“Horse of Kings, Thief of Hearts” is a documentary about the unique Spanish
horse breed, the Carthusian. A documentary that is worth showing during film ...
Date: 13-2-2013, version 2
WHAT? “Horse of Kings, Thief of Hearts” is a documentary about the unique Spanish horse breed, the Carthusian. A documentary that is worth showing during film festivals, in art cinemas, but also on public or commercial television channels. WHY? This documentary has a message! The Spanish horse breed distinguishes itself from every other horse breed and deserves the attention to be preserved. Both connoisseurs and laymen will be fascinated by these magnificent horses.
WHO? Mario Dirkx, Natascha van den Bergh and Claudia van Ruiten are ardent fanciers of the Carthusian horse and with our passion and enthusiasm as a motive, we set ourselves the objective to start this project. We approached Marc Smedema of DeltaVision Production Company to support the organisational and business side of the production.
WHAT IS OUR CURRENT STATUS? The preproduction and shooting has been concluded for the largest part. We have edited a trailer that reflects well why this documentary has to be produced and released. It is a trailer that will tease the viewer and has to convince funds and private sponsors to contribute their share. The shooting and editing of the trailer have been realised off our own bat and with private budget. Now there is a primary need for budget for the post-production in order to edit the whole documentary and to make it suitable for projection and broadcasting. In addition, there is a secondary need for finding external (private) sponsors who will take on the costs for the benefit of pre-production and shooting.
PRO-LOOG In the early morning as I gaze over the misty pastures of my garden and I see the first rays of sunlight carefully making its appearance in this Dutch landscape; I enjoy endlessly. Surely, when a young Carthusian stallion, his coat a soft grey color, makes his entrance out of the mist and starts to play in the still moist grass. His warm breath and the cold outdoor air combine to create soft fluffy clouds. Poetry becomes alive as he performs his game of trot, canter and prancing throwing his young body loose in the pleasure of being outdoors. His beautiful manes sing “alegrias” as he lifts his head up high while his soft neighing cuts through the silence. My heart fills with joy when he carefully interrupts his wild display of passion to approach me with his gentle touch. Showing me his friendship and trust by including me in his world for a moment… before continuing his delightful game…
From this image arises the need to learn more about this wonderful Spanish breed. It is the breed that is so often portrayed in history with so many stories about the generous, soft, manageable character and temperament unlike any other horse... Why and how did it arise? How is the blood line of the Carthusian horse so pure? What is the role of the Carthusian monks in the Spanish Jerez de la Frontera? What is the role of the horse now in contemporary Spain and far beyond the Spanish borders? It Is threatened by all kinds of breeding programs or is it pure Carthusian blood precisely nurtured and guarded? And what is the future? Should the breeders mix the grace, flexibility and noblesse of the Carthusian Horse to make the perfect sport horses? Led by my curiosity I traveled off to Spain. There, in the old Carthusian monastery in Jerez de la Frontera, where the roots of my own young stallions come from, began my quest for answers to all these questions. Helped and inspired by connoisseurs as Juan Llamas, Mercedes Conzalez Cort, the brothers Peralta, various reputable breeders, people of the State stud, connoisseurs, riders, and trainers of the Spanish riding school all helped form a story of a breed that is too particular to keep for myself. A horse that is the inspiration for so many, deserves a documentary: Horse of Kings "Thief of Hearts", the Carthusian horse.
Mario Dirkx Lighting Cameraman 22-01-2013
WATCH THE TRAILER:
Or click here: http://vimeopro.com/ifptv/horse-of-kings Password: hok2011 PRODUCTION DETAILS Title: Horse of Kings “Thief of Hearts” Cinema version 90 minutes, for TV stations to be divided into 5 parts of 18 minutes. Cinema format is DCP Broadcast format is Full HD 1920 x 1080 / 50i (4:2:2 50 Mbit) DISTRIBUTION Cinema: Art cinemas Festivals: IDFA; International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam Various foreign documentary festivals Potential TV channels are: -
Animal Planet Arte Discovery Channel History Channel Horse Lifestyle National Geographic
SPONSORSHIP Sponsors will be mentioned in the end credits and in advertising material of the film, such as press releases, film posters and trailer.
