Jews For The Preservation of Firearms Ownership, Inc.
P.O. Box 270143
Hartford, WI 53027
Phone (800) 869-1884
Fax (425) 451-3959
"Innocents Betrayed" Goes Into Production!
Next week, thanks to the contributions of liberty lovers, JPFO's one-hour video documentary, "Innocents Betrayed," goes into production. "Innocents" will show (in graphic, visceral terms that the TV generation can't miss) that genocide and "gun control" go together around the world.
Some of you have contacted us to ask what was happening with "Innocents." A few wondered whether their donations were being well-spent. Others have written or called to ask if they could help raise more funds. We thank you all for what you've done to help "Innocents" get off the ground.
Here are the answers to the questions you've been asking:
Q. HAVE YOU RAISED ALL THE MONEY YOU NEED?
A. Yes and no. Our original budget estimate was $170,000, based on the costs of a Los Angeles production company. Despite strong support from many group and individual donors (the largest of whom will be credited in the Producers' Circle on "Innocents"), it proved very hard to raise that amount.
Determined to make this important film regardless of obstacles, we went to Plan B. We have raised $90,000 as of September 2002, and are working with an excellent production house outside of the nation's expensive media centers. This company has agreed to produce "Innocents" within that budget. Everybody who's seen the production company's first sample graphics for "Innocents" is very excited about what they can do.
Q. WHY ISN'T "INNOCENTS BETRAYED" OUT YET?
A. Slower-than-expected fundraising was one reason. We are also making queries all around the world to find photographs and news films, some of which have never been seen Iin our lifetimes. We have had to hire photo-research experts to search archives from the Armenian genocide of 1915-17 to Rwanda's slaughter of the 1990's. This effort is paying off with an unforgettable array of visuals. But it is not an easy process.
In some cases, owners of films or photographs blatantly refused to sell image rights to "gun nuts." You'll be glad to know that after each of those setbacks, we were able to locate equally good, and sometimes even better, photos and films, from other sources.
We have determined that, whatever obstacles we encounter, and however much the production schedule might have to be adjusted, we are NOT going to sacrifice quality. To be effective, "Innocents Betrayed" must be outstanding. It must have the highest production values and the most dazzling, gut-wrenching impact we can give it. And that does take time.
Q. WHAT'S THE CURRENT STATUS OF "INNOCENTS"?
A. In the first week of October, we go into the production studio to begin creating the opening segment and editing images for the first genocide (the Turkish slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians). The production house has already begun producing dramatic maps, titles, and effects to accompany our photos and film footage. A narrator has been hired to do the voiceover.
We have obtained virtually all images and music needed for the first half of the documentary, and are well along in the search for stills, documents, and footage to use in the latter half of the production (which covers genocides since World War II, as well as the American experience with "gun control" and victimization of the disarmed).
Q. WHEN WILL "INNOCENTS" BE RELEASED? I'M WAITING TO SHOW IT TO MY STUDENTS, FRIENDS, GUN CLUB, ETC.
A. Because of the unpredictability of prying images out of sources like the Ugandan embassy or the archives of Guatemalan newspapers, we can't give an exact release date. However, based on progress to date, we can tell you that we hope and expect to release "Innocents" early in 2003.
Q. ARE YOU STILL TRYING TO RAISE MORE MONEY?
A. Yes! Although we can complete the documentary with the $90,000 that's on hand, we can definitely use more. Additional funds can go toward:
1. Purchasing the rights to visuals from the best photojournalists. (So far, we are focusing on getting public- domain images from museums, embassies, archives, and advocacy groups for the victims of genocides. But for the most recent genocides, the best images come from commercial journalistic sources, and these are considerably more expensive);
2. Making sure that the accompanying graphics are sophisticated and fast-paced enough to get the message ("gun control" + hate + government = genocide") to a young, easily-jaded, media-savvy audience.
3. Enabling us to promote the video to major media outlets. If "Innocents" can be picked up by The History Channel, HBO, A&E, or other mainstream media outlets, it can reach millions. As you know, getting favorable media exposure is an uphill battle for anyone promoting the value of the individual right to keep and bear arms. We can still use your help making sure that the right people see "Innocents."
"Innocents Betrayed" is in the process of becoming a reality. We promised donors that either the video would be produced or their money would be refunded. It's now just a matter of time until you'll have "Innocents" as a tool to win hearts and minds.
But there's a gap between what $170,000 can do and what $90,000 will do. We promise you a professional, stunning, effective documentary, in any case. But the more we have to work with, the better we can get the message across to the millions who've been duped by the propagandistic media exposure that "Innocents" aims to counteract.
Everyone who cares about freedom owes a big thank you to $1,000 donors like Paladin Press, Michigan Brass Roots, Rich Lucibella of SWAT Magazine, Pikes Peak Firearms Coalition, Robert B. Varn of the Varn Investments Counsel, John Pfeiffer, and the thousands of individual donors who've helped make "Innocents" possible. If you haven't already donated, we hope you'll join their ranks.
It's not too late to make a $250 donation (individual) or $1,000 donation (group) to receive credit in the Producers' Circle. Even a donation of $20 or $50 can still be *very* useful for creating a great video.
For details on how you can become a film producer and make "Innocents" the best that it can be, go to
Now we're off to the studio for a pre-production conference on "Innocents." But we promise to keep you posted as production moves forward.
The Liberty Crew
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