Film Events: Elijah and George film production team are going “Boots On The Ground” this Fall! Look for our booth at these events, come by and say hello and enjoy the festivities!
12-13 Oct – National Revolutionary War Re-enactment & Colonial Festival – Mt Harmon, Earleville, MD. We are also filming this event on the 12th! https://mountharmon.org/plantation-events-2/
When I first received an “Account Locked” notice from Twitter, I chalked it up to an oversight due to automation on their end. I disputed their claim our family-friendly movie’s sizzle trailer was “depicting the moment of death of an individual” and the post was reinstated.
Now I seriously question, is our historical drama Elijah and George being purposely censored on social media platforms?
—–Original Message—–
From: “Twitter” <info@twitter.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 21, 2019 12:02pm
To: “1663 Media Arts, LLC” <info@1663mediaarts.com>
Subject: Your Twitter account has been locked
Hi 1663 Media Arts, LLC,
Your account, @1663MediaArts has been locked for violating the Twitter Rules.
You may not post content of deceased individuals or moments in which they die with the intent to abuse, or if the media is excessively gorey. We will remove this type of media out of respect for the deceased and individuals directly impacted, and to reduce unintended exposure to highly graphic media.
1663 Media Arts, LLC
@1663MediaArts
We are excited to share with you a sneak peak of the proof of concept short film of Elijah and George! #ElijahandGeorge #Family #Freedom #Home […]
Please note that repeated violations may lead to a permanent suspension of your account. Proceed to Twitter now to fix the issue with your account.
June 21, 2018 an ad promoting the film on Facebook was not approved citing it was a “political ad”. I disputed this claim, “This is not a political ad, this is an ad to promote our film which is about a young boy who follows his father during the Revolutionary War. His adventures and accidental meeting with George Washington save his life and get him, and his dad, back home.” Facebook relented and determined the ad was not political and approved the ad to run.
Sunday July 28, 2019 I received an ad disapproval notice from Facebook citing in part:
“Here’s what’s preventing this ad from running:”
“The text and/or imagery you’re using is about social issues, elections or politics, based on the definition we’re using for enforcement. However, your Page is not authorized to run these types of ads.”
My response: “Hello, Our ad is about our film, and thanking someone for sharing with their readers. Our film, about the founding of the USA is a character driven family-friendly film about family, freedom and home. It is not a political statement, it is not a social issue unless Facebook views films steeped in “Freedom” as a social issue, and it is not a political ad. Thank you again for revisiting. All the best, Andrea M Clarke”
I received a duplicate response noting in part: “You must authorize your Page to run issue, electoral or political ads. To begin the authorization process, please visit your Page’s Settings. You can find more information here. Once you’re authorized to run these ads, choose the option to run this ad with the disclaimer you create in the Authorizations process.”
WE ARE A FILM and I refuse, REFUSE to align with Facebook’s claim to anything but.
I responded to Facebook asking for specific clarification, as of 1:30pm EST Sunday July 28, 2019, no response from them.
“Please let me know what specifically about our ad does not meet your policies. This would be very helpful. Is it because we thanked Governor Mike Huckabee? Is it because the film logo shows a American Revolutionary Flag? Is it because our historical drama is a story about the founding of the USA? I appreciate your support in resolving this matter.”
There have been numerous reports of social media giants censoring more conservative views and persons. I never imagined our film would fall into such a category.
Our film is not aligned with any political party. The American Revolution was fought on Principle bringing people together from all walks of life, we approach our film similarly.
Elijah and George tells the adventures of a young camp follower as he encounters famous figures of the American Revolution on his search for his father who has gone missing during the 1778 Battle of Monmouth. Described by its creators as “Tom Sawyer Meets The Patriot”, the film will highlight the often-forgotten lives of young camp followers who served alongside the armies of the conflict.
The story is uniting, it is not divisive. The story is not political, it is based on principle, a little known story about the founding of the United States of America, with an underlying theme of family, freedom, home with a twist of redemption. The story also honors people who sacrificed so much for our freedoms.
My vision for our film is for folks from all walks of life to enjoy, be taken on an edge-of-their-seat journey with Elijah and the historical figures he meets along the way on his mission to get back home. If the audience is inspired to learn more about the founding of our country, great, if not, also great! If they walk away feeling entertained, than I have done my job.
Your support is needed and greatly appreciated! Please make a tax deductible donation to our film production through our campaign on Network for Good. Like us on Facebook, Follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and sign up for our newsletter through our website.
Elijah and George is in preproduction with a goal to be fully funded by 12/2019. This will allow us to film in Virginia April / May 2020 and release early Fall 2020! As an Independent Film, our budget is $5.9 million.
Thank you for helping us bring this most timely movie to the big screen!
In Freedom,
~ Andrea M Clarke – Producer, Director, Writer – 1663 Media Arts, LLC
Mike Huckabee “You might recall that I recently wrote about a crowdfunded independent film that’s in production called “Elijah and George,” a history-based family film about a boy’s experiences as an American camp follower during the Revolutionary War.
Well, it appears that simply by suggesting you check it out, I have infested it with such conservative cooties that Facebook felt the need to brand ads for the completely non-political film as “political ads” and ban them. Read the story of what the filmmakers have been going through with both Twitter and Facebook at the link, complete with screenshots of their Kafkaesque exchanges with Facebook.
Since – and stop me if you’ve heard this before – Facebook isn’t being forthcoming about why it censored the ads, the only reasons the filmmakers can come up with for their ads being declared political and blocked are (A.) they thanked me by name for giving them a plug, or (B.) the film set during the Revolutionary War shows the Betsy Ross flag. Mustn’t trigger Colin Kaepernick. Either that, or Facebook has decided that the entire subject of the birth of America is now too politically controversial for some people to deal with.
If Facebook wants us to believe they are not acting in bad faith and trying to censor conservative speech, then they’re going to have to come up with a better reason for censoring an ad for a non-political family film than “because Huckabee’s name was mentioned.”
My apologies to the filmmakers for inadvertently bringing them into Facebook’s crosshairs, if that’s the reason for their problems. And if you’d like to save them having to give advertising dollars to hostile leftwing media platforms, then share this link to their website with all your friends for free.”
It has been an interesting process with getting social media and press coverage without getting locked out or buried.
My message for the film has been consistently clear, that Elijah and George is a uniting story steeped in the principles of our founding fathers; family, freedom and home.
Our wish is for folks all across America to enjoy this family friendly story, and be inspired to learn more about the founding of the United States of America and those who sacrificed so much for our freedoms. #HistoryMatters
The Forgotten Soldier Exhibit chronicles the “experiences of African-American soldiers who took part in the American cause for a free and independent nation or took up arms for British forces in hopes of obtaining their own freedom.” It was a humbling experience that left me feeling even more grateful for the sacrifices so many have made in the founding of our country.
The American Revolutionary War was not based on politics, the battle brought people together from all walks of life. “The primary purpose of government, according to the Declaration, was to secure man’s inalienable rights—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—and other values sought were unity and public virtue. These values expressed and reflected the social conditions of early America.”
The realities surrounding the road to freedoms did not come together equally for all at the same time. I place my hope in that we have learned difficult lessons from the past, and will continue to honor the fact that everyone has the right to be free, live in peace and harmony without fear and without overreaching government interference.
For this Independence Day Holiday, please take pause to learn more about the founding of the United States of America and to honor all of our Forgotten Soldiers.
Follow the adventures of Elijah, a young camp follower as he encounters famous figures of the American Revolution on his search for his father who has gone missing after the 1778 Battle of Monmouth. Described by its creators as Huckleberry Finn meets The Patriot, the movie is an adventurous, at-time humorous, heartfelt story steeped in Family, Freedom, Home and Redemption!
In this latest episode of Firelocks, the Podcast, we turn our focus on the independently-financed feature film, “Elijah & George” set to begin production this summer in Virginia. The movie is set to tell the adventures of a young camp follower as he encounters famous figures of the Revolution on his search for his father who has gone missing during the 1778 Battle of Monmouth. Described by its creators as “Tom Sawyer Meets The Patriot”, the film will highlight the often-forgotten lives of young camp followers who served alongside the armies of the conflict, and will be appeal to families and viewers of all ages, lovers of history, and of course appreciators of good film-making.
Joining host Bill Patchak for the discussion are Andrea Clarke (director/producer/writer), Michael Dooling (producer and also illustrator/author of the book that inspired the film), and Ben Theis (historical adviser and 4th Coy’s own). The four chat about the inspiration behind the film’s development, its ongoing pre-production activities, and the efforts being undertaken to ensure its historical accuracy.
Most importantly, however, we must emphasize that this movie WILL succeed with the help of all of you history enthusiasts and followers of the American Revolution out there. In order to ensure that it remains independent and maintains its freedom to tell its story exactly how it was meant to be told, the production is actively campaigning to raise fund.
Tax deductible contributions may be made through the film’s Network for Good Page. They are also entertaining major sponsors.
Occasionally, a film appears at precisely the right time during a country’s history. “Elijah and George” is perfect—now.
As the United States of America grapples with chronic political divisiveness, producer, director, and writer Andrea M. Clarke has set out to create a family-friendly movie about America’s founding principles: family, freedom, and home.
“While our film is not political, it is very timely. At its core, the story of “Elijah and George” celebrates unifying values: the beauty of a loving family, the resilience of the human spirit as father and son fight to get back to each other, and the goodness of freedom and home,” says Clarke.
The movie is set to tell the adventures of a young camp follower as he encounters famous figures of the Revolution on his search for his father who has gone missing during the 1778 Battle of Monmouth. Described by its creators as “Tom Sawyer Meets The Patriot”, the film will highlight the often-forgotten lives of young camp followers who served alongside the armies of the conflict, and will be appealing to families and viewers of all ages, lovers of history, and of course appreciators of good film-making.
The story was adapted from Michael Dooling’s popular children’s book, “George Washington’s Army and Me” which also featured his illustrations. Based on letters and diaries from the period, “Elijah and George” is an adventurous, sometimes humorous, and heartfelt tale that aims for a PG rating.
Starring up-and-coming actor Colin Dyer, the film is character driven, as young Elijah pursues his father, a farmer who joins the 6th Pennsylvania Regiment during the Revolutionary War, after the Loyalists storm his farmhouse and tragedy ensues.
According to Clarke, “It’s one of those stories that leaps off the shelf. My hope is for “Elijah and George” to be a unifying film. It’s part love story, part American history about how our freedoms came to be. The story brings the audience into the characters’ struggles and triumphs in what they can and do endure in the name of family, freedom and home.”
The film goes beyond the theater. David Bruce Smith’s Grateful American™ Foundation has partnered with 1663 Media Arts, LLC as a #HistoryMatters Educational Partner in support of the historical drama. Grateful American Kids’ is an interactive multimedia program that is focused on restoring enthusiasm about American history for kids—and adults. That mission is mirrored by the vision of the film.
A 1663 Media Arts, LLC Production with fiscal sponsorship, the production is actively campaigning to raise fund.
Tax deductible contributions may be made through the film’s Network for Good Page. They are also entertaining major sponsors.
