AN INDEPENDENT FEATURE FILM PROJECT

Saratoga: The Turning Point

This noble, independent feature film project – a fully veteran-owned enterprise – needs a miracle just as America needed a miracle in the early autumn of 1777 during one of the darkest hours of the American Revolution.

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About the Project

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Our Mission

This story must be expertly brought to the silver screen to the widest possible audience.

The development of a motion picture that evocatively and compellingly tells the story of the Battles of Saratoga in a way that rivals iconic masterpieces such as “Last of the Mohicans”, “Dances with Wolves”, “Glory”, and “Saving Private Ryan”. This film will aim to vividly depict the dramatic events and autumn grandeur that set New York’s Upper Hudson Valley ablaze in 1777.

About the Project

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They did their part… Now, we must do our part.
We owe it to them to tell their story.

To my fellow veterans: Your help is urgently needed to complete an important mission. We can’t do it without you. We need to share our Revolutionary War history and commemorate the 250th anniversary of the turning point of the American War for Independence.

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Spread the Word

We need your help to raise the film’s budget of
$100 million over next 18 to 24 months.

What could be better than America’s veterans and fellow patriots banding together to tell the compelling story of the turning point of the American War for Independence? Please spread the word. Your help will be the difference as I simply can’t do this without you. Together, we can do this.

Sizzle Reel

The compelling story of how citizen soldiers rallied to reinforce the American Army in New York’s Upper Hudson Valley and heroically helped save the American War for Independence in the Fall of 1777.

Duration

15 min. 23 sec.

Script Summary

Read Full Bio

Calling All Veterans & Patriots

Hello, I’m Mark O’Rourke. I’m a proud United States Army veteran and history buff.

I’d like to briefly share some of my background so that you can hopefully gain a clear sense as to why I urgently need the help of my fellow veterans as well as from my fellow patriots across the nation. I sincerely want to establish an ironclad trust with you by sharing who I am and why I have an important mission that I am asking my fellow veterans and patriots across the nation to help me complete.

As an attorney and veteran, I have proudly taken numerous oaths to support and defend The Constitution of the United States. And, I rightfully take these solemn pledges and ethical obligations very seriously.

Our Call to Action

THE STORY

Timeline of Events

The Turning Point of the Revolution

Saratoga is one of the most important victories in both western civilization and world history.

In 1777, the American Revolution was on the brink of collapse. The British had delivered crushing defeats to the American Army at Quebec and Long Island that left them in control of Canada to the North and New York City to the South. They devised a complex plan to help end the rebellion once and for all which called for the British army to seize control of the entirety of the State of New York.

With a renewed vigor, militias from all across New England and New York converged and poured in to a small town along the Hudson River, Saratoga. In a miraculous event, the Americans delivered a stunning defeat to the British. For the first time, the mightiest army in the world had surrendered to the newest. Ceremoniously, British General John Burgoyne was forced to hand over his sword to American General Horatio Gates.

Don’t the soldiers who played crucial roles in the decisive Battles of Saratoga deserve to be recognized? These heroes demonstrated remarkable courage during this pivotal moment in history as they answered the call when their nation needed them most. Countless patriots served and sacrificed on the hallowed ground above the Upper Hudson River in the early autumn of 1777. Shouldn’t this incredible victory be brought to the widest possible audience?

Scroll through the timeline below to read about the crucial points that occur throughout the Battles of Saratoga.

Click here for more about the story.

May 1776

Gen. John Burgoyne arrives in Canada with British reinforcements.

February – March 1777

Gen. John Burgoyne submits his battle plans, which are ultimately approved on March 2, 1776.

June 30, 1777

British forces appear near Fort Ticonderoga.

July 5, 1777

American forces evacuate peacefully, and the British take control of the fort.

August 1777

Burgoyne attempts to raid the supply depot in Bennington, Vermont and the British are ultimately defeated.

September 19, 1777

Burgoyne divides his army, numbering about 7,500, into three columns to probe American defenses at Freeman’s Farm. The British sustains heavy casualties, losing twice as many soldiers as the Americans. The American army is replenished and grows to 13,000 strong.

October 7, 1777

Burgoyne sends a reconnaissance force to attack Americans at Bemis Heights, but the patriots get wind of the plan and force the British to withdraw to their well-defended Balcarres Redoubt.

October 8, 1777

Burgoyne retreats and the British army attempts to escape north, but a cold, hard rain forces them to stop and encamp near the town of Saratoga. Hungry, weary, and out of options, they dig in and prepare to defend themselves.

October 13, 1777

The Americans have the British surrounded.

October 17, 1777

After negotiations, Burgoyne’s army surrenders. The American defeat of the British army lifted patriot morale, furthered the hope for independence, and helped to secure the foreign support needed to win the war.

The Timeline

Why?

To date, there has surprisingly not been a major motion picture or feature film that compellingly presents the fascinating story of the stirring triumph at Saratoga and its profound and enduing impact on American and world history. While iconic battles such as Bunker Hill, Lexington, Concord, Trenton, Yorktown, Gettysburg, Pearl Harbor, Midway, D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge, and Iwo Jima are well-known, Saratoga’s singular importance – as the crucial victory which helped preserve America’s bold experiment in limited government – is unfortunately less understood. The complete victory that occurred in the Upper Hudson Valley in the early autumn of 1777 is nevertheless one of the most consequential victories in world history as its significance as the decisive turning point of the American War for Independence is transcended by the fact that it also marked the beginning of the end of centuries of repressive rule by despots and tyrants around the globe.

Key Facts About the Project

Veteran-owned and operated project advised by the nation’s most preeminent military historians and institutions.

Screenplay written by veteran industry screenwriter and was carefully composed to be faithful to the actual history.

Movie is planned to be released in time for 250th anniversary of the Battles and Siege of Saratoga in Sept. and Oct. of 2027.

Movie is planned to be filmed on or close to the location where the actual history occurred including: the Adirondack Mountains, Champlain, Hudson, and Mohawk Valleys and Lake George including Fort Crown Point, Fort Ticonderoga, and the Saratoga National Historical Park (Saratoga Battlefield) .

Movie is planned to be a major motion picture masterpiece with breathtaking cinematography that captures the autumn grandeur of the foothills of the Adirondacks and the Hudson Valley; an ethereal and inspiring soundtrack; A-List talent and a recognized and acclaimed director.

Project will mark the first time that America’s veterans are being asked to directly support the creation of a movie focused on telling the story of the American Army’s first strategic victory that became the turning point of the American War for Independence.

Join Our Mission

Our crucial mission cannot be completed without your help. Let’s do our part, together.

We are calling on America’s Patriots & Veterans to make a donation towards this worthy project which was started more than 10 years ago.

Make a Difference

May all of you, as Americans, ***never* forget your heroic origins and never fail to seek divine guidance… We are forever indebted** to those that have given their lives that we might be free.