Red Courage

2012 • Action/Drama • 12 minutes

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Based on a true story, “Red Courage” takes us back to 1942 over the Pacfic during World War II. It is a story about fear and courage through self-sacrifice.

Director:
Scott Edge

Executive Producer:
Bob Lepine

Writer:
Scott Edge

Cast:
Skyy Moore, Stephen Brodie, Corbin Pitts, Warren McCullough, Bryan Massey, Daniel Escudero, Jason Willey, Chad Halbrook, James DeWitt, Tim Yagar, Chad Bozarth, Matt Moore

About the Film

Henry "Red" Erwin...

was a United States Army Air Forces airman and a recipient of the U.S. military’s highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II. He earned the award as a staff sergeant and radio operator aboard a B-29 Superfortress in the Asia-Pacific theater. During a 1945 bombing mission over Koriyama, Japan, a white phosphorus bomb prematurely ignited in his aircraft and seriously wounded him. As smoke filled the plane, he picked up the burning device and carried it through the aircraft to the cockpit where he tossed it out a window. Although he suffered severe burns, he successfully saved his plane and all crew members aboard by disposing of the incendiary/smoke-generating bomb.

The Production

An ambitious film project...

Any period piece is a challenging undertaking because every detail, from costumes to environment, has to match the era. “Red Courage” was all that and then some!

To recreate the WWII era, the film was shot aboard the last airworthy B-29 in existence at the Commemorative Air Force headquearters located (at the time) in Addison, TX and in a historical home in Little Rock, AR. This film required massive camera rigs in tight spaces, 3D animation, VFX and countless layers of sound design amidst an agressive post-production schedule.

Most films of this magnitude would require weeks to shoot. Due to scheduling and budget restraints, “Red Courage” was shot in only five days.

Previz & Production

Months before cameras rolled, everything had to be in place. Every shot was planned, every action was blocked, every costume, every prop, every task was prepped… and every window seemingly had a bluescreen!

VFX & 3D Animation

In order to meet deadines, lighting was predetermined so that 3D models could be built and battle sequences rendered months before principal photography initiated.

Special Effects

The viceral reality of “Red” Erwin’s sacrifice required painfully accurate detail. Makeup techniques were developed to immulate burned and smouldering flesh. It was all done practically. No visual effects.