Film Pioneers

Do you know Georges Melies? No? Donna got a huge novel for Luke for Christmas,"The Invention of Hugo Cabret". It is the story of an inventive boy who works/lives in a Paris train station ~1930. Hugo helps a broken-down toy-shop owner "Papa Georges" reconnect with the fame of his youth as a magician, inventor, and pioneer filmmaker. While the book is a novel, the main character is based on Georges Melies who made over 500 films between 1899-1912 and is credited to be the first to use film to capture the immagination with illusions and special effects; works of fiction. He is recognized as one of the great pioneers of film. This book was SO much about Luke: trains, inventions, movie-making, robotic inventions. We read all 500+ pages of this "graphic novel" over two nights.. .staying up til 2am to finish it. Oh well, it IS his Christmas break! For more info on George Melies, go to http://www.filmsdefrance.com/FDF_gmelies.html

about the book, go to: http://theinventionofhugocabret.com/intro_flash.htm

By the way, the photo above is from Melies' most famous film, the first Science-fiction film, "A Voyage to the Moon".

The Sequel

Within hours of the Premier, Luke was telling us about plans for a sequel. "It includes catapults" he said. "Afterall, they invented catapults by that time." He has plans to make a movie each year for the next several years: writing and pre-production in the winter/spring, filming in summer, and post-production in the fall. We are looking into obtaining the software so that Luke can edit movies on his own... and a camera to film them himself. During this Christmas break, he has storyboarded TEN of the scenes already, some with as many as 15 shots. He has definitely learned from the first experience and is well on his way to the sequel of "Swords and Shields". We will keep you apprised movie lovers!

Successful Premier!

Luke, smiling enthusiastically and dressed in his tuxedo, personally welcomed most of the 150 guests in the the packed-out theatre for the Premier Dec. 9. Cast members, corporate sponsors, teachers, families and friends all joined in the fun. Luke emceed with door prizes and then awards for all the actors. He introduced the film and the audience roared as the words "A Luke Broyles' Film" scrolled across the screen. They cheered and applauded as the story played out and as everyone watched their favorite actors in the outtakes and credits. The theatre lobby was decorated with props and costumes from the movie. Most of the audience signed a matted frame around a cast picture; a congratulations for Luke. We all couldn't have been prouder of our Luke and of all the cast of "Swords and Shields"!