Los Angeles, California – (September 27, 2010) – A story that combines classical music and a small Iowa farm town, is in the making. Four time Emmy award winner, Craig Heller, scripted an inspiring film that promotes family and community values while celebrating the renowned Czech composer, Antonin Dvorak (DVOR-zhahk), best known for his beloved “New World Symphony.” Yet despite Dvorak and his family being the main players, the real hero is the town of Spillville and its fight for survival. This struggle for existence, and its ultimate success, reflects every farming community throughout the U.S.
The story, based on real people, places and events, begins in the summer of 1893. Working in New York City as Director of the National Music Conservatory, Dvorak suffers a creative crisis and is no longer able to compose. In an effort to revive his creativity, he moves his family to Spillville, Iowa, a peaceful, beautiful place populated almost exclusively by Bohemian (Czech) farmers.
“We are approaching the agricultural community to raise funds for the making of Spillville because we believe it can contribute significantly to their image/product enhancement,” Heller states. “This is going to be a high profile project with a long shelf life.” In addition to profit sharing and screen credit, there is a range of advantages for those companies supporting production of the film. These include invitations to the movie set during filming, serving their products on the set, even performing as extras in the film. Opening night invitations will be extended to contributing companies, who will also have their products included on the menu for the premiere.
There will be a tremendous opportunity to build on company product exposure, with the positive attention generated by the press, television, film festivals around the world, celebrated award shows and good old fashioned word of mouth. This could be a tremendous boon for the produce community, at a time when most industries have been at a two year impasse.
The list of acclaimed actors to play the role of Dvorak includes Tom Hanks, Robin Williams, and Jeff Bridges, to name a few. Further distinguishing the project, the producers are planning to shoot the film in an agricultural setting itself, replicating Spillville’s 1893 condition. This unique situation will certainly draw even more attention to the film, both during production and after its release. This movie could do for agriculture what Julie and Julia did for cookbooks.
Shooting on the film is slated to begin in the Fall of 2011, with the premiere set to take place in New York City, in the Fall of 2012, as part of a Dvorak Festival entitled “Mutual Inspirations.” This event, sponsored by the Embassy of the Czech Republic, will occur annually for four years, beginning in Washington, D.C. in 2011, NY, 2012, Chicago, 2013, and Los Angeles in 2014. The Festival will be heavily covered by the media, with exposure on television, online and other outlets, both in the U.S., and internationally.
In 1969, Neil Armstrong played Dvorak’s “New World Symphony” during his historic flight to the moon. Over forty years later, that music, and Dvorak, is still opening up new worlds.
Source: Spillville The Movie
