Of all the places on Earth, in this place called France, in this time known as the Renaissance, a rebirth of classic art and literature abounds. But a more dangerous and heretical ideal will surface– that of liberty of conscience — of freedom for all. This concept will seem harmless, but will soon ignite a fire that will burn brightly well beyond its time, to spark a debate that will impact the entire world for centuries to come. “Rebirth” the screenplay, is an attempt to make sure this provocative true story will never be forgotten and its lessons never lost…

“Rebirth” unfolds in a world torn between Renaissance and genocide, viewed through the eyes of a womanizing artist who finds love that changes his life and risks all in the fight for civil liberty. This unlikely humanist hero stands with these brave hearts, a small group of French Aristocrats and Artisans, called Huguenots, who give up fortune and fame for a dangerous belief. As they dare to speak out, they risk death or dungeon. Their persecution begins with a few outspoken nobles and explodes into massacres of even women and children and triggers a French Civil War. Their only hope is to recant their beliefs or to escape from France. Their fight and flight sparks a debate that changes political thought forever.

When all had seemed lost, the Huguenot fight for freedom sparked a debate for civil disobedience against religious and political tyranny. Their forced migration had carried their love of liberty across borders and oceans and laid the foundation for the U.S. Constitution.

Yet, it is not until the American Revolution that France’s loss truly becomes America’s gain. It was then that the French Catholic Lafayette discovered that his good friend George Washington and many other American patriots, scholars and entrepreneurs are descendants of the French Huguenots.

Notes: The English word “refugee” came from the exile of Huguenot’s from France.

Huguenot Descendant Short List:
Johnny Depp, Robert Duvall, Warren Buffet,Steve Forbes, Charlize Theron, Kenneth Branagh, Marlin Brando, Winston Churchill, Lawrence Olivier, Tyrone Power, Megan Fox, Tom Brokaw, John Rockefeller, George Patton, George Will, Henry David Thoreau, Charles Tiffany, A.I. Dupont, Charles Lindbergh, Louisa May Alcott, Harriet Beecher Stowe, John Jay, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Mark Roget, Francis Marion, Davy Crockett, John Sevier, Peter James Bayard, Jean Belmain, John James Audubon, Mary Cassatt, as well as over a dozen American Presidents have documented Huguenot ancestry. Many more world citizens, knowingly and unknowingly, also share this legacy of honor.

“If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all generations of your ancestors. All of them are alive in this moment. Each is present in your body. You are the continuation of each of these people.”

We carry the memories of our ancestors in every cell of our bodies.“The hero draws inspiration from the virtue of his ancestors.” Goethe

“Rebirth” was written not only for those who love history or philosophy, but for those who understand that the past is our present, because it lives within the cellular memories and in our collective consciousness. May this story give all the courage to change circumstances, even to those who feel love and liberty to be illusive and fleeting. This heritage of love, honor and freedom is our birthright and belongs to us all.

“People will not look forward to posterity who never look backward to their ancestors.” –Edmund Burke

--------------------
I was asked recently, “I heard Johnny Depp has French Huguenot ancestry, but what is a Huguenot?” I had to admit, that only a few short years ago, I did not know the answer, but I’ve always had a natural instinct for integrity, a passion for civil liberty and for protecting those unable to defend themselves. I was quickly captivated, outraged, and ultimately inspired by these brave nobles, so much so — I was driven to write of their heart wrenching and heartwarming TRUE story that sparked a world-wide debate on separation of church and state, and a debate for freedom of speech that laid the basic ideals of the U.S. Constitution.

REBIRTH_Scorecard_TL-SCRIPT VAMP-1

For more information on Huguenot genealogy or on the award winning screenplay REBIRTH: feel free to email me: tllewiswriter@icloud.com or email@tllewis.net.

HISTORY: FRENCH BLOOD IN AMERICA

To understand the legacy of French Huguenots in America, it is first necessary to know of their persecution and fight for tolerance and freedom in France.  The stage is set with high stakes devoted to the rise and respect for civil liberty, the cause for which many Huguenot patriots and innocents are murdered. To ‘speak your mind’  literally means to risk losing your head. This amazing true story reveals how most Huguenots are well educated aristocrats willing to give up everything as they riske death and dungeon for the right to speak their conscience.

In a world torn between renaissance and genocide, “Rebirth” reveals a provocative epic of a notorious and almost forgotten true story, set in a time when faith, law and king are one.

“Rebirth” is a mix of all the things that we are told should never be discussed: sex, love, politics, war and religion, to excite with its larger-than-life characters, in an emotional roller coaster of passion and intrigue, with many contemporary echoes of religious terrorism and the reason for separation of church and state.

THE TRUE STORY

The story opens through the eyes of a little boy who loses his faith and his faith in humanity, then unfolds into his life twelve years later as a womanizing artist who escapes his pain through pleasure. As he escapes, the world around him dissolves into anarchy. With intolerance blessed, the political and religious corruption is matched only by the cruelty.

All explodes when the villain Duke De Guise, commits a mass murder and is not arrested; but instead greeted like a modern day bad boy, cheered on through the streets of Paris. As tyranny triumphs, this unlikely hero emerges. Edmund du Chastel, a pacifist and humanist at heart, exchanges his brush for a sword in a fight for liberty and life itself.

Edmund’s transformation is partially based on the pain of his past, his search for the meaning of honor, and standing up for a cause greater than self. His unexpected love for an extraordinary young woman, Genevieve, is the love that changes his life and gives him courage in his quest for redemption. Their love story sizzles as it warms the heart and transcends the turbulent time.

Unlike William Wallace in “Braveheart”, who had little left to lose, these heroes are a pure and rare example of men and women who have everything – prominence, prestige and all the pleasures that success brings – and sacrifice it all to stand for cause greater than self.

After many arrests and massacres, the Huguenot options are clear to the few still alive: to either recant or escape from France. Their estates  and treasures are confiscated as they leave all they own behind and yet take with them something far more priceless: a respect for honor and a love of liberty, justice and tolerance for all.

REBIRTH is also a timeless love story woven throughout, that rises above it all.  As this provocative true story reveals, this courage cost the Huguenots so dearly.

LEGACY THAT SPANS GENERATIONS

Soon, France’s loss soon becomes America’s gain with the sowing of these ideals in her fertile ground; their honor and bravery admired by the English ‘Free Thinkers’. These ‘brave hearts’ find acceptance and admiration in all the countries that take them in. France eventually realizes the loss of her most noble and industrious citizens,  leading to poverty of body, mind and will,  and weakens France for decades and paves the way for the French Revolution.

The wide spread influence of the early French Huguenots outside France is quickly notable. However, the Huguenots do not strive to isolate themselves or perputae race purity or predjudice, instead they assimilate  to become productive world citizens. For centuries, Huguenots were known for their humility and honesty.

In this way they sometimes lost immediate recognition, but undoubtedly have left a legacy of liberty and honor that has been handed down for generations. It is a legacy that  many, including Johnny Depp, would be proud to share with their children and grandchildren.

———–

“The Roots of inhumanity: Wealth without work, Pleasure without conscience, Knowledge without character, Commerce without morality, Science without humanity, Politics without principles…”

REBIRTH: the Sequel (in progress)

Greatness sometimes skips a generation or two as grandson Captain Edmund becomes a privateer and comes to Philadelphia with a young William Penn… Pirates and corrupt Politicians seek gold and the excesses of mortality on the high seas, and amid the high ideals in the city of brotherly love. Add a real Secret Society in search of the immortality of the Philosopher’s Stone, and you have haunted and hunted heroes on totally different paths of a true adventure and altered destiny.

These two reviewers are so brilliant– They both actually read the script!

REBIRTH is a wonderfully written, historically accurate, and vividly imaginative script. The atmosphere is pulsing with energy; the setting is described with lifelike detail. The characters are rich with insight and dripping with humanity.

The storyline runs fluently, and is engaging, offering elaborate detail, allowing the audience the chance to visualize this historical event from a fresh, unobstructed perspective. The sequence of dramatic scenes, all highly kinetic, visual, and expertly crafted, lend to the validity of the striking images described, as well as to reveal the depth of the characters that live within its creative boundaries.

The characters are skillfully constructed, portrayed as highly individuated, and idiosyncratic. Each serves ideals larger than themselves, and possesses characteristics, which are consistent with historical accounts. These deeply rich, well-developed characters, drive the story forward, toward its captivating climax, all while helping to create a compelling and redeeming quality, which is sometimes lacking in scripts of this ilk.

Rebirth catapults its audience on a captivating journey wrought with peril and intrigue. Danger, romance, passion, and betrayal are used to weave the story together to form a historical tapestry of epic proportions. This rousing, sometimes romantic, and often chaotic adventure is laced with sorrow, success, fortitude and failure.

The story’s furious energy, and surprising gravity, provides a rare example of insightful, impassioned, perspective. It is an extraordinary achievement, being both a detailed account of world-shaping events, and an exciting script, with flashes of levity and romanticism.

Rebirth is a lucid and lively work that will engage both lovers of romance and intrigue, while appeasing those who are more engaged by sequences of action. It manages to make the period come alive, and whets the appetite for more, by delivering on the promise of emotions like love, patriotism and treachery, all while avoiding the impetuous style of so many historical period-pieces that are available today.

Rebirth captures the grandeur and the scope of the conflict it examines, by offering emotional intensity, and the deep understanding of the social and political factors that were at the heart of the struggle. This unique insight lends to the scripts staying power.

The dialogue is tight, the characters are brilliantly crafted and the chemistry between them boundless. The theme is compelling, and the storyline intriguing. In my opinion this script has all the classic markings of a Hollywood success.

In the end, Rebirth is an endearing, well-written script. It possesses the quintessential elements needed to piece together a successful epic, drawing the audience in and delivering on a number of levels. The story is well crafted and the plot is rich with historical accuracy, which provides more than enough substance to keep any audience interested.

The script is structurally sound, as well as stylistic, and easy to read. The growth within each of the essential characters is endearing, and their relationships are well established. Once again, this is a wonderfully spellbinding tale that would make for an exceptional viewing experience.

REBIRTH_Scorecard_TL-SCRIPT VAMP-1

Recommend! Grand Prize Winner. https://scriptvamp.com/tl_lewis.html#Rebirth

————————————————————————

GREENLIGHT COVERAGE:

Title: REBIRTH
Author: T. L. Lewis
Form: Screenplay
Page Length: 118
Genre(s): Historical Drama/ Action/ Romance
First Place.

Logline: A womanizing artist uncovers more than the nudes he captures on canvas when he discovers the courage to face his fears and finds love that changes his life.

Excellent (ALL)
Concept\Originality X
Plot\Storyline X
Characters X
Dialogue X
Structure X
Cinematic Value X

Recommend
Writer X
Script X

Concept/originality
REBIRTH breathes life into history in a way that captures the reader’s attention and draws them in from the opening to the epilogue. The concept and delivery of this script are original in their eloquence.

T.L. has created a beautiful world for us and delivered a masterful script. The scenes are dressed with a rich tapestry of contrast – violence and beauty, darkness and light. The writer has captured the essence of a tumultuous time in world history and delivered it to the page like a newborn ‐ naked, screaming, and with tenderness.

Plot/storyline
T.L. has crafted a wonderful love story full of pain and intrigue. You are quickly wound up in Edmunds struggle, his love for Genevieve, and a world in turmoil.

Characters
The characters in REBIRTH are full of life. It’s a tricky thing to do to develop characters that have unique voices and Rebirth does. We often have our readers read the script aloud to each other without reading the character names in an effort to distinguish one character from another based solely on the manner in which their dialogue is written.

You really do get a feel for who the characters are and the effect the world they live in is having on them. We see Edmund as a bit of a reluctant hero who is forced by circumstance to re‐evaluate his life, his beliefs, and reinvent himself.

Dialogue
There is a wonderful eloquence about the words spoken in this script. It’s tough to find fault in dialogue like “Your Mother is the reason the greatest story I ever told is the one I’ve lived.” Each speech seems carefully crafted bringing the emotion of the time and place to life.

Structure
The scenes are well crafted, in and out with very little room for critique. The writing is superb. Whether you’re a veteran or novice writer something that is difficult to do is write action blocks that are both concise and have some literary value to them. T.L. has found a good balance here, keeping them short and to the point, but written in a way that adds value to the scene. Word choice, delivery and descriptions are expertly used in every scene to develop a flow that is consistent throughout the piece.

BRAVO!!! RECOMMEND!!!

http://the-greenlight.hostei.com/tllewis.html

Of all the places on Earth, in this place called France, in this time known as the Renaissance, a rebirth of classic art and literature abounds. But a more dangerous and heretical ideal will surface– that of liberty of conscience — of freedom for all. This concept will seem harmless, but will soon ignite a fire that will burn brightly well beyond its time, to spark a debate that will impact the entire world for centuries to come. “Rebirth” the screenplay, is an attempt to make sure this provocative true story will never be forgotten and its lessons never lost…

“Rebirth” unfolds in a world torn between Renaissance and genocide, viewed through the eyes of a womanizing artist who finds love that changes his life and risks all in the fight for civil liberty. This unlikely humanist hero stands with these brave hearts, a small group of French Aristocrats and Artisans, called Huguenots, who give up fortune and fame for a dangerous belief. As they dare to speak out, they risk death or dungeon. Their persecution begins with a few outspoken nobles and explodes into massacres of even women and children and triggers a French Civil War. Their only hope is to recant their beliefs or to escape from France. Their fight and flight sparks a debate that changes political thought forever.

When all had seemed lost, the Huguenot fight for freedom sparked a debate for civil disobedience against religious and political tyranny. Their forced migration had carried their love of liberty across borders and oceans and laid the foundation for the U.S. Constitution.

Yet, it is not until the American Revolution that France’s loss truly becomes America’s gain. It was then that the French Catholic Lafayette discovered that his good friend George Washington and many other American patriots, scholars and entrepreneurs are descendants of the French Huguenots.

Notes: The English word “refugee” came from the exile of Huguenot’s from France.

Huguenot Descendant Short List:
Johnny Depp, Robert Duvall, Warren Buffet,Steve Forbes, Charlize Theron, Kenneth Branagh, Marlin Brando, Winston Churchill, Lawrence Olivier, Tyrone Power, Megan Fox, Tom Brokaw, John Rockefeller, George Patton, George Will, Henry David Thoreau, Charles Tiffany, A.I. Dupont, Charles Lindbergh, Louisa May Alcott, Harriet Beecher Stowe, John Jay, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Mark Roget, Francis Marion, Davy Crockett, John Sevier, Peter James Bayard, Jean Belmain, John James Audubon, Mary Cassatt, as well as over a dozen American Presidents have documented Huguenot ancestry. Many more world citizens, knowingly and unknowingly, also share this legacy of honor.

“If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all generations of your ancestors. All of them are alive in this moment. Each is present in your body. You are the continuation of each of these people.”

We carry the memories of our ancestors in every cell of our bodies.“The hero draws inspiration from the virtue of his ancestors.” Goethe

“Rebirth” was written not only for those who love history or philosophy, but for those who understand that the past is our present, because it lives within the cellular memories and in our collective consciousness. May this story give all the courage to change circumstances, even to those who feel love and liberty to be illusive and fleeting. This heritage of love, honor and freedom is our birthright and belongs to us all.

“People will not look forward to posterity who never look backward to their ancestors.” –Edmund Burke

--------------------
I was asked recently, “I heard Johnny Depp has French Huguenot ancestry, but what is a Huguenot?” I had to admit, that only a few short years ago, I did not know the answer, but I’ve always had a natural instinct for integrity, a passion for civil liberty and for protecting those unable to defend themselves. I was quickly captivated, outraged, and ultimately inspired by these brave nobles, so much so — I was driven to write of their heart wrenching and heartwarming TRUE story that sparked a world-wide debate on separation of church and state, and a debate for freedom of speech that laid the basic ideals of the U.S. Constitution.

REBIRTH_Scorecard_TL-SCRIPT VAMP-1

For more information on Huguenot genealogy or on the award winning screenplay REBIRTH: feel free to email me: tllewiswriter@icloud.com or email@tllewis.net.

HISTORY: FRENCH BLOOD IN AMERICA

To understand the legacy of French Huguenots in America, it is first necessary to know of their persecution and fight for tolerance and freedom in France.  The stage is set with high stakes devoted to the rise and respect for civil liberty, the cause for which many Huguenot patriots and innocents are murdered. To ‘speak your mind’  literally means to risk losing your head. This amazing true story reveals how most Huguenots are well educated aristocrats willing to give up everything as they riske death and dungeon for the right to speak their conscience.

In a world torn between renaissance and genocide, “Rebirth” reveals a provocative epic of a notorious and almost forgotten true story, set in a time when faith, law and king are one.

“Rebirth” is a mix of all the things that we are told should never be discussed: sex, love, politics, war and religion, to excite with its larger-than-life characters, in an emotional roller coaster of passion and intrigue, with many contemporary echoes of religious terrorism and the reason for separation of church and state.

THE TRUE STORY

The story opens through the eyes of a little boy who loses his faith and his faith in humanity, then unfolds into his life twelve years later as a womanizing artist who escapes his pain through pleasure. As he escapes, the world around him dissolves into anarchy. With intolerance blessed, the political and religious corruption is matched only by the cruelty.

All explodes when the villain Duke De Guise, commits a mass murder and is not arrested; but instead greeted like a modern day bad boy, cheered on through the streets of Paris. As tyranny triumphs, this unlikely hero emerges. Edmund du Chastel, a pacifist and humanist at heart, exchanges his brush for a sword in a fight for liberty and life itself.

Edmund’s transformation is partially based on the pain of his past, his search for the meaning of honor, and standing up for a cause greater than self. His unexpected love for an extraordinary young woman, Genevieve, is the love that changes his life and gives him courage in his quest for redemption. Their love story sizzles as it warms the heart and transcends the turbulent time.

Unlike William Wallace in “Braveheart”, who had little left to lose, these heroes are a pure and rare example of men and women who have everything – prominence, prestige and all the pleasures that success brings – and sacrifice it all to stand for cause greater than self.

After many arrests and massacres, the Huguenot options are clear to the few still alive: to either recant or escape from France. Their estates  and treasures are confiscated as they leave all they own behind and yet take with them something far more priceless: a respect for honor and a love of liberty, justice and tolerance for all.

REBIRTH is also a timeless love story woven throughout, that rises above it all.  As this provocative true story reveals, this courage cost the Huguenots so dearly.

LEGACY THAT SPANS GENERATIONS

Soon, France’s loss soon becomes America’s gain with the sowing of these ideals in her fertile ground; their honor and bravery admired by the English ‘Free Thinkers’. These ‘brave hearts’ find acceptance and admiration in all the countries that take them in. France eventually realizes the loss of her most noble and industrious citizens,  leading to poverty of body, mind and will,  and weakens France for decades and paves the way for the French Revolution.

The wide spread influence of the early French Huguenots outside France is quickly notable. However, the Huguenots do not strive to isolate themselves or perputae race purity or predjudice, instead they assimilate  to become productive world citizens. For centuries, Huguenots were known for their humility and honesty.

In this way they sometimes lost immediate recognition, but undoubtedly have left a legacy of liberty and honor that has been handed down for generations. It is a legacy that  many, including Johnny Depp, would be proud to share with their children and grandchildren.

———–

“The Roots of inhumanity: Wealth without work, Pleasure without conscience, Knowledge without character, Commerce without morality, Science without humanity, Politics without principles…”

REBIRTH: the Sequel (in progress)

Greatness sometimes skips a generation or two as grandson Captain Edmund becomes a privateer and comes to Philadelphia with a young William Penn… Pirates and corrupt Politicians seek gold and the excesses of mortality on the high seas, and amid the high ideals in the city of brotherly love. Add a real Secret Society in search of the immortality of the Philosopher’s Stone, and you have haunted and hunted heroes on totally different paths of a true adventure and altered destiny.

These two reviewers are so brilliant– They both actually read the script!

REBIRTH is a wonderfully written, historically accurate, and vividly imaginative script. The atmosphere is pulsing with energy; the setting is described with lifelike detail. The characters are rich with insight and dripping with humanity.

The storyline runs fluently, and is engaging, offering elaborate detail, allowing the audience the chance to visualize this historical event from a fresh, unobstructed perspective. The sequence of dramatic scenes, all highly kinetic, visual, and expertly crafted, lend to the validity of the striking images described, as well as to reveal the depth of the characters that live within its creative boundaries.

The characters are skillfully constructed, portrayed as highly individuated, and idiosyncratic. Each serves ideals larger than themselves, and possesses characteristics, which are consistent with historical accounts. These deeply rich, well-developed characters, drive the story forward, toward its captivating climax, all while helping to create a compelling and redeeming quality, which is sometimes lacking in scripts of this ilk.

Rebirth catapults its audience on a captivating journey wrought with peril and intrigue. Danger, romance, passion, and betrayal are used to weave the story together to form a historical tapestry of epic proportions. This rousing, sometimes romantic, and often chaotic adventure is laced with sorrow, success, fortitude and failure.

The story’s furious energy, and surprising gravity, provides a rare example of insightful, impassioned, perspective. It is an extraordinary achievement, being both a detailed account of world-shaping events, and an exciting script, with flashes of levity and romanticism.

Rebirth is a lucid and lively work that will engage both lovers of romance and intrigue, while appeasing those who are more engaged by sequences of action. It manages to make the period come alive, and whets the appetite for more, by delivering on the promise of emotions like love, patriotism and treachery, all while avoiding the impetuous style of so many historical period-pieces that are available today.

Rebirth captures the grandeur and the scope of the conflict it examines, by offering emotional intensity, and the deep understanding of the social and political factors that were at the heart of the struggle. This unique insight lends to the scripts staying power.

The dialogue is tight, the characters are brilliantly crafted and the chemistry between them boundless. The theme is compelling, and the storyline intriguing. In my opinion this script has all the classic markings of a Hollywood success.

In the end, Rebirth is an endearing, well-written script. It possesses the quintessential elements needed to piece together a successful epic, drawing the audience in and delivering on a number of levels. The story is well crafted and the plot is rich with historical accuracy, which provides more than enough substance to keep any audience interested.

The script is structurally sound, as well as stylistic, and easy to read. The growth within each of the essential characters is endearing, and their relationships are well established. Once again, this is a wonderfully spellbinding tale that would make for an exceptional viewing experience.

REBIRTH_Scorecard_TL-SCRIPT VAMP-1

Recommend! Grand Prize Winner. https://scriptvamp.com/tl_lewis.html#Rebirth

————————————————————————

GREENLIGHT COVERAGE:

Title: REBIRTH
Author: T. L. Lewis
Form: Screenplay
Page Length: 118
Genre(s): Historical Drama/ Action/ Romance
First Place.

Logline: A womanizing artist uncovers more than the nudes he captures on canvas when he discovers the courage to face his fears and finds love that changes his life.

Excellent (ALL)
Concept\Originality X
Plot\Storyline X
Characters X
Dialogue X
Structure X
Cinematic Value X

Recommend
Writer X
Script X

Concept/originality
REBIRTH breathes life into history in a way that captures the reader’s attention and draws them in from the opening to the epilogue. The concept and delivery of this script are original in their eloquence.

T.L. has created a beautiful world for us and delivered a masterful script. The scenes are dressed with a rich tapestry of contrast – violence and beauty, darkness and light. The writer has captured the essence of a tumultuous time in world history and delivered it to the page like a newborn ‐ naked, screaming, and with tenderness.

Plot/storyline
T.L. has crafted a wonderful love story full of pain and intrigue. You are quickly wound up in Edmunds struggle, his love for Genevieve, and a world in turmoil.

Characters
The characters in REBIRTH are full of life. It’s a tricky thing to do to develop characters that have unique voices and Rebirth does. We often have our readers read the script aloud to each other without reading the character names in an effort to distinguish one character from another based solely on the manner in which their dialogue is written.

You really do get a feel for who the characters are and the effect the world they live in is having on them. We see Edmund as a bit of a reluctant hero who is forced by circumstance to re‐evaluate his life, his beliefs, and reinvent himself.

Dialogue
There is a wonderful eloquence about the words spoken in this script. It’s tough to find fault in dialogue like “Your Mother is the reason the greatest story I ever told is the one I’ve lived.” Each speech seems carefully crafted bringing the emotion of the time and place to life.

Structure
The scenes are well crafted, in and out with very little room for critique. The writing is superb. Whether you’re a veteran or novice writer something that is difficult to do is write action blocks that are both concise and have some literary value to them. T.L. has found a good balance here, keeping them short and to the point, but written in a way that adds value to the scene. Word choice, delivery and descriptions are expertly used in every scene to develop a flow that is consistent throughout the piece.

BRAVO!!! RECOMMEND!!!

http://the-greenlight.hostei.com/tllewis.html

… Of all the places on Earth, in this place called France, in this time known as the Renaissance, a rebirth of classic art and literature abounds. But a more dangerous and heretical ideal will surface– that of liberty of conscience — of freedom for all.  This concept will seem harmless, but will soon ignite a fight that will live on well beyond its time, to spark a debate that will impact the entire world for centuries to come. “Rebirth” the screenplay, and the novel, is an attempt to make sure this provocative true story will never be forgotten and its lessons never lost…

“Rebirth” the screenplay unfolds in a world torn between Renaissance and genocide, viewed through the eyes of a womanizing artist who finds love that changes his life and risks all in the fight for civil liberty. He stands with these brave hearts, a small group of French Aristocrats, called Huguenots, who give up fortune and fame for a dangerous belief. As they dare to speak out, they risk death or dungeon. Their persecution begins with a few outspoken nobles and explodes into massacres of even women and children and triggers a French Civil War. Their only hope is to recant their beliefs or to escape from France. Their fight and flight sparks a debate that changes political thought forever.

When all had seemed lost, the Huguenot fight for freedom sparked a debate for civil disobedience against religious and political tyranny. Their forced migration had carried their love of liberty across borders and oceans and laid the foundation for the U.S. Constitution.

Yet, it is not until the American Revolution that France’s loss truly becomes America’s gain. It was then that the French Catholic Lafayette discovered that his good friend George Washington and many other American patriots, scholars and entrepreneurs are descendants of the French Huguenots.

Notes: The English word “refugee” came from the exile of Huguenot’s from France.

Huguenot Descendant Short List:
Johnny Depp, Robert Duvall, Warren Buffet,Steve Forbes, Charlize Theron, Kenneth Branagh, Winston Churchill, Lawrence Olivier, Tyrone Power, Megan Fox, Tom Brokaw, John Rockefeller, George Patton, George Will, Henry David Thoreau, Charles Tiffany, A.I. Dupont, Charles Lindbergh, Louisa May Alcott, Harriet Beecher Stowe, John Jay, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Mark Roget, Francis Marion, Davy Crockett, John Sevier, Peter James Bayard, Jean Belmain, John James Audubon, Mary Cassatt, as well as over a dozen American Presidents have documented Huguenot ancestry. Many more world citizens, knowingly and unknowingly, also share this legacy of honor.

SourceURL:file://localhost/Users/tllewis/Documents/Rebirth%20website%20post.doc

“Rebirth”, the award winning screenplay, is now in option negotiations; the sequel in progress, and “Rebirth” the novel is on the way:

 
———————————————————–

OUR LEGACY:

Some may say that little remains of the stories left to time, that they morph into shadowy, subjective illusions void of sharp detail.  Of course, in any century, including the present, it is also debatable whether the ideals that spring forth are lasting or fleeting, if determined by fate, providence or coincidence, whether they change hearts, minds, or even politics.

Through a dim mirror we sometimes catch a glimpse into a distant past, and wonder if we will be remembered at all, or if the way we live our lives will really make any difference at all. This may be why we repeat the mistakes of our forefathers and hand down our own legacy in blind faith with low expectations…

“Rebirth” is a passionate love story, an emotional roller coater, entertaining, exciting and inspiring. It is not intended to be a political statement or an historical narrative, yet the true to life characters bring into sharper focus the harder edge of honor versus corruption that once appeared more like a distant mirage.  Nevertheless, the heritage of love, liberty and honor inherent within the pages of “Rebirth” cries out to our humanity, and it belongs to us all.

Thank you all for your continued support!

T.L. Lewis

THEMES

The themes of art, literature and liberty help re-create the romance of the Renaissance. Yet, this thirst for knowledge becomes a threat to the unbridled powers that be. Soon, what should be a time for expanding the mind turns into a time when speaking your mind can lead to the loss of your head. In spite of being trapped in a time of tyranny and terror, many find comfort in their belief that love and honor are stronger than hatred and intolerance.

REBIRTH CHARACTERS: FOR THE SAKE OF LOVE:

(When Love finds you it changes everything…) Edmund and Genevieve find a better world in one another, and their love story is woven throughout. Love teaches us, that some things never die, that we all leave a legacy, woven by the threads that touch our hearts and makes us better human beings. Rebirth will reveal, in spite of an emotional roller coaster, that love can help us rise above all that we fear. Rebirth will ultimately inspire all who know the true power of love and honor.

Background:

EDMUND
As a little boy, Edmund loses his faith in humanity when he witnesses the beheading of innocents. Now, as a young man, this womanizing pacifist seeks to escape the pain of his past through pursuits of pleasure. He finds unexpected love in the the eyes of an extraordinary young woman and discovers a genuine respect for noble men who are willing to give up everything for the sake of honor. He does not share their faith, but believes in their right to defend their families and and the freedom to speak their conscience. He can no longer run from his fear, nor close his eyes to the terror unfolding around him.

Wish List: Henry Cavill, Ben Barnes, Steven Strait, Orlando Bloom, J. Rhys Meyers, Emmanuel Leconte, Hugh Dancy.

GENEVIEVE
The niece of the Prince de Conde, Genevieve’s youth does not reflect her depth of intelligence and wisdom well beyond her years. She feels the weight of the world on her shoulders and has a heart of gold that she tries her best to hide. Often portraying herself as aloof to keep from getting hurt, she is empathic to the pain and cruelty in the world. Edmund wins her heart, when he opens his own to her and shares his fears and pain of his past. Edmund will teach her to trust in true love, and she will help him find his purpose and the meaning of honor.

Wish List: Breakout role. Blake Lively, Olivia Wilde, Emma Stone, Jennifer Lawrence, Annabelle Wallis, Alicja Bachleda, Alexa Davalos, Eve Hewson, Megan Fox, Romola Garai, Brittany Snow, Keira Knightley, Tania Saulnier, Natalie Portman.

FOR THE SAKE OF HONOR

During the French Renaissance, many are no longer able to accept the commands of Kings, nor the corruption of Popes. Those better educated are able to read for themselves, but not without the risk of death or dungeon. As Humanism and Reformation spread, the thirst for knowledge is viewed as a threat to the unbridled power of church and state.

Yet, some are willing to fight back. The Huguenots are at the forefront of the rebellion. Many are willing to give up fortune, fame and even their lives to preserve their honor and liberty of conscience. Prince de Conde and Admiral Coligny are their chosen leaders. Unlike William Wallace in Braveheart, who has little left to lose, these heroes are a pure and rare example of men who give up everything for a noble cause.

ADMIRAL COLIGNY
A man of honor and integrity, Admiral Gaspard de Coligny is debonair, yet humble and fatherly to all. He has everything a man can wish for, riches and renown with the King. In his fifties, Coligny believes religion is not a set of beliefs, but a way of life. The men who stand with him battle for the sake of honor and civil liberty. Coligny is a rare example of a man who gives up his wealth and the pleasures of success for this noble cause.

Wish List: Michael Caine, Robert Duvall, Colin Firth, Anthony Hopkins, Max Von Sydow, Christopher Plummer, Jeremy Irons.

PRINCE DE CONDE
The chosen leader of the “heretics,” Louis I, Prince de Conde is a patriot that is concerned with the path that France has chosen. In his late thirties to early forties in the screenplay, he is appalled when he sees men blindly bowing to dogma, even to the point of killing fellow countrymen. His faith is not that of a religious fanatic, but one of principle, to do what is right for the future of his people and his country.

Wish List: Johnny Depp, Rufus Sewell, Clive Owen, Ed Norton, Mark Rylance, Tony Schinea, Gerard Butler.

QUEEN OF NAVARRE
In her forties, Jean D’Albret, Queen of Navarre is an intelligent, well-read and practical woman. Her ideology represents the best of humanism, mysticism and religious reform. She is sincere in her pursuit of the truth and enjoys Plato, even having his dialogues translated. She has little patience for dogma, but pursues the ideal of moderation in religion, rejecting many aspects of medieval Catholicism. At her court, she gives refuge to dissenters and allows for freedom of conscience.

Wish List: Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Tim Roth, Geoffrey Rush, Alan Rickman, Jeremy Irons, Tim Curry, Tim Hutton.

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

Kevin Nealon and Friends at a cancer charity for a mutual friend, Joseph Kenny. We all dearly miss you Big Joe.