Pyrotechnicon: the Movie
My first novel - Pyrotechnicon: Being a TRUE ACCOUNT of Cyrano de Bergerac's FURTHER ADVENTURES among the STATES and EMPIRES of the STARS, by Himself (dec’d); Englished from the French by Adam Browne - was published by Coeur de Lion in 2014.
There was critical success ('A rich dessert of a novel, filled with finely crafted wit and adventure - Adam Browne has resurrected Cyrano in fine form. Delightful!' Greg Bear - Hugo and Nebula award-winning science fiction author) - but no one much read it.
My father once said that I'm famous, just that no one knows it.
So - I planned to make one of those book promo films - but didn't - then, years later, I did.
But it's not just a book promo. It's a short film with Cyrano de Bergerac played by David Tredinnick, and shot by Michael Wilkins, and makeup by Lou McLaren, and sound design by Livia Ruzic and music by Nicholas Kumashov - and on and on - it's a beautiful little film, about 10 minutes long at the mo; but it's not finished; it needs a scene with Cyrano in his 17th century spacegoing elepantship; it needs money.
Budget Overview
Filmmaking is a dark and hideously powerful moneymagnet (fig. 1).
It's just a little scene we're shooting, but it's going to cost heaps, no matter how we go about it. There'll be a set, an art director, there'll be lights from a hire company - there'll be editing and other post production - even at superlow mates' rates, the moneymagnet will grip hard.
Potential Challenges
Yeah, nah, it'll be great: we know what we're doing. Only danger is that I'll go over budget; in fact, I almost certainly will end up spending more than the crowdfund provides, but that's ok; I'll cover the difference.
Ebook
That's the offer here - a kindle copy of the novel, readable on any device, including certain tractors. Also, as with all pledges, you're invited to the launch party, which will be fun.
A credit in the final film
Your name in the thank-yous at the end of the film. Also, as with all pledges, you're invited to the launch party, which will be fun.
A message from you in the credits
As well as your name in the thank yous you can add a little message for the credits; just something pithy, though. Must admit I don't how popular this idea will be. Also, as with all pledges, you're invited to the launch party, which will be fun.
The book itself
You'll get a copy of the book, kindly contributed by Coeur de Lion, signed and with a drawing in the front cover by me. Also, as with all pledges, you're invited to the launch party, which will be fun.
An illustration
A picture (pictured) - a design from one of the animated sequences in the film, or an illustration from one of my books. Also, as with all pledges, you're invited to the launch party, which will be fun.
A dinner with Cyrano
Ok; this is the big one. An evening with the man himself. Fully present, at the head of the table, in a fine restaurant - hilarious and terrifying, you'll never forget it as long as you live, which won't be long, considering he put a hundred men to the rout with his sabre at Port de Nesle. (Hope we get enough people to do this one - it'll be great; David Tredinnick is brilliant).