June 2021:
https://thelocalne.ws/2021/06/02/print-edition-june-2-2021/
January 2020
Press article: http://thelocalne.ws/2020/01/27/documentary-film-makers-to-recreate-wwii-scenes-in-ipswich/
Our releases to the press:
PRESS RELEASE – January 27, 2020
CONTACT: Holly Stadtler, hollybstadtler@gmail.com (301) 928-4389 (c)
Dream Catcher Films Entertainment, Inc. of Ipswich plans to recreate the “Long March” of 1945 WWII POW’s in Ipswich for a documentary. Seventy five years ago this month, nearly 11,000 POWs from the Stalag Luft III POW camp joined 70,000 other prisoners and refugees in a forced march across Germany in extreme winter conditions. Fearing the Russian advance, Hitler was emptying his POW camps. This event is part of the documentary The Green Box: At The Heart Of A Purple Heart, which is based on Ipswich author Jim Kurtz’s book THE GREEN BOX.
On the first night of the forced march, prisoners were pelted with relentless wind and snow as they trudged eighteen miles in eleven hours. Having been hastily evacuated, they carried what little food and essentials available in packs fashioned out of whatever they could find. Their ordeal would last weeks. As Bob Neary wrote in his book STALAG LUFT III, published 1946: “We were relieved by occasional ten-minute rest periods, during which the men sprawled in the snow, exhausted and utterly oblivious of near-zero temperature and the drifts. Freiwaldau provided a few hours of shelter in concentration camp buildings. There wasn’t sufficient room to shelter all the men that were constantly arriving, so groups took turns warming themselves inside while others waited in the blizzard.”
Producers of The Green Box: At The Heart Of A Purple Heart are telling the story of 2nd Lt. Robert Kurtz and his B24 crew, many of whom were on this march. Their plane was shot down months earlier, and eight of the ten crew members were taken prisoner. This march is a vital part of their story, and the recreation should be shot in snow. To film the re-enactment, the production company will hire re-enactors, secure and build props including: sleds, Red Cross care packages, and find a way to blow snow. We hope to film this re-enactment in Ipswich. In addition, the producers are appealing to local businesses and citizens, making this a true community endeavor. If you would like to help by appearing in the movie, assisting with the props, or helping feed the actors please contact Dream Catcher Films Entertainment, Inc. Currently the plan is to film mid March – weather and fundraising success dependent. The production company encourages businesses interested in sponsoring the event and helping offset expenses to contact one of the Co-Directors: Holly Stadtler at 301-928-4389 or Vicki Hughes at 978-432-1172. A film trailer is on the home page https://www.greenboxfilm.com/ and donations (tax deductible through our fiscal sponsor) may be made on the “Support the Project” web page.
Recently the Military Historical Society of Massachusetts awarded the documentary project a “Director Level Contribution” – in the amount of $5,000. More information about the Society is available at https://mhsm.org/
Filmmakers and Author embark on Ambitious Project for 75th anniversary of end of WWII
PRESS RELEASE - June 10, 2019
CONTACT: Holly Stadtler, hollybstadtler@gmail.com (301) 928-4389 (c)
Filmmaker Holly Stadtler, (and President of Dream Catcher Films Entertainment, Inc.) has just optioned Jim Kurtz’s book THE GREEN BOX. The production company intends to produce a documentary film to be completed in time to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII next year.
The film titled The Green Box: At the Heart of a Purple Heart, is in pre-production and Co-Producers Stadtler and Vicki Hughes are holding fundraisers and applying for grants, and pitching cable broadcasters and PBS with hopes that the film will be broadcast in the Fall of 2020.
The film tells the story of WWII bomber co-pilot Second Lieutenant Robert Kurtz, whose experiences in the conflict were emblematic but unknown. Unknown that is until his youngest son, who was only two when his father died, set out to learn about the dad he never knew. What Jim Kurtz uncovered about Robert led to a new understanding of the war, and a deep love for his parent. He learned that his father was a hero, and a man who, in his service, took part in legendary events. He learned about the depth of his parents’ relationship, and how that relationship may have saved his father’s life. Jim Kurtz’s book recounts his search for his father, and tells the story of his father’s experiences: as a co-pilot, his crash and capture in Austria, his imprisonment in the infamous WWII POW camp, Stalag Luft III, his participation in the grueling winter forced march across Poland and Germany, and his ultimate liberation by General Patton. The documentary weaves both stories; following Jim Kurtz on his search and recreating Robert’s experiences during the war using both archival and contemporary footage, including re-enactments. And since the book was published, Jim has learned more about his dad, and met others whose lives were woven with his father’s.
As the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII approaches, the surviving participants of the conflict are dying; their stories are sliding into the mists of history. This film captures some of those stories, preserving them for future generations. It also reveals that it is never too late: never too late to learn more about our families or our history, and never too late to get to know people we love. The Green Box: At The Heart of a Purple Heart will tell that story in its excitement and beauty, and celebrate the lives of the “Greatest Generation” through the life of one of its ‘ordinary’ heroes.
To honor veterans past and present, the production company has announced from Memorial Day through June 30, 2019 a portion of all donations to the film project will go toward helping treat veterans with PTSD through the Wounded Warrior Care Network. Robert Kurtz died at a young age after returning from WWII, and his son thinks PTSD was a contributing factor. More information is on the film’s website www.greenboxfilm.com including a short trailer and a page where both tax deductible or non tax-deductible donations may be made. The current push for $50,000 is to raise enough for the first shoot in Austria which must happen this August when a commemoration will be held for the fierce air battle that forced down Robert Kurtz’s plane along with 7 other B-24’s and 8 German planes. To contact Holly Stadtler directly with questions about the project or how you or your business can help support veterans and this project, call 301-928-4389.
PRESS RELEASE - May 6, 2019
CONTACT: Holly Stadtler, hollybstadtler@gmail.com (301) 928-4389 (c)
Local author Jim Kurtz and local filmmaker Vicki Hughes have joined forces to produce a film based on Kurtz’s book THE GREEN BOX to be completed in time to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII. Residents can meet both Kurtz and Hughes at the Ipswich Inn, Thursday, May 16 at 6:00pm for a fundraiser and unveiling of the film’s trailer, website, and details of their upcoming film shoot in Europe.
Co-Producers Vicki Hughes and Holly Stadtler of Dream Catcher Films Entertainment, Inc. are producing The Green Box: At the Heart of a Purple Heart, a documentary based on Jim Kurtz’s book which honors his dad and the airmen that served with him. The film tells the story of WWII bomber co-pilot 2nd Lt. Robert Kurtz, whose experiences in the conflict were emblematic but unknown. Unknown that is until his youngest son, who was only two when his father died, set out to learn about the dad he never knew. What Jim Kurtz uncovered about Robert led to a new understanding of the war, and a deep love for his parent. He learned that his father was a hero, and a man who, in his service, took part in legendary events. He learned about the depth of his parents’ relationship, and how that relationship may have saved his father’s life. Jim Kurtz’s book recounts his search for his father, and tells the story of his father’s experiences: as a co-pilot, his crash and capture in Austria, his imprisonment in the infamous WWII POW camp, Stalag Luft III, his participation in the grueling winter forced march across Poland and Germany, and his ultimate liberation by General Patton. The documentary weaves both stories; following Jim Kurtz on his search and recreating Robert’s experiences during the war using both archival and contemporary footage, including re-enactments. And since the book was published, Jim has learned more about his dad, and met others whose lives were woven with his father’s.
As the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII approaches (Sept, 2020), the surviving participants of the conflict are dying; their stories are sliding into the mists of history. This film captures some of those stories, preserving them for future generations. It also reveals that it is never too late: never too late to learn more about our families or our history, and never too late to get to know people we love. The Green Box: At The Heart of a Purple Heart will tell that story in its excitement and beauty, and celebrate the lives of the “Greatest Generation” through the life of one of its ‘ordinary’ heroes.
Come peek inside the green box and celebrate two local artists. The public is invited to attend the free event May 16, (donations are welcome). The project’s website is www.greenboxfilm.com and for questions about the project or event call 978-432-1172.
