As well as being the subject of many books, he has been portrayed by some of Hollywood's greatest actors, including Henry Fonda, Burt Lancaster, Jimmy Stewart, Kevin Costner and Kurt Russell. Now generally considered an American folk hero, we want to bring his real story to life in a remarkable television series through the eyes of acclaimed book author and Wyatt Earp biographer Casey Terfertiller. WYATT the series will be one of the greatest stories of the ages to be remembered and celebrated through generations to come.
www.dnafilms.tv Message to Bill Koch Subject: Proposed film project Dear Mr. Koch We have the chance to reignite interest in the West. Three decades ago, the film “Tombstone” brought a surge of interest in the West. Now is the time to expand on that with a limited-run series telling the real story of Wyatt Earp and Tombstone. During the last 30 years, an enormous amount of research has been done to learn what really occurred during those 28 months of conflict. We have a better understanding of Earp and those around him. What this makes is a more fascinating story than has ever hit the screen. In this case, truth is certainly stranger than fiction. Our concept is a truth-based story, based on Casey Tefertiller’s Wyatt Earp: The Life Behind the Legend. It will be supplemented by the research of many WWHA members, including Roy Young, Peter Brand, Anne E. Collier and Gary Roberts. WYATT is born from a love of the West and a passion for real history. Each segment has been developed to disclose detailed insights into the man himself, and those around him. The production shows the reality of the people with all their strengths and weaknesses in the setting of Tombstone’s mining bonanza worth millions of dollars in silver. WYATT will bring this perspective to audiences all over the world. This is a passion project for its creators. Tefertiller, the grandson of a working cowboy, left his job as a metropolitan journalist to write his book, then many articles related to Earp. Don Taylor moved to Tombstone to pursue his fascination with the subject and would eventually become the City Historian. Documentarian Mark Allen has spent enormous hours studying Tombstone to prepare for writing a screenplay. Producer Deborah Von Brod fell in love with the story many years ago after watching the Wyatt Earp Films. For us, this is about legacy. We take enormous pride in creating a project that we believe will live long beyond our years and continue to inspire and re-inspire an interest in this most remarkable story of American history. America needs Wyatt Earp right now. The heart of the Earp story is about what happens when criminality grows out or control and outlawry terrorizes the populace. This is why the Earp story is transcendent; why it is perpetually relevant. This is a story that needs to be told, and this is an opportunity to increase interest in our western heritage. We would welcome you to this project. Casey Tefertiller Don Taylor Deborah Von Brod Mark Allen
Reasons for Success Why this is Fresh: The series plots a different course than oft-fictionalized versions presented in the past. Truth is more remarkable than the legend. It is overwhelmingly fact-based and far more compelling—even astonishing—than any previous treatment of Wyatt and Tombstone. New Understanding: An immense amount of historical research—and new discoveries—in recent years has led to a much better understanding of what happened during those turbulent days in Tombstone. The impetus for this is Casey Tefertiller’s landmark biography, Wyatt Earp: The Life Behind the Legend, a Notable Book of the New York Times. Tefertiller is a co-creator of Wyatt. Appeal: This is a true-crime story that is still debated today. Legions of enthusiasts crowd discussion boards and Facebook pages to discuss the subject. Ready-made Audience: Yellowstone and Deadwood prove the renewed interest western-themed storytelling. Because it is a saga of vast criminality, it is timeless, and its lessons apply to modern society. It will be a much-discussed event. Sex Appeal: This is about the romance of the old west, but also about specific real-life romances involving central characters. There is a love story amid the bloodshed as Wyatt Earp passionately falls for the lovely ex-mistress of his rival, Sheriff Johnny Behan. In addition, Earp friend Doc Holliday’s exotic common-law wife becomes attracted to handsome and mysterious outlaw leader John Ringo. Additional multi-platform revenue streams: This series can be supplemented by a series of extras. Most notable would be a roundtable several times a season. For instance, Tombstone Town Historian Don Taylor would host various historians, including Tefertiller. Because this is fact-based, it will inspire podcasts, web discussions and more, generating growing viewership.