the late John
Candy) and Dick Tracy (starring Madonna).
Bill Meyers
Upon moving to Los Angeles, Meyers joined the prestigious ranks of the industry’s most requested
studio musicians. His musical expertise graced the works of artists such as Natalie Cole, David Foster,
Dionne Warwick, Jennifer Holiday, Olivia Newton-John, Sheila E., and Four Tops. While as a
songwriter, his compositions were recorded by performers like Neil Diamond, Rufus, Donna
Summer, the Emotions and others.
As an arranger, Meyers topped the charts with his string arrangement for Madonna’s “Papa Don’t
Preach” as well as arrangements on her Like a Prayer and I’m Breathless albums. Additionally,
Meyers arranged the horns on the classic EWF track “Let’s Groove”, the strings on the Bee Gee
remake “Emotion” by Destiny’s Child and orchestration on Brian McKnight’s “Back at One”. Meyers’
creativity was not limited exclusively to other artists. Somehow, in the midst of his extensive work
with other artists, he managed to find the time to record three solo albums – the Grammy
nominated, all-instrumental Images, his first vocal LP, The Color of Truth and All Things In Time.
CONTACT
CMC makes this presentation available for exploratory purposes.
No contracts are implied or inferred.
The materials contained herein are the property of Chelsea Multimedia Corporation.
CMC offers to sign the appropriate releases so that you may cover and review the
award-winning screenplay for your clients.
John Lage Aposse/CMC
516-448-3965
John.Lage@AposseDevco.com
Alex Burke Aposse/CMC
Media Relations
Alex.Burke@AposseDevco.com
STORMDANCER©™
STORMDANCER©™, an APOSSE/CMC Production 2014