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Greetings
This is the latest report on progress of the Budapest to Gettysburg documentary film project. It has been a great year and the film is nearly complete. Click here to view this update at boritt.com
In Budapest to Gettysburg, acclaimed historian Gabor Boritt reluctantly explores a past he has refused to study: his own. His son Jake accompanies Gabor as he returns to Hungary. In a youth terrorized by the tyranny of Hitler and Stalin he discovers the roots of his groundbreaking work on Abraham Lincoln, the central pillar of American democracy.
Watch a short video preview here:
http://www.boritt.com/Preview.htm
http://www.boritt.com/GB/support.htm
In May I returned to Hungary with Gabor and his sister Judy. Gabor met long lost relatives, received battlefield tours of the Siege of Budapest and the 1956 Revolt, and returned to the cellar which protected him while tanks destroyed the building above and other locations. My small crew and I shot over 70 hours of footage during our 2-week trip. Through the summer editor Ira Meistrich and I worked along with interns and assistants on the post-production. We completed a rough cut by early September. By mid-October the film was ready to screen in Hungary (read below).
Now an 84 minute fine-cut of the film is ready. This Wednesday the film will screen for a small group of colleagues in New Yorkl. We are beginning to submit the film to film festivals around the world and screen it for potential agents, distributors, networks and others who could help the film reach a large audience.
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Gabor's new book The Gettysburg Gospel: The Lincoln Speech That Nobody Knows was published by Simon & Schuster this month. The book promises to become the standard account of the Gettysburg Address . It takes a fresh look at the 272 words written by Lincoln, probably in a 36-hour period, partly in Washington, partly at the scene of the battle, the greatest man-made disaster in American history. The word "gospel" suggests spiritual rebirth. When Lincoln's words are best understood, they bring that potential to Americans, indeed to people everywhere. The process of researching, writing and editing the Gettysburg Gospel is featured in the film. Gabor is currently on a nationwide tour in support of the book. The book is the cover story of this week's U.S. News and World Report. It has also been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, New York Sun and Civil War Times. And my father suggests that I mention the book makes a great holiday gift. He'll even sign it for you. Check out www.GettysburgGospel.com. |
Return to Revolution 50 years later
Last month I traveled to Hungary. At the invitation of the American Embassy we toured the country screening the Budapest to Gettysburg documentary in 4 cities: Pecs, Debrecen, Veszprem and at the Central European University in Budapest. My mom and dad joined me. The Hungarian audience reacted to the film, a work-in-progress, quite differently from Americans. It was overwhelmingly positive and I received some very useful feedback and touching comments.
October 23rd marked the 50th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution. My dad and I got into the middle of some of the police-protester conflicts, which you may have seen on the news. Fifty years to the day my dad was back in the middle of a fray in Budapest. While it was sad to see an important day marred by conflict it did provide opportunity to shoot some good footage. As protesters waved flags and hurled rocks police in full riot gear fired tear gas and rubber bullets. One protester even hijacked a vintage 1956 tank and somehow got it rolling. Red streaked across the black sky. Rubber bullets. Rocks thrown. Tear gas sprayed. Eyes burning. We couldn't see. I held my camera out blindly shooting footage. We ran towards the action. Loud bangs. An explosion and flames race across the street towards the police - a Molotov cocktail. Then a canister lands a few yards from us. Tear gas billows out of it. There is yelling and screaming. A mass of people sprint towards us. We turn back down the street. As my 66 year old dad sprints in front of me he turns around and coolly says in mid-stride: "Go by the wall." We duck into a shop entrance. My dad - finding himself in a situation so similar to what he lived through as a 16 year old kid - said in an almost disgusted tone, "I'm too old to get shot. Let's get out of here."
Audience Responses
Below are excerpts from emails sent by Hungarian audience members. The English is not perfect but the sentiments are very heartfelt:
Dear Jake, I'm writing to you to let you know that I feel your movie and your father's words presented in it are things that make my life richer. I'd like to thank both of you for the experience. I liked the closeness that the movie created and projected towards the viewer. I liked that even the most powerful parts didn't resemble to Hollywood films. It was simply perfect. Here, in Hungary there are so many fool, old men who keep beating their chests and claiming themselves to be heroes. There's so many lies about it. People keep distorting things and for a 23 year-old young woman like me it's hard to find out what could have happened really. That's why I appreciate your father's attitude towards this event. Because he didn't try to claim himself to be a hero, he didn't exaggerate things, he just simply told what he could remember. I'm glad that I came last night and watched your film. It was one of the greatest experiences in my life. Thank you! Best regards, Melinda
Hi!: I saw your film in Debrecen. It says so much. It was a great movie, I'm amazed by the pure truth. In Hungary '56 completely lose its sense. Nowdays its all about fake glory, everyone says: "I'm fighting for freedom, like noone else..." So that's the wall you need to break when you try to make a film about '56. But you made it. I like how the movie is close to us. Because your father don't want to be a hero, he is a man born in the middle of the history. And that simplicity makes he and your movie great. I'm glad to have an opportunity to watch it. And I hope its finished soon and released in dvd. Gabor Biro
If you are interested in learning more about the 1956 Hungarian Revolution check out The Hungarian Revolution 1956 by Erwin Schmidl and Laszlo Ritter (Osprey 2006). Laszlo is the project historical advisor and is featured in the Budapest to Gettysburg documentary. |
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The Budapest to Gettysburg documentary is nearly complete. Many of the most expensive legal clearance and audio-visual technical processes come at the end of the project. To date over $295,000 has been committed to the film. We still need to raise the remaining $73,000, the final 20% of the budget. We need the full budget in place to ensure that the finished film is the highest possible quality.
Earlier this year Jack Kemp and Tom Kemp hosted a fundraising party at the Regency Club in Los Angeles. Among the illustrious attendees was Oscar winning cinematographer and Hungarian native Vilmos Zsigmond who recounted his own harrowing escape from Hungary in 1956. The party raised over $50,000 for the project
Supporters are recognized in the following ways:
Benefactor: $20,000 and above-Lead donor screen credit and recognition in publicity and educational materials for film (plus benefits described below).
Patron: $10,000 and above -Prominent screen credit and recognition in publicity and educational materials for film (plus benefits described below).
Sponsor: $5,000 and above - Screen credit and recognition in publicity and educational materials for film; exclusive group tour of the Gettysburg Battlefield led by acclaimed scholar Gabor Boritt (plus benefits described below).
Supporters to Date:
Benefactors
Patrons
Sponsors |
Tom Kemp, National Philanthropic Trust-Tom & Jane Petrie, Times & News Publishing, The Benjamin and Belle Cogan Foundation,
William E. Simon Foundation, Inc. |
Additional Supporters
Advisory Committee: Ken Burns, David Grubin, Rory Kennedy, Ronald Maxwell, Sarah Teale, Sue Williams, David Blight, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Harold Holzer, James Horton, Tibor Frank, Geza Jesenszky, James McPherson
A Note from Fundraising Chairman Jack Kemp Gabor's interpretations of American history are a powerful experience. It is an experience that should be shared by more than the few who are privileged to hear one of Gabor's tours or lectures. The Budapest to Gettysburg project will bring this experience to a wide audience. Abraham Lincoln is the greatest symbol of the American dream, rising from poverty to the Presidency. Though his path was very different, Gabor similarly embraced the promise of America as millions of immigrants have. Here Gabor found, as Lincoln so eloquently spoke in Gettysburg, "a new birth of freedom." In understanding Gabor's story we will come to a better understanding of Lincoln, our own nation and how we can teach others about America's promise. Please join me in supporting Budapest to Gettysburg. |
| Tom Kemp and Jake Boritt on stage at the 2004 Civil War Institute prior to announcing the launch of the Budapest to Gettysburg project. |
Please note the new mailing address (the old address still works):
Jake Boritt | Boritt Films, LLC |1864 Seventh Avenue, # 34 | New York, NY 10026
917-617-4401 | info@boritt.com | www.boritt.com
