New Independent Film "Godzilla: Heritage" Seeks Funding!

For many Godzilla fans the world over, the ultimate dream would be to take part in the production of a Godzilla film, or better yet, to create their own production on their own terms. This has led to many fans setting out to create their own fan projects, which range from 3-4 minute videos of toys held in front of cameras to longer, more labor intensive stop motion films, and beyond. A few brave souls, including Japanese filmmakers and kaiju fans Shizuo Nakajima and Shinpei Hayashiya, have poured many years and sizable (albeit still small for a live action motion picture) budgets into feature-length, completely independently produced Godzilla films such as Wolfman vs Godzilla and Godzilla vs Death Gilas, respectively. These movies, produced outside of Toho as non-for-profit labors of love, represent the realization of that ultimate fan dream. And now, with your help, the most ambitious indie Godzilla film of them all could soon become a reality…

Conceived by fan Greg Graves in 2009, Godzilla: Heritage has, over its 6 years of production, evolved into perhaps the most ambitious project ever undertaken by the American G-fan community: a feature length, fully scripted motion picture with a serious storyline, professional actors, and most importantly, a sizable cast of classic Toho giant monsters, fully realized on screen using the traditional tokusatsu techniques of suits, miniatures, and animatronics.

The following is a synopsis of the film:

Since Godzilla's first attack in 1954, mankind has been under constant threat from gigantic creatures known as "Superfauna" - animals mutated by the coming of the nuclear age and man's abuse of the atom's destructive power. Humanity was united against a common foe and for almost 60 years, worked collectively to study and combat the creatures as millions died, cities crumbled and the world's economy continued to collapse. Now, the world seems to finally be bringing the threat under control. Jack Martin is a correspondent for United World News and the grandson of Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Steve Martin, who's riveting coverage of the 1954 raid on Tokyo made him a legend. With his grandfather's shadow always overhead, Jack has spent his career attempting to forge his own legacy, showing great promise as a journalist before spiraling into depression. In the process, he has severely damaged both his reputation and his marriage to family friend, Kaori Ogata. Before leaving the agency, Jack decides to travel to a small pacific island with his life-long friend Mitch Lawrence, who now runs UWN's old newspaper division. While the two wait to attend a ground-breaking ceremony for a new building, Godzilla suddenly reappears after nearly 30 years of absence...and he hasn't returned alone. With the King of the Monsters' threat looming, Jack must decide whether to flee or finally embrace his heritage and report the attack as it happens - risking not only his life, but the lives of his best friend and his wife. 

The film will be directed by Graves, and will feature a talented cast and crew that will bring this “by fans, for fans” Godzilla film to life. Key to the success of the film will be creature designers and fabricators Rashaad Santiago, Chaz Vance, Jake Corrik, and Ben Bayouth (the former of which was winner of SyFy’s Season 6 of Face Off, and the latter 3 of which were contestants on Jim Henson’s Creature Shop Challenge on the same channel). In addition, Godzilla-Movies.com’s resident 3D artist extraordinaire “Dopepope” will be lending his considerable talents to the film in designing the new looks for the various kaiju, or “Superfauna”, that will appear in the film! We wish him the best of luck!

As Godzilla: Heritage is a non-for-profit film, much of the production has been payed for out of the director’s own pocket, with much of the crew working for next to nothing on props and in locations that would cost “official” films many thousands of dollars more. To finish the film, the team turned to crowdfunding, seeking the funds they needed via a Kickstarter campaign several years ago. Unfortunately, the campaign failed to reach its goal. Undeterred, the team tried again, this time splitting the campaign into two phases. Phase 1 last year secured the project nearly $20,000.

In June of 2015, Phase 2 launched, along with the debut of the first official trailer for Godzilla: Heritage. This time, the creators are seeking $40,000 to finally finish the film. Without this money, the project cannot be completed, and the creators fear that it may have to be shelved if the necessary funds are not raised in time. As of this writing, the Kickstarter campaign has raised over $16,000, and is reaching its final weeks.

For Godzilla fans, seeing this project come to fruition would surely be a dream come true. If any readers are so inclined to make a donation or learn more about the project, please visit the Kickstarter page to read all about the project, its goals, and the incredible perks for donating (including signed artwork, screen used props, and 3D printed figures/maquettes of the film’s monsters, including Godzilla himself!), as well as view the official trailer for the film.

For more information on Godzilla: Heritage, please visit the film’s official Facebook page, and read director/producer Greg Graves’ interview with Toho Kingdom’s Chris Mirjahangir.

So, what do you think? Do the possibilities of Godzilla Heritage interest you? Would you like to see this project completed? Will you donate to the Kickstarter? Let us know, and be sure to check back here at Godzilla-Movies.com for more news and updates on the project!

And as a bonus, please enjoy these concept renderings of the many Toho monsters to be reimagined for the film!

Images and info courtesy of Kickstarter, Facebook, and Toho Kingdom.

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