Castle Thunder Productions, LLC was formed in late 2007 as a film company to fund, manage, produce, and promote Civil War movie projects. The creation of the firm is the result of three years effort organized around a group of film professionals, with years of experience working together on historical documentaries, docudramas, and films.
During the Summer of 2007, the screenplay for Caleb’s Triumph was refined and consolidated. A treatment and preliminary budget was also created (please contact us for more information).
In our ability to produce a strong film at a reasonable cost compared to traditional Hollywood efforts, we have assembled an experienced team of film production professionals.
Our Team (in alphabetical order)
Kathryn Coombs will serve as Supervising Producer for Caleb’s Triumph. She is the founder and owner of Heritage House Productions, which is a film/TV production and production services company focusing primarily on documentary and historical projects. Kathryn also owns and operates Cleydael Historical Wardrobe that offers one of the most extensive inventories of authentic 19th century costume reproductions in the United States.
In just the past three years, Kathryn has been the production manager or director, costume department head/designer, and/or historical or reenactor coordinator
for 28 television documentaries and docudramas, and video releases. She also has lead casting efforts for primary talent and historical extras on five of these projects. Kathryn’s experience and expertise in creating and casting accurate and realistic Civil War battle scenes is a critical element in our ability to produce a strong film at a reasonable cost compared to traditional Hollywood efforts.
Michael Givens is a Director/Cinematographer with extensive commercial production experience at both national and international levels. He currently is in post-production as the Director of Opposite Day . His next engagement is as the Director for a western scheduled to begin production in the Winter of 2008. Michael was the Director of Photography/Cinematographer for The Celestine Prophecy and was the Director of Photography – Second Unit for Coyote Ugly.
Michael was an internationally respected Director of Photography for nine years before beginning his directorial career thirteen years ago. Michael is a graduate of the Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California. Subsequently, he became a Director of Photography working for such noted directors as Ridley Scott , 'Steven Friers', 'Philip Borsos' and 'Peter Smilie'. Bringing a detailed knowledge of the Southern War for Independence as well as his skill in film craft.
Jack Maples is Executive Producer, and wrote the Screenplay, Caleb’s Triumph. During production Jack will also serve as a Historical Consultant. Jack has been a student of filmmaking for the past four years, and Caleb’s Triumph will be his first major film project.
For Jack, management of a film project is the transfer of his years of accumulated skills in the management of multi-million commercial and government contracts under strict accounting and performance oversight, all of which will benefit him greatly in delivering his film on time and on budget. Secondly, Jack has focused on bringing together a qualified team of industry professionals who will compliment his management skills and deliver a high quality film product.
Rod Mitchell will head the Publicity Department for Caleb’s Triumph and will oversee all media relations. He is the founder and owner of Adventures in Media, Inc. (AIMPRESS.COM), a full-service media consulting, publicity and promotions agency that serves literary and entertainment clients, and places colorful stories and informative guests with major news media.
Media veteran Rod Mitchell’s background is comprised of broadcast news journalism (six years in radio and television) and television production, with more than 25 years as a literary and entertainment publicist. As an entertainment and unit publicist, Rod also has served as a media spokesperson for some of the nation's leading entertainment attorneys, producers, directors and such filmmakers as Ron Maxwell, Director of the epic films, Gettysburg and Gods & Generals. Over the past three years, Rod has been instrumental in helping to bring together the resources needed to launch Caleb’s Triumph.
Contributors
The following people, have contributed to the Caleb’s Triumph project, but are not yet attached. All of them, however, have expressed a strong interest in working on the film.
Jim Choate is an exceptionally gifted actor, casting director, and make-up artist. As part of the Caleb’s Triumph project, Jim will be the Make-up Department Head and will provide all special effects make-up. Jim also has worked with this project from its earliest stages and greatly contributed to the development of the first version of the script.
Over the past nine years, Jim has been associated with 23 film and television projects of which most have focused on the Civil War and the American Revolution. Jim also is the founder and owner of Choate City Casting . He has been the Casting Director or a member of the casting department for successful feature films as well as television productions such as the 2006 presentation of The Revolution.
In 2007, Jim was the Make-up and Fx Department Head for a pilot for First Nations-Iroquois and for The Battle of Gettysburg. He is the Make-up department Head for the Book of Ruth.
Rick King will be the Director of the companion documentary that will be produced in conjunction with Caleb’s Triumph. This documentary will feature men and women African-American soldiers who fought for both the Union and Confederate side.
He is an accomplished Producer, Director and Writer with more than 30 years of industry experience. Rick was the Director of the 2007 Civil War documentary, Sherman’s March. He also is a gifted screenplay writer with credits including the 2005 documentary. Voices in Wartime. Given this experience, Rick is an ideal choice for our unique documentary to support the premise of the feature film.
Stephen M. Lyons won the “Best Cinematographer” award from the Great Lakes Film Festival for his work on the 2002 film, Wicked Spring. Most recently, he was the “Snow Unit” cinematographer for the television series, John Adams . Like Jim Choate and Rod Mitchell, Stephen has a long term interest in Caleb’s Triumph.
Most notably, Stephen will be Second Unit Director of Photography for the film and will support as Documentary Cinematographer for Rick King on the companion documentary.
Steven Jay Rubin is a unit publicist, and producer best known for his skill in preparing Electronic Press Kits (EPK). He has been the Unit Publicist on 24 major films and television productions, and was the Executive Producer of four television productions. Steve also worked for Showtime as an acquisition executive, and has reviewed more than 150 film screenplays during his tenure with that company.
Steve will work with Rod Mitchell in the production of an Electronic Press Kit (EPK), as well as produce Behind-the-Scenes footage and ‘The Making of Caleb’s Triumph,’ production.
