Dear Community Partner:
We never really knew our grandfather--Thomas W. Nycum. He was gone before we had the opportunity to talk to him about his service in the Second World War. However, as we came of age, stories of his kind nature and helpfulness were imparted to us. We learned of his hobbies, his eccentricities, and heard his jokes. His humorous sayings are still repeated at family gatherings. As a U.S. Army veteran, Tom witnessed some of the deadliest combat of the war. Similar to other members of the Greatest Generation, he did not speak of his experiences; it was simply too painful. Today his story and that of his generation live through us. As brothers, we have organized educational programs, explored European battlefields, and have completed exhaustive research--all to learn more about our grandfather and his division. This historical pilgrimage inspired us to write a short film about his service during the brutal Battle of the Hürtgen Forest in November 1944. Hürtgen is bringing the story of our grandfather to the big screen. Using local scenery, actors, crew, and resources to achieve this goal, our film will focus on isolation and survival during one of the costliest battles of World War II. Like any movie, monetary contributions are necessary for all aspects of production. Our project is not funded by international investors or corporate studios but by people like yourself. We humbly turn to your generosity and ask that you become an official Community Partner for Hürtgen today. Throughout filming, marketing campaigns, regional premieres, and the national film festival circuit, your name or corporate emblem could be at the forefront of our movie's outreach. Additionally, you could be recognized on screen in every showing and online stream. Joining us in this creative endeavor are Andrew and Catie Grant, talented producers who bring institutional knowledge of the film industry to the project. Cinematographer Mark Stitzer will add his signature style to the movie as well. A small legion of World War II historians and reenactors are standing by, bringing with them gritty authenticity and accuracy. Collectively, our team has over 50 years of professional filmmaking and storytelling experience. If you wish to help bring this meaningful tale to life, we invite you to join our team as a Community Partner today. Please review our incentive list below and visit our website to learn more about these opportunities. Thank you for making our project become a reality.
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"The combination of a determined enemy and such obstacles as foul weather, rain, snow and sleet, difficult wooded terrain, and the ever present mud were overcome by your sheer courage and your will to conquer the enemy even though he was bringing to bear all possible resistance in a desperate effort to hold his position." - T. J. Cross, 9th Infantry Division
"It was a forest out of a German fairy tale—dense, forbidding, and hostile. It seemed filled with dark secrets, evil, and the ghosts of the dead....One could imagine that a wicked witch might live in its shadows, waiting to snatch some unfortunate soul." – Bedford Davis, 28th Infantry Division
PROJECT SYNOPSIS Inspired by the harrowing story of director Mark Frederick's grandfather; Hürtgen is a tale of isolation and survival during one of the costliest battles of World War II. As the Allies push east into the heart of the Third Reich, American divisions enter a thickly-wooded and fiercely-defended wilderness on the Belgium-Germany border known as the Hürtgen Forest. Sergeant Thomas Nycum oversees vital communications in the 4th Infantry Division and witnesses a vicious cycle of violence that threatens to destroy his unit. Fear, loss, and bewilderment ultimately take a toll. Amid the longest battle in U.S. Army history, Nycum must find the strength to carry out his job. In Hürtgen, death seems to be the only certainty.
Hürtgen is not a story of generals or strategy. It is instead a intimate tale of common, often fearful, young men hurled into extreme circumstances beyond their control. Plagued by foul weather and preyed upon by a determined enemy, GIs faced some of the most grueling challenges of their lives. Yet, the only way home was through the pines. If you want to help bring this meaningful story to the screen, the director welcomes you to make a donation via the PayPal button below. DONATE HERE
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"Darkness came quickly in the forest, and we had to stop and dig in for the night while we could still see what we were doing. Because of the German artillery and mortar fire we had to get below ground and also get a log roof over our heads. The Germans, of course, did the same, and whenever their abandoned shelters fit into our line we used them gratefully."
– George Wilson, 4th Infantry Division
"The death and destruction was unbelievable. Dead bodies were stacked, like logs, awaiting recovery. Whole sections of forests were sheared off 50 to 60 feet above ground by incoming artillery tree bursts. D Company, full strength being 193 men, was reduced to eight men. I was one of 110 replacements. Three months later there would be ten of us left."
- John Weinert, 4th Infantry Division
"In this cold and depressing forest, we were greeted with Nazi propaganda leaflets...They reminded us—'Death awaits you behind every tree. Fighting in woods is hellish.' At first I was scared to death, then after so many days up there, we kind of came to the conclusion that we're weren't going to get out of this alive and....Then we didn't worry about dying."
- Frank Fauver, 83rd Infantry Division
"It was drenched in bone-chilling drizzle and cloaked in steamy mist and no rays of sunshine could pierce the canopies of majestic trees....My memory carries pictures of a wet inferno where fir trees and flesh were torn by the armies' firepower and freshets of blood enriched the oozing muck."
- Paul Treatman, 1st Infantry Division
$5 - THE PIN-UP
- A HEARTFELT THANK YOU: Thank you for making your pledge of support to this project! $10 - THE REPORTER - PROJECT EMAIL UPDATES - NOTIFICATION OF "HÜRTGEN" PREMIERE DATE $25 - THE RIVETER - All of the above PLUS: - EARLY RELEASE OFFICIAL TRAILER - PDF COPY OF "HÜRTGEN" SCRIPT $50 - THE LINEMAN - All of the above PLUS: - DIGITAL RELEASE OF "HÜRTGEN" - DIGITAL COMMENTARY BY DIRECTOR - THE MAKING OF "HÜRTGEN" DIGITAL CONTENT $100 - THE ENGINEER - All of the above PLUS: - AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF THE BOOK "DISPATCHES OF D-DAY" $250 - THE PRIVATE - All of the above PLUS: - A SPECIAL THANKS IN FILM CREDITS - OFFICIAL "HÜRTGEN" T-SHIRT $500 - THE CORPORAL - All of the above PLUS: - AUTOGRAPHED, ON-SET SCRIPT PAGE FROM "HÜRTGEN" ACTOR - OFFICIAL "HÜRTGEN" BALL CAP $1,000 - THE SERGEANT - All of the above PLUS: - SIGNED "HÜRTGEN" POSTER PERSONALIZED BY THE CAST/CREW - SEATING FOR TWO (2) AT "HÜRTGEN" PREMIERE - INVITATION TO CAST/CREW PARTY FOLLOWING PREMIERE $5,000 - THE LIEUTENANT - All of the above PLUS: - GENUINE HÜRTGEN SOIL CANISTER - G.I. PROP M43 JACKET - MOVIE TITLE - ASSOCIATE PRODUCER CREDIT - (Internet Movie Database & Film) - PRESS RELEASE: highlights your generosity to local media outlets. |
$10,000 - THE CAPTAIN
- All of the above PLUS: - G.I. PROP M41 HELMET - PAIR OF G.I. PROP BOOTS - MOVIE TITLE – EXECUTIVE PRODUCER CREDIT - (Internet Movie Database & Film) - HÜRTGEN PREMIERE PACKAGE: includes travel expenditures, lodging costs, limo transportation, and four (4) complimentary tickets to the premiere. $20,000 - THE MAJOR - All of the above PLUS - MOVIE TITLE – CORPORATE CREDIT - (Business Name & Logo in credits) - MARKETING PROMOTIONS: your organization is recognized in marketing and social media materials leading up to and including the premiere. - MILITARY HISTORY PACKAGE: enjoy a weekend for two (2) in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Guided by an historian, partners can tour Gettysburg National Military Park, the Eisenhower National Historic Site, and the vibrant downtown. Includes accommodations at a B&B. $30,000 - THE COLONEL - All of the above PLUS: - MARKETING CAMPAIGN: earn three (3) Brush Mountain Media-produced commercials for your business or project. - VETERAN TRIBUTE PACKAGE: is there a veteran(s) in your life you wish to honor? Have the name and military info of your family member or friend featured in a special dedicatory section of the credits. You will also be filmed for a special social media segment highlighting why that veteran(s) is important to you. Lastly, speak on stage at the premiere to honor a veteran, promote your business, or offer any special remarks. This is an ideal means to honor someone who served our country. $50,000 - THE GENERAL - All of the above PLUS: - EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE NAMING RIGHTS - Example: "Presented by Jones Furniture." - CORPORATE PROMOTION: have a display table for your company at the premiere and other film events. Let attendees know you made it possible! - THE HÜRTGEN EXPERIENCE PACKAGE: two (2) guests will be treated to a four day trip to the Hürtgen Forest in Germany and Belgium where you will receive personalized tours by expert guides. Includes travel expenditures, lodging costs, transportation, and tour guides. Businesses, corporations, and individuals who contribute to Hürtgen will receive the incentives described above. As is the case with such productions, Community Partners will not be given any artistic control, financial earnings or owning rights. Content is copyrighted by Brush Mountain Media LLC and The Furious Fourth. Information on this site is subject to change. Updated: March 2021.
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JARED FREDERICK, Executive Producer
Phone: (814) 932-6476 MARK FREDERICK, Writer/Director Phone: (814) 327-0241 P.O. Box 222, Bellwood, PA 16617 U.S.A
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"We were entering an area where some terrific fighting had taken place. The first indication of this was the havoc the artillery had done to the trees....scattered among this debris were countless bodies or parts of bodies. By their shoulder patch, 'The Red Keystone,' you knew they were the remnants of the 28th Infantry Division. The sickening part was they had lain there all winter covered in snow....We came to what had been an aid station. Hundreds of bodies stacked like cordwood along with heaps of amputated arms and legs. Many of the bodies were still lying on litters."
- Wheatley Christensen, 1st Infantry Division
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