THE STORY “Silent Night really stood the test of time.” - SIEDAH GARRETT
ilent Night was composed in that – and sang it as well in English. This led 1818, in harsh times, when people to the legendary Christmas truce of 1914. suffered from the aftermath of S the Napoleonic wars, horrible 117 years after its first performance, History epidemics and a year without summer due to was made on the December 25th 1934 when a super volcano eruption. Joseph Mohr and Bing Crosby sang “Silent Night” on a CBS Franz Gruber wrote the song for a Christmas radio show. Afterwards “Silent Night” not Eve service, and unknowingly made music only became part of Crosby’s Christmas history. show for the next quarter of a century, he sold 30 Million singles of the recording and At the time, miraculously the composition it is till today the third best-selling single of was picked up by a travelling “boy group”, all time. the Tyrolean Rainer Singers – and so made the song its way to New York – and later to Today, all Major Record Labels number Los Angeles. around 6000 recordings of the song; it has been translated into 350 languages But before it reached the new world, Silent and dialects and in 2011 the world’s most Night became a peace song: in 1914, on the popular Christmas carol has been added to western frontline of WW1 German troops UNESCO’s World Heritage List in recognition sang Silent Night in their trenches on of its role in fostering cultural diversity. Christmas Eve. The British soldiers heard
JOSEPH MOHR LYRICIST OF SILENT NIGHT DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT “Silent Night seems to have even more meaning nowadays than it had 200 years ago.”
We filmed dramatic reconstructions of World War in 1914 featuring John Rhys- NIGHT, scheduled for Friday Dec. 23rd 2018, “Silent Night’s” origins in 1818, written by Davies (Lord of The Rings, Indiana Jones) reached millions of viewers, fans and music Franz Gruber and Joseph Mohr, as a song telling the story. lovers in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and for peace and hope during a time of great France simultaneously. Our Sales partner hardship for my country, Austria. From And we captured the moment when Bing are already negotiating international there we followed the carol’s incredible Crosby’s unforgettable CBS radio recording distribution – also in the US. journey around the world, distributed by a of ‘Silent Night’ became a pop culture “Boy Group” via Germany to New York, and phenomenon in 1935, selling 30 million As a message for good, we want the film to further to Los Angeles, leading up to the copies, being the third best-selling single have a real impact and we will dedicate 20% 200th anniversary on Christmas in 2018. of all time and becoming the Christmas of the net revenue to an UNICEF child care We re-enacted the incredible moment songbook for countless music stars (and program, represented by former Austrian when this song for peace inspired a cease- every carol service!) Federal President Heinz Fischer. HANNES M SCHALLE fire on the frontline trenches of the First The prime-time TV premiere for SILENT SHOOTING LOCATIONS LONDON - NEW YORK - LOS ANGELES - SALZBURG - PARIS TORONTO - MOSCOW - JERUSALEM - VIENNA - FLORENCE NARRATION
HUGH BONNEVILLE AS THE ON-SCREEN NARRATOR
ugh Bonneville, the British film and television actor, (known for Downtown Abbey, Paddington, Notting Hill) is the Host & HNarrator of the film. He will guide the audience through the story of the song from the creation to the worldwide distribution and how it became a song for the world. For this magical story no one can tell the story better than this marvelous british actor. MUSIC PRODUCTION WITH SOME OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST CHRISTMAS MUSIC PERFORMERS & PRODUCERS
Brian Rawling, Grammy Award winning brand-new version of SILENT UK music producer, also agreed to NIGHT was produced by 16- produce a special version with UK artists time Grammy Award Winner for the film. Humberto Gatica, who also A by David Foster, 16-time Grammy Winner, produced, recorded and engineered amongst many other Michael Jackson, who produced many famous versions Tina Turner, Celine Dion, Madonna, Elton of the song “Silent Night”, with notable John, Whitney Houston, and many, many artists such as Michael Bublé and Josh more. Groban, who also participates in our film.
HUMBERTO GATICA DAVID FOSTER JOSH GROBAN BRIAN RAWLING WW1 CHRISTMAS TRUCE SILENT NIGHT - THE SONG THAT STOPPED WORLD WAR 1 FOR A DAY
JOHN RHYS-DAVIS AS FIELD MARSHAL EARL HAIG
proudly announce the filming of this important story on location in the UK. Our Advisor and War Scene Designer is Andy Bradshaw, I who for example worked on Steven Spielberg’s War Horse or on Wonder Woman and with Peter Jackson. He built an original location for us with German and English trenches and a real No Man’s Land.
The 1914 Christmas Truce was a moment when enemies laid down their weapons in WW1 and joined together to celebrate, eat, and play. That was also the moment when SILENT NIGHT became the world’s most known peace song. We staged this emotional 12 hours of humanity on location in the UK and the Story is told by UK actor JOHN RHYS-DAVIES who is known for his portrayal of Gimli in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and the charismatic excavator Sallah in the Indiana Jones films. MEMORABLE PERFORMANCES
USA Kelly Clarkson THE GRAND FINALE
It starts quietly with a solo singer of the Vienna “Silent Night transcends the lyrics, it Boys Choir then the Mozarteum Orchestra, Kelly and the whole Vienna Boys Choir set in one by one transcends the music. The whole vibe and show us that this simple song can have a lot of of the song... i’s the melody!” power! Orchestrated by the fantastic William Ross! MEMORABLE PERFORMANCES
“When you research the history of the song, the meaning comes in even stronger!”
USA Sheléa SINGING “SILENT NIGHT” IN A BLUESY AND POWERFUL GOSPEL VERSION
What a voice! Shelea interprets the Song in a very unique and new version. Growing up in a Christian family, Sheléa grew up with the sound of Gospel and the song Silent Night. Best conditions for a new mix! MEMORABLE PERFORMANCES
“I don’t think there is anyone in Korea who doesn’t know ‘Silent Night’ !”
SOUTH KOREA Ailee SINGING “SILENT NIGHT” IN KOREAN
Telling us about Christmas Traditions in South Korea and also premiering a new wonderful christmas song with an emotional and beautiful story. MEMORABLE PERFORMANCES
“Silent Night is deeply linked with christianity, but to me the song belongs to humanity!”
FRANCE Anggun SINGING “SILENT NIGHT” IN FRENCH AND INDONESIAN
A definite highlight of the movie! Anggun enchants the audience with two wonderful versions of Silent Night both acoustic and orchestrated by Rob Eckland. MEMORABLE PERFORMANCES
ISRAEL Lina Makhoul SINGING “SILENT NIGHT” IN ARABIC
Lina delivers a great message of peace! A singer from Palestine becoming the first Arab to win the Israeli version of ‘The Voice’. She clearly proves that music is a worldwide language that can break down seemingly impossible barriers between people, religions and cultures.
“Silent Night connects all the people. That is the purpose of this song!” MEMORABLE PERFORMANCES “Silent Night is one of those songs that is in everybody’s DNA. You dont know why you know it, you just know it!”
UK Gavin Rossdale SINGING A WONDERFUL RENDITION OF “WAR IS OVER”
Gavin tells us of the differences of Christmas in the UK and the US, why he chose to sing a cover of Lennon’s ultimate christmas song and what christmas really means to him. MEMORABLE PERFORMANCES
“To ask when I first heard Silent Night is like asking ‘When did you first breath in and out?’ ”
UK Joss Stone SINGING “SILENT NIGHT”
What a lovely interview and recording we had with the amazing Joss Stone! Calling herself a real christmas addict, it was a pure joy listening to her thoughts and jokes at the Germano Studios in New York, where she also recorded a Silent Night version for the movie! MEMORABLE PERFORMANCES
“There is just something magical about Silent Night.”
CANADA The Tenors SINGING A COLOSSAL VERSION OF “OH COME ALL YE FAITHFUL”
Filmed both deep in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, in Alberta and in Toronto, the Tenors convince with a triumphant hymn to christmas and its christian connection. MEMORABLE PERFORMANCES
USA David Foster & Katharine McPhee SINGING “SILENT NIGHT” “Silent Night moves people in a Simple but powerful. David accompanying Kath- arine with nothing but a Piano really adds to the way that is ineffable. You can’t nature of the song. Time to relax, lay back and en- joy the music. put it into words.” ORCHESTRA MUSIC & SONGS WORKING WITH SOME OF HOLLYWOODS MOST PROLIFIC MUSICIANS
WILLIAM ROSS SIEDAH GARRETT JOHN DEBNEY RESTAGING THE STORY IN 1839 THE RAINER SINGERS BROUGHT THE SONG TO AMERICA AND IN 1935 BING CROSBY MADE IT A WORLD HIT -
Shooting the Narrator-Scenes in a wonder ful Rococo Manor in Salzburg
Setting up the scene for the Reenactment with John Rhys-Davies as Fieldmarshal Douglas Haig.
Three Camera Set-up for the interview with Josh Groban in Los Angeles
Using the wintery weather to get some nice Landscape Drone Shots 49°C
the Reenactments of Mohr and Gruber where done in Winter in Salzburg in 19th century accurate locations!
Filming in the desert near Palms Springs in the glowing heat
-15°C
Jerusalem in Summer! The joy of filming winter scenes in summer!
Although it got pretty chilly at the nightshoots! CAST & CREW
WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY Fraser Walters LINE PRODUCER GRAPHICS AND STILL DIT Gabriele Ramsauer Hannes Michael Schalle Clifton Murray Brigitte Wettstein PHOTOGRAPHY Thomas Schorn-Roubin Roland Hellrigl Victor Micallef Stefan Resch Theobald Seyffertitz SCREENPLAY BY John Rhys-Davies UNIT PRODUCTION MANAGER Markus Christ OFF & ONLINE EDITOR Johannes Pfeffer Alistair Audsley Anthony Eccles Daniela Matsching Stefan Resch Max Gurtner LOCATION SOUND COLORIST Andy Robertshaw Harald Waitzbauer PRODUCED BY EXECUTIVE PRODUCER CAMERA OPERATORS Dave Armstrong Thomas Schorn-Roubin Cody Jones Marlene Beran Marlene Beran Thomas Kreuzberger Simon Paul Hornet Gustl Viertbauer Hannes M. Schalle René Kiefer Theo McMenamin SOUND DESIGN Kevin Tanner EXECUTIVE PRODUCER UK Thomas Schweighofer Ramon de Juan Alex Haslinger Reinhard Haring Alistair Audsley Thomas Schorn-Rubin Martin Rohrmoser CAST Troy Germano Stefan Resch (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE) VO RECORDING Dietmar Hoisser David Armstrong Florian Meindl CONSULTING PRODUCER SPECIAL EFFECTS Christoph Burgstaller David Steward Jordan T. Hansen Lukas Schweighofer Paul Farberman Snow Business International Alissa Endres Eduardo Gellner Peter Simonischeck Brandon Blackstock Joe Ramson ADR Josh Groban EDITED BY GAFFER Mike Götze Jeffrey Latimer Griffith Frank Stefan Resch Michael Wagner Maria Diegruber Brian C. Watkins CAMERA ASSISTENTS Christoph Ribitsch Sigrid Pichler Thomas Dunzendorfer FOLIES Kevin Michaels MUSIC BY Dave Amstrong Matthias Breddermann Oz Vidal Robert Cait William Ross Ramon de Juan Bernhard Somera Gabi Fischer Wiener Sängerknaben Theo McMenamin Ralph von Zündt Rob Eckland DUBBING MIXER Julian Siponen Kelly Clarkson Hannes M. Schalle Jack Harrson Judith Neuhoff Martin Löcker Selina Pfister Tanmoye Khan BEST BOY Anna-Lena Dornauer ORCHESTRAS Daniel Ronacher PROGRAM EDITOR DUBBING STAGE Josef Geisler Toronto Symphony Orchestra DRONE OPERATORS Theo McMenamin (SERVUS TV) Sebastian Egger Daniel Ronacher Aikon MT London Symphony Orchestra Ramon de Juan Frank Gerdes Joss Stone Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg Rafael Planer John Debney Woody MacPhail VISUAL EFFECTS ELECTRICIAN PROGRAM EDITOR (BR/ARTE) Hannah Friedman CHOIRS Ivan Thomas Theo McMenamin Robin Aristorenas Siedah Garrett Airworx Daniel Magyar Sonja Scheider Vienna Boys Choir Fred Jaklitsch Orlando Bonzi Salzburg Festival Youth Choir HAIR AND MAKEUP Sabine Holzinger COSTUMES Natalija Aristorenas PROGRAM EDITOR (BR) Astrid Wirtenberger Rebecca Castro Stefan Resch Ulrich Gambke VFX SUPERVISOR Salzburger Kostüm Verleih Carola Hofstätter Thomas Eder Morris Angel & Son Jürgen Leitner Robin Aristorenas Eva Hauswirth PROGRAM EDITOR (NDR) Barbara Coney Mua TECHNICAL COORDINATOR Rolando Villazón ART DIRECTION Anja Würzberg Gavin Rossdale ASSOCIATE PRODUCER Liam Cambridge & VIDEO SUPERVISOR Stefan Resch Sabine Stropek Günther Mitterhuber David Foster Franz & Oliver Gernstl Victoria Dayneko Sussy Campos David Cox Anggun ASSISTANT DIRECTOR SPECIAL THANKS A MOONLAKE ENTERTAINMENT Guy Tako Tina Breckwoldt Lina Makhoul Markus Christ PRODUCTION INFORMATION
The film is made by Hannes M. Schalle’s production label https://www.moonlake-entertainment.com/ A PRESS PACKAGE WITH PRODUCTION PHOTOS, SCREENSHOTS & ARTWORKS CAN BE REQUESTED AT in Collaboration with: [email protected] The leading German TV Station ARD with its Division BR The French Channel ARTE Red Bull Media House with its TV Division Servus TV And the German Music Program Distributor Unitel Collaborating Labels: Sony Music, Warner Music, Universal and BMG THE TRAILER FOR THE MOVIE CAN BE WATCHED HERE: The production is filmed in 8K and the production will be available in FULLHD and 4K, 1x90 or 2x50 minute versions, all in Stereo and 5.1 https://vimeo.com/467398270 Surround. Password: 20MOONLAKE20
For further information, please do not hesitate to contact
Executive Producer Marlene Beran [email protected] A FIRST 16 MINUTE SNEAK PEAK CAN BE SEEN IN OUR SIZZLE REEL HANNES MICHAEL SCHALLE https://vimeo.com/314760357 https://www.hannesschalle.com/ https://www.moonlake-entertainment.com/ PASSWORD: 20SNSizzle19 Cell +43 676 3884656 EU Contact: Brigitte Wettstein [email protected] US Contact: Paul Farberman [email protected] Legal: Greenberg Traurig LLP NEWS ON THE PRODUCTION PROGRESS CAN BE FOLLOWED ON https://www.silentnight-movie.com/blog
© 2020 Moonlake Entertainment Rights Ltd. For promotional use only. All Rights Reserved.