PROJECTS IN DEVELOPMENT

Feature film or Mini Series.

The real story of the only slave trader convicted and hanged in the history of the world.

For the first time, a Hollywood production will tell the true story of the clash between President Lincoln and Captain Gordon. This film is very significant for the moment the world is living, with many domestic and international movements fighting for more racial equality and justice.

HANGING CAPTAIN GORDON

To be produced in Hollywood and filmed on location in Brazil and the USA, this film is based on the book Hanging Captain Gordon, by author Ron Soodalter, president of the Abraham Lincoln Institute of Washington DC, who is also a producer in the project.

SYNOPSIS

Black Birder begins in 1860, on the mouth of the Congo river when Captain Nathaniel Gordon’s slave ship Erie is being chased by US Navy warship Mohican. Then we see him as a young boy, in his home late at night, answering the door to policemen who came to arrest his father, accused of slave trading. His father is set free soon after. Years later Nathaniel follows his father’s footsteps and becomes a sea captain, also involved in illegal slave trading. Although slavery was still legal in most states, it was forbidden to bring slaves from Africa to the Americas, and for Americans to be involved in slavery anywhere in the world. However, most of the slave ships were funded and sailed from New York, the unofficial center of slavery in the Americas. Like many other American Captains, Gordon made a living by sailing to Africa to smuggle natives to Cuba or Brazil. On his first voyage in 1851, he stole the ship Camargo and sailed to Mozambique to bring 500 Africans to Rio de Janeiro. After unloading his sad cargo, Captain Gordon sunk the ship and dressed as a woman he fled to New York. At this time the young Abraham Lincoln began to get involved in American politics, which would lead him to run for president years later. After a few more trips, Gordon was captured off the coast of Africa commanding the slave ship Erie with 970 Africans aboard and taken to New York. Although against the law for decades in the USA, no slave traders had ever been punished, as much of the economy of New York and the southern states depended on the slave work. As the government was very corrupt, Captain Gordon was certain he would be released soon, but something unheard of happens. Abraham Lincoln became President of the United States and declared that he would end human trafficking once and for all. A dirty legal battle took place, as the rich merchants of New York who invested in slaving felt their empires threatened. A victim of this situation, Elizabeth, Captain Gordon’s young wife, who didn’t know anything about his illegal activities, suddenly was dragged into this nightmare. Although she was repulsed by his acts, she remained faithful to her husband, trying to find a way for his freedom. Elizabeth even contacted Lincoln’s wife. Despite all that, Gordon became the first and only slave trader ever convicted and hanged in the United States, maybe in the world. That changed the game in the fight against racial injustice. After her husband was convicted, Elizabeth received a curious invitation from Brazil, a plea for help in a case that could help some of the victims of his husband. Through the lives of Lincoln, Gordon, and Elizabeth, this true story puts in check the sad period of American history until the tragic Civil War. A powerful story, aligned with the revisionist tendencies of Hollywood, which will be an undisputed commercial success in the US and from there to the world, including Brazil.

SIMILAR PRODUCTIONS AND YOUR PROFIT

Considered one of the favorite topics by American audiences, films about racial segregation usually receive multiple OSCAR nominations, which translates into bigger box office and higher profits for the production.

FILM	YEAR	OSCAR NOMINATIONS	UPDATED PRODUCTION BUDGET ATUALIZADO (dollartimes)	UPDATED GROSS INCOME (dollartimes)
The Color Purple	1985	11	U$35.788.176	U$224.692.139
Driving Miss Daisy	1989	9	U$15.636.908	U$303.967.528
Do the Right Thing	1989	2	U$12.509.526	U$77.758.062
Glory	1989	4	U$37.528.580	U$55.935.025
Malcolm X	1992	2	U$61.942.871	U$87.758.310
Amistad	1997	4	U$57.026.406	U$70.062.390
The Help	2011	4	U$28.656.144	U$248.321.664
Lincoln	2012	12	U$72.362.300	U$306.474.880
Django Unchained	2012	5	U$111.326.615	U$473.548.063
The Butler	2013	0	U$32.826.468	U$193.237.283
12 Years a Slave	2013	9	U$21.884.312	U$205.420.601
Selma	2014	2	U$21.560.530	U$71.999.135
Straight Outta Compton	2015	1	U$29.958.111	U$215.735.838
Hidden Figures	2016	3	U$26.554.592	U$250.629.571
Get Out	2017	4	U$4.682.678	U$265.776.008
Green Book	2018	5	U$23.439.336	U$325.844.852
BlacKkKlansman	2018	6	U$15.286.523	U$95.055.476
Black Panther	2018	7	U$203.820.317	U$1.372.641.341
US	2019	2020	U$20.000.000	U$254.664.460

12 YEARS A SLAVE MOVIE IN BOX OFFICE MOJO: LINK

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This production will be a feature film for theatrical release that can be distributed by a streaming company later or a limited series for streaming.

Official letter from President Abraham Lincoln about Captain Gordon’s case: