The Green Box: At The Heart Of A Purple Heart

Producer: Holly Barden Stadtler and Vicki Hughes

The Green Box: The Heart of a Purple Heart is a documentary that tells the story of a World War II bomber pilot 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 wrote a book, THE GREEN BOX, which recounts his search for his father, and tells the story of his father's experiences: as a pilot, his crash and capture in Austria, his imprisonment in the most famous World War II prisoner of war camp, Stalag Luft III, his participation in the infamous winter death march across Poland and Germany, and his ultimate liberation by General Patton. The documentary weaves both stories; we follow Jim on his search and recreate 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 75thanniversary of World War II 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: 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.

YOUR GREEN BOX DOLLARS AT WORK

Film completion hoping by May 2025 (80th anniversary of war's end). We need donations of all amounts, nothing is too small. Please help us cross the finish line as we are in post production and so close to reaching our goal.

Production Assistant Level

$125 donation will purchase

• a 10 second transfer of archival footage to digital medium

INCENTIVE: Director's personal thank you on Facebook & Twitter, project updates, Author Jim Kurtz signed post card (net value $120*)

Researcher Level

$350 contribution will purchase

• 30 second transfer of archival footage to digital medium

INCENTIVE: Director's personal thank you on Facebook & Twitter, project updates, Author Jim Kurtz signed post card & T-shirt (net value $325*)

Associate Producer Level

$500 donations will purchase

• 1 day of offline editor's work

INCENTIVE: Director's personal thank you on Facebook & Twitter, project updates, Author Jim Kurtz signed post card & T-shirt, your name in film credits! (net value $475*)

Coordinating Producer Level

$1000 donation will purchase

• 10 seconds of stock footage usage fees (we need about 140 seconds)

INCENTIVE: Director's personal thank you on Facebook & Twitter, project updates, Author Jim Kurtz signed post card & T-shirt, autographed GREEN BOX book, your name in film credits! (net value $955*)

Cinematographer Level

$1,500 donation will purchase

• Talent Agent fees to secure celebrity narrator

INCENTIVE: Director's personal thank you on Facebook & Twitter, project updates, Author Jim Kurtz signed post card & T-shirt, autographed GREEN BOX book, advanced private film clips, your name in film credits! (net value $1,455*)

Producer Level

$2,500 contribution will pay for

• Animated title sequence

INCENTIVE: Director's personal thank you on Facebook & Twitter, project updates, Author Jim Kurtz signed post card & T-shirt, autographed GREEN BOX book, advanced private film clips, 2 tickets to MA film screening, your name in film credits! (net value $2,435*)

Director Level

$5,000 donations will purchase

• legal fees for the project

INCENTIVE: Director's personal thank you on Facebook & Twitter, project updates, A Green Box filled with signed post card, T-shirt, autographed GREEN BOX book, 4 tickets to MA film screening & baseball cap, advanced private clips of film, VIP meet & greet with author and producer, your name in film credits! (net value $4,865*)

Executive Producer Level

$10,000 donation will purchase

• Stereo Sound Design and Mix

INCENTIVE: Director's personal thank you on Facebook & Twitter, project updates, A Green Box filled with signed post card, 2 T-shirt, autographed GREEN BOX book, 4 tickets to MA film screening & 2 baseball caps, signed movie poster, film bomber jacket, advanced private clips of film, VIP meet & greet with author and producer, your name in film credits! (net value $9,500*)

Distributor Level

$25,000 donation will purchase

• Original Music Score + Color Correction of the Final Film

INCENTIVE: Director's personal thank you on Facebook & Twitter, project updates, A Green Box filled with signed post card, 2 T-shirt, autographed GREEN BOX book, 8 tickets to MA film screening & 2 baseball caps, signed movie poster, film bomber jacket, advanced private clips of film, VIP dinner with author and producer, your name in film credits! PLUS IF BEFORE 6/1/19 - trip with film crew August 2019 to Europe for filming in Ehrwald, Austria and POW camp in Poland! (net value $21,460*)

*Filmmakers Collaborative and the Producers of The Green Box: At The Heart Of A Purple Heart would like to thank you for your generous donation to support the production of this film. If you have received a thank you gift as part of your contribution, for tax purposes please be sure to adjust your total donation to reflect the the *net value* of your gift.