Waltzing Mephisto - Documentary
A$455
of $85,000 targetyrs ago
Closed on 31st Jul 2013 at 2:00AM.
"FEW MUSEUM ARTEFACTS HAVE BEEN COLLECTED WITH GREATER RISK
TO LIFE AND LIMB!"
Mark Whitmore, Director of Collections Imperial War Museum, London.
WALTZING MEPHISTO is a feature documentary on the engineer who designed and built it, and the AIF Battalion that captured and salvaged the WWI German A7V tank 'Mephisto' and sent it home to Australia as a war trophy.
Mephisto and crew two days before its fateful final battle, July 1918.
For 95 years Brisbane has been the home to the sole German WWI A7V tank on earth, 506 'Mephisto', after it was captured and salvaged off the battlefield by the AIF's 26th Battalion in 1918. For 77 of those years it took front and centre stage at Queensland's Old Museum but then in 1986, it was moved to an obscure location at the Museum's new South Bank Campus and ever since its 'Iconic star' has faded.
While two books have since been published on the priceless artefact, our documentary 'Waltzing Mephisto' will be the first film to tell the complete story from both sides of the coin. Already we've interviewed three of the world's leading experts plus three relatives of the Commanding Officer who coordinated the brave war-trophy 'Heist'. We've also secured a world's first interview with the Granddaughter of the German Engineer who built Mephisto, whom recently published a book detailing all 400 of his turn-of-the century automotive patients and licenses, including the WWI A7V tank program.
Mephisto being inspected by AIF Engineers and officers August 1918
But now our project is on a countdown to be completed by the Centenary of ANZAC. While Commonwealth ANZAC Centenary Grant funds are available, there are hundreds of competing projects and no guarantees. What our Pozible campaign insures if successful, is the filming of costly battlefield re-enactments, the licensing of rare photos and footage, first-class costumes by the best in the business and limited editing, SFX and sound design. Our total 'Wish List' budget for the entire project is around $150,000.
While a cinema-chain and various RSL's have already agreed in principle to exhibit the final work, our vision is to have a copy in every school and library across Australia, so everyone has an opportunity to educate themselves on this 'gem' of forgotten ANZAC Battalion history.
THE PRODUCTION TEAM
DIRECTOR: DAVID LISTER:
David’s films encompass a variety of genres. He’s won 10 directing awards
and numerous actors and technicians have won awards for their work under his
direction. He’s directed 16 cinema and television features, 12 television drama
series totalling 125 episodes, 63 documentaries, plus numerous commercials.
Lister’s productions have been widely distributed, appearing on SABC TV, Mnet,
BBC TV, ITV, Disney, Fox, HBO, RTL2 and Sky. He’s directed such notables as
Nelson Mandela (ANC Voter Education) actors Martin Sheen, Corbin Bernsen
(Guns of Honour) Richard E. Grant & Armin Mueller-‐Stahl, Oscar winner Marlee
Matlin & Thomas C. Howell to name but a few.
Web www.davidlisterfilmdirector.com Show reel clips: vimeo.com/18270361
David Lister & Tony Bellino with Mephisto at Queensland Museum
WRITER/EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: TONY BELLINO
Tony’s writing career began as a staff journalist for World Tracks Australia and as Queensland correspondent for Melbourne’s Fashion Journal in 2001.
In 2002/3 he begin producing short films with his first project ‘Ego Isle’ an entrant at Tropfest which also later went onto win second place at Queensland University’s ‘Best Of The Rest’ competition in 2003.
Since then he’s written & produced two shorts with his last effort Pappa’s Problemo being an official selection at the 2012 Byron Bay International Film Festival. He holds Diplomas in Television Presenting & in Screen & Media majoring in Film Production.
Web: www.bellstarproductions.com www.facebook.com/WaltzingMephisto
For more information or enquires E: [email protected]
PRODUCER: STEVEN CALDWELL
Steven Caldwell built his hands-on experience in the camera & editorial departments of several Australian feature films, where he worked with Chris Nyst (Gettin’ Square), Firass Dirani (Underbelly, House Husbands), Jay Laga’aia (Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones), Josh Lawson (Any Questions For Ben, The Campaign) & Margot Robbie (Neighbours).
In 2010, Caldwell produced and edited his debut feature Bad Behaviour, a serial killer thriller starring John Jarratt (Wolf Creek) Roger Ward (Mad Max) and Jean Kittson (Good News Week). Bad Behaviour’s Australian release is set for 2013 and the film has already won six festival awards, including an industry award for editing.DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: NOEL EVANS
Noel Evans has been working in the Film & TV for 12 years. Much of that time has been as a cinematographer on TV documentaries for many networks around the world. Noel operated out of Tokyo for 5 years working on foreign productions within the Asia region, some of the most recent being; The Forgotten Bomb, a theatrical release documentary studying the current and past impacts of nuclear weapons.
The Road To Greatness aired on MAIN EVENT in the U.S. This documentary looked into the lives of two of Australia's greatest Muay Thai fighters and how they achieved success. Echoes On The Waves, currently in postproduction, looks at how the lives of people have been impacted by the Tsunami in Japan - more specifically people who are missing loved ones that have never been found since the disaster. Noel lives on the Gold Coast where he directs and shoots TVC's, documentary projects and narrative work.
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If you have made it this far we would like the opportunity to thank-you for your time and interest in our project, and we feel privileged to be able to share Waltzing Mephisto with the Pozible family. 
2 x Waltzing Mephisto limited edition postcards mailed worldwide. A public thank-you on our Facebook page.
0 chosen / 5000 available
Est. delivery is Sep 13
Postcards plus a Digital download of final film. A public thank-you on our Facebook page.
0 chosen / 2000 available
Est. delivery is Sep 13
Postcards plus one reserved seat at a public screening or your own copy of the official Qld Museum 64 page booklet, A7V Mephisto (Pictured) mailed worldwide. A public thank-you on our Facebook page
0 chosen / 1500 available
Est. delivery is Sep 13
Postcards, 64 page booklet, two reserved seats at a public screening or a first release DVD mailed worldwide. A public thank-you on our Facebook page
4 chosen / 496 available
Est. delivery is May 14
Postcards, booklet, two reserved seats at a public screening or first release DVD, plus an Emhar 1:72 scale A7V "Sturmpanzer" model (Pictured) mailed worldwide. A public thank-you on our Facebook page.
0 chosen / 250 available
Est. delivery is Aug 13
All of the above with Museum booklet signed by authors and DVD singed by Director, Producer and Narrator Tony Bonner (Pictured) mailed worldwide. A 'Friends of Mephisto' thank-you credit in the film.
1 chosen / 199 available
Est. delivery is May 14
All of the above plus two reserved seats at the World Premiere in Brisbane with cast, crew and VIP guests. A thank-you in film credits.
0 chosen / 100 available
Est. delivery is Apr 14
10 x postcards, 10 x museum booklet plus 10 x DVD's, ideal for schools or libraries in your area. 'Friend of Mephisto' credit in film.
0 chosen / 50 available
Est. delivery is Aug 14
Corporate Package: Private screening for 100 clients and/or staff at an Event Cinema plus Booklets and postcards for each guest. A corporate 'Friends of Mephisto' thank-you in end credits.
0 chosen / 20 available
Est. delivery is Apr 14
Executive Producer/Sponsor Package: An opportunity to be part of the team and stamp your name on history! On-set VIP invitations to re-enactment filming days, interview on the 'Making of' film, four reserved seats at World Premiere, 10 x all offers signed by Director, Producers and Narrator, private cinema screening at an Event Cinema for staff, clients & company VIPs plus an Executive Producer/Official Sponsor credit.
0 chosen / 2 available
Est. delivery is Apr 14