Suland:The Forgotten Frontier

[Trudy Swaningson Mike]

This narrative history is a good start to explain our unique SDA attitude (before and after conversion). The second book is when the Frtize family meets Ellen G. White and their lives are changed forever. Suland is a true story and the facts are well documented. If anyone is interested in western films, this would fit well as the Dakota Sioux were quite interesting as were the Fritzes who were originally from Prussia. Sophie followed her husband from riches to poverty to war and a reality more horrible than she could imagine.
Thomas Tucker McVay has taken on the "Director-ship" of this Awesome venture for Hope Channel. I am working on screenwriting now. But we need more than just the two of us. Are you interested?

[Tim de la Torre]

Hi Trudy,

Your pitch interests me :) I'd be interested in learning more and maybe dialoguing about the possibility of helping you film and or edit this. Have you already found someone?

~Tim de la Torre

[Trudy Swaningson Mike]

Tom McVay Tucker has taken it on but I'm sure we can use all the help possible. Could you email him as well?
If I wasn't so beat from wrestling with taxes and Sabbath wasn't so close (praise God's holy Name!) I would go into more detail. But we can talk, perhaps you know how to do a (3-way) with Tom and me?

[Thomas]

Tim, hey there!

What I would like to see is a first class historical docu-trama that would be a series for Adventist
TV. The HOPE channel is already interested in some quality material like this, and they have expressed great interest in this particular program. And with them going on Direct TV soon, this program will have a potential viewing audience in the millions.

Historical material like this is my specialty, so it excites me. I want to get as many Adventist filmmakers invloved with this as possible. Its the type of project that is begging for an Adventist production team to do!

Period films are a challenge, and most end up being a joke because of the poor research and effort that goes into them. If done right, this will be a powerful show.

So Tim, tell us what you can do for us!

[Tim de la Torre]

Hi Thomas,

Thanks for the info! I was honestly a little intimidated when I read your 'about me' section and thought, "This guy doesn't need me!" but then you wrote me... ha ha. I graduated from Pacific Union College in '06 with a degree in Film & Television but I spent most of the time since then in the Philippines working with a native tribe and my responsibilities kept me too busy to do much with film making. Since coming back to the U.S, I've done some free lance work and just finished up a job as the primary editor for the 13 part ASI Video Magazine that just started already airing this month on 3ABN and HopeTV.

I live in Northern California and love to travel. My wife is actually learning a lot about film making and we love to work together. We would be happy to be involved in a project like this. I don't know much of the story that this documentary is supposed to be about and would like to learn more about it. I'm a huge fan of Ken Burns and historical documentaries, so I think working on would would be a blast.

I'm sure you have a lot of people to draw on to help in a film like this with more experience than me. I have varied experience in pretty much all aspects of productions from what I learned in college, but they are rusty -- What I can do well however is edit. Both my wife & I are willing to be mentored in whatever areas you think we could help with the best.

Shoot me an e-mail if you prefer or a call.

[e-mail]
925-324-8389

~Tim

[Trudy Swaningson Mike]

The story will be about Dr. Alfred Fritze and his family who come from Prussia to Minnesota. The Germans (who are called Dutchmen by the Dakota Sioux) call it Suland and so I named the book Suland: The Forgotten Frontier. The book is well documented and I am working on bringing it down to a screenplay for a one hour program.
As it is the first time I have done this, it goes slow but Thomas said that it would be about a year or so before we can get our teeth into this project. If God wills it. In the mean time, I must apologize for letting you sit without a reply.
When I get on computer, I forget all but what is important...
I do know that once I get the script ready for Thomas, there will be more work on it back and forth and then he wants to film a whatcha-ma-call-it and so we can all learn how to be producers - lol. I know that going around to the churches has helped pay for many projects...
why not the true story of a pioneer family who finds Adventism in the middle of the Great Dakota Sioux War and meet Mrs. White 20 years later and are baptized then., Their journey though life in the west, alongside the Native Americans, learning about Sabbath and the state of the dead. Some of our pioneers are not so well known as those who began the Adventist movement.
In the mean time, please pray for the project, that I will write what God wants, that we will film what God wants and than we will accept what God wants for this adventure. I know that right now the word from God is keep working and wait....
I have you in my email list now. Sorry I did not get back to you earlier.
May God bless you with His greatest blessings, trudy