Ladies and Gentlemen,

This progress report is to update you on the latest developments on the feature-length documentary film project Torn from the Flag about the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and its significant global effects.

Post-production is under way! First we’d like to express our utmost gratitude to those who made our Hungarian, Russian and Italian shoots possible:

Hungary shoot: Thank you to Laszlo Kovacs for cinematography; Vilmos Zsigmond and Sparks – Hungary for lighting equipment and crew; Panavision UK: camera; Gabor Lutor: transportation; Judit Zambo: lodging; Dr. Gabriella Kiszelyi: organization; Peter Honti: photography; Gabriella Dobecz: production coordination; Polgarok Haza: location; Judit Fabian: research and transportation; Zsolt Szekeres, Ajna Pfenninberger and Akos Bernath: office space and assistance; Imre Toth: supply handling; Arpad Sopsits: consulting; Pal Seenger: legal assistance; Csaba Hrotko: storage and transportation; Akos Szilagyi: PR; Zsolt Varkonyi: transportation; Istvan Abraham: transportation.

We enjoyed huge publicity while in Hungary. The project appeared on practically all major TV and radio stations, plus major newspapers: MTV1, MTV2, TV2, Duna TV, Hir TV, Magyarok Vilaga, Heti Valasz, Magyar Nemzet, 168 ora, Heves Megyei Hirlap, Kossuth Radio, Metro 2x, Helyi Tema.

Moscow shoot: Thank you to Ilona Kiss and the Hungarian Cultural Institute Moscow for providing the location.

Rome shoot: Thank you to Eva Keresz and Dr. Janos Feher for lodging and general assistance; Geza Mihalyi for interview organizing; Accademia D’Ungheria in Roma for location; Tim Robbins for referral.

A fundraising event was held in Cleveland; the instrumental organizer was Edith Lauer and Laszlo Buda, who also donated airline mileage. They both also provided preview-DVD duplication services. The Hungarian Heritage Museum held a screening of a preview of the film. While there, we were featured in: Kapossy-, Bocskai-, and Cleveland-Magyar Radio. Laszlo Buda organized two other events to raise money. Special thanks to United Hungarian Societies for assisting his efforts.

Our associate producer George Adams and I enjoyed a fundraising reception held by the Chicago Culture Advisory Board and Laszlo Buda at the Hilton Chicago; the Patron was Honorary Consul Kaarina Koskenalusta. Aina Janson Eglite of Hilton was a superb hostess. George Mismas donated airline miles. The Kanadai- and Amerikai Magyarsag newspapers ran articles.

We received generous donations from the following, listed by the date of the donation: George & Janice Mismas/MGM instruments; Todd Tiberi/AWL Films; Christian Sauska, Jr. & Sr./Light Sources, Inc.; Dr. Sigmund M. & Gabrielle Csicsery; Tamas I. & Zsuzsanna O. Pattantyus; Dr. Laszlo Takacs; Valeria & Peter A. Kiss; Laszlo, Carole & Larry Szabo; Edith Lovas; Edward R. & Joyce S. Parauka; Eugene F. Megyesy; Helen Imry & the Pellerito family; D.W. Liszkay Enterprises, Inc./Donald W. Liszkay; Hungarian Cultural Society of Connecticut members; Julius Ling; Imre & Maria Herczeg; Katalin Voros; Dr. Abel & Mrs. Marie Lajtha; George Balunek; Gabor David & Marianne Abraham; Zsolt Domotorffy; Ilona Kiss Hooper; Dr. Janos Nadas; Antal Tompos; Eva Tarnay; Julius & Szerenke Kaprinyak; Michael & Matilda Kosztarab; Stephen & Winifred Gulyas; Gabor S. Paczolay (2nd donation) & Ilona Penzes; Erika Bokor, Ph.D.; George Kolonits; Multinational Enterprises, Inc.; United Hungarian Societies, Cleveland; Michael P. & Kathleen Burke; Val Dornay; Frederick & Magda Hefty (3rd donation); Steven G. & Connie C. Jonas; Alice G. Byrne; Charles & Barbara Kleinschmitt; Peter V. Czipott & Marisa Sorbello; Andrew & Mimi M. Babochay; Gabriel & Joani Horchler; Hungarian (Magyar) Club of Chicago (2nd donation); Hungarian Freedom Fighters Federation, Inc.; Emery & Elizabeth Farkas Living Trust, UTD; Inter Caribbean Investment Co.; Elizabeth Conner Babbitt; Leslie & Maureen Simonyi; Ebolya Turi; American Hungarian Cultural Society c/o Edith Szal; Michael Repas; Mary Jane Molnar & Julie Young; Istvan & Monika Hargitai; Jeanette Grasselli Brown (2nd donation); Martha Pereszlenyi-Pinter; Margaret Forker; OB-Gyn Affiliates, S.C.; Martha & Karoly Kismartoni; Emma & Otto Varga; Ilona Kozmon; Thomas & Edith Javorik; John & Mary Louise Uray; Peter & Eva Katafias; Charles & Mary Liszkay; Hungarian American Citizens Club; M.H.B.K. World Fed. Of Hungarian Veterans; Katherine Koltai; Danny Vegh; Andrew G. Szent-Gyorgyi; St. Stephen King of Hungary Church; Hungarian American Coalition; Arto & Ella Szabo (2nd donation); Aloysius & Gabriela Remetei; Laszlo Varga; Andrew Friedman (2nd donation); Andrew Bogard; Laszlo & Erika Molnar (2nd donation); Paul De Cleva (2nd donation); Anonymous; Charles Simonyi Fund for Arts & Sciences; Pannonius Foundation; Dr. Eddie & Mrs. Judit Cinti; Ms. Aniko Trombitas Kalnoki; Dr. Istvan Toth; Theodore J. Horvath. Ferenc Pavlics; Raymond T. Sawyer; Eszter K. Czike/Esther C. Howe; Robert T. Filep; Csaba Csere; Laszlo Birinyi, Jr.; Mary Radcliffe (2nd donation); Mr. & Mrs. Walter Kalberer; United Hungarian Fund.

Thank you to: Laszlo Eleod for scanning services. Dana Ross, Tracey Grimes, Bob Hoffman, and Chris Prejza, representatives of Technicolor, for post-production services. Mr. and Mrs. Jozsef and Victoria Miko for assistance with archive footage. Peter Sorel for photography.

Our UCLA interns this quarter were: Veronica Mastrogiacomi; Aicha Zennoune; Johanna Goldschmidt; Arlene Thien Huynh.

Our very generous volunteer transcribers, translators, correctors and timecoders this quarter are: Agnes Brady; Aliz Dalyai; Andras Toro; Anna Lynn Reeves; Arpad Varga; Attila Toth; Bende Toth; Charlotte Remenyik; Elizabeth Ermenyi; Elizabeth Gazda; Endre Hules; Eszter Vitalis; Eva Keresz; Eva K. Farnsworth; Eva Kossuth; Eva Vegh; Ferenc and Istvan Turi; Ferenc Valko; Gabriella and Lawrence Coburn; Gabriella Garzon; George Adams; Geza Benko; Geza Simon; Helena Molnar; Ilona Szablya; Janice Toohey Gabriel; Janos Szablya; Joska Kata; Judit Fabian; Judit Zambo; Julia Shakolinina; Karynne Weiss; Kinga Toth; Kornelia Takacs; Krisztina Kassay; Maria Baltay; Miklos Pardanyi, Zsuzsanna Kiss and David Kardos; Noemi Merli; Paul Greskovics; Robert Szalay, Jr.; Roland Dobos; Suzanne Kiss Toth; Tamas Acsady; Val Dornay; Veronica Mastrogiacomi; Viki Zambo; Yelena Skiba; Yulia Khlypalova and Zsofi Nemeth.

If we inadvertently leave someone out of our acknowledgements, please accept our apologies and draw our attention to the oversight.

A preview of the film is now available here: www.1956film.com/HOMEPAGE
We'd like to thank the following: Vilmos Zsigmond for his contribution; Phil Radin of Panavision for equipment and location; Zoltan Honti, Director of Photography; Roland Dobos, 1st Assistant Camera; Peter Sorel for photography. Producer interviews on this site were edited by George Adams.

We welcome inventive suggestions for the English title of the film. We are looking for something that hits powerfully, is short and to the point. We welcome suggestions primarily from native English speakers.

There are several things the project still needs:

• Assistant editor in the San Francisco area. General familiarity with FCP and MacOSX, and some experience capturing, sub-clipping, subtitling, and timeline editing needed. Previous assistant editing experience a plus. System is FCP5 on dual G5 with Kona LH. Russian, Italian and/or Hungarian speaker a plus.
• Language help in the editing room (San Francisco): volunteers who speak both English and at least one of the following languages well: Russian, Italian, and/or Hungarian.
• The use of an office with wi-fi or DSL internet access during editing (for anywhere from 3 weeks to 3 months) preferably near the Castro Theater (Castro and Market, San Francisco 94114; no Oakland or Marin locations, please): 10’ x 12’ minimum, enough for two desks next to each other with equipment, plus a third desk or table for working with notes and a laptop; a keyboard drawer, a little shelving. Reasonably quiet. Must be accessible at all hours for editor and assistant.
• Our UCLA intern needs room and board in the San Francisco area, preferably around the Castro Theater area.
• '56-related, never-before- or seldom-published visual materials, photographs, newspapers, moving-image archive footage, and mementos from Hungary from the 50's. These could be anything from buttons to postcards. We ask that you send us a list of what you have, in advance.
• People who have self-composed music who are willing to offer it to the project. Young talents are welcome to submit. The individual offering the music must own the copyright. Please send demo reels to the same address given below for sending donations.
• Part-time volunteer translators (from Hungarian, Russian, Italian to English).

We are obviously trying to make the deadline of the 50th anniversary, but we're still lacking some of the finishing funds. We are asking for your help to complete our budget NOW. This is our last fundraising push to make this deadline. Donations are tax-deductible in the U.S. and Hungary. It is also possible to donate using your credit card: www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=78761. You may also donate stock; we are able to sell it for you! For those who supported Torn from the Flag previously, kindly send us a check again and match your previous contribution. Do tell your family and friends about the project, as well! We are so very close to our goal; please do your part: write and mail your check today.

U.S. taxpayers: please make the check payable to the International Documentary Association and mail your check to:

1626 North Wilcox Avenue, #393
Hollywood, CA 90028
Attention: Klaudia Kovacs, Producer / Director

Hungarian taxpayers may donate via “Pro Professione Alapitvany - A lyukas zaszlo.” Your donation is tax-deductible in accordance with local laws, and the bank account number you may donate to is: 117-05-008-20491246.

Thank you, once again, for your interest in and generous support of this important educational project.

Sincerely Yours,
Klaudia Kovacs
Producer, Director, Writer
www.klaudiainc.com
klaudiakovacs@msn.com