Back in early 2023, my pal Christoph approached me about a passion documentary project he had on deck to produce, with our pal Wes set to direct. The story had ties to the paper mills in my now home town of Biddeford, Maine, and focused on the origins of the legendary Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It was an easy answer.
From late 2023 into the winter of 2024 we documented Rich Horn’s journey of reprinting the TMNT origin story. Issue 1, Volume 1. The very first scrolls of the epic Turtles franchise. From their original negatives, using the same equipment, in the same place, Rich would reprint the comic just the way it had been done in 1984.
Getting into the thick of it, amongst the machinery and seeing the process always impresses me. We shot the entire project on the Alexa 35 and a vintage Cooke Cine Varotal 25-250 Mkii, a now regular combo of mine. Wes and I felt like it would be the prefect fit for what we were going for. The 10x zoom allowed so much flexibility and made shooting in the presses a joy. It was pretty special seeing how something I remember from my own childhood came to be.
Rich’s attention to detail is unparalleled and it shows in his Final First Edition. It was a true pleasure to play even a small role in this retelling of a legendary story. A pretty rad way to reconnect with my childhood.
Final First Edition premiered to a live audience at the 2024 New Hampshire Comicon, and online for public viewing on Film Shortage, on January 7th, 2025.
From late 2023 into the winter of 2024 we documented Rich Horn’s journey of reprinting the TMNT origin story. Issue 1, Volume 1. The very first scrolls of the epic Turtles franchise. From their original negatives, using the same equipment, in the same place, Rich would reprint the comic just the way it had been done in 1984.
Getting into the thick of it, amongst the machinery and seeing the process always impresses me. We shot the entire project on the Alexa 35 and a vintage Cooke Cine Varotal 25-250 Mkii, a now regular combo of mine. Wes and I felt like it would be the prefect fit for what we were going for. The 10x zoom allowed so much flexibility and made shooting in the presses a joy. It was pretty special seeing how something I remember from my own childhood came to be.
Rich’s attention to detail is unparalleled and it shows in his Final First Edition. It was a true pleasure to play even a small role in this retelling of a legendary story. A pretty rad way to reconnect with my childhood.
Final First Edition premiered to a live audience at the 2024 New Hampshire Comicon, and online for public viewing on Film Shortage, on January 7th, 2025.
Director: Wes Sterrs
Producer/Editor: Christoph Gelfand
Director of Photography: Jeff Griecci
Associate Producer: Ian Carlsen
Director of Photography (2nd Unit): Justin Balog
Gaffer (2nd Unit): Tyler Trepod
Color: Flip Kotsishevskiy
Composer: Cormac Brown
Sound Mix: Justin Asher
Main Title Design: Andrew Scripter
Stock Footage: Northeast Historic Film
Special Thanks:
Rich Horn
Portland Press Herald
Mike Ivancic
Ellsworth American
Gabe Goode
Pizza by Alex
Craig Cote & Steph Mantis
Karin Carlson-Snider
Peyton Holland
Coast City Comics
and
Kevin Eastman
© 2024 True Life Media
Producer/Editor: Christoph Gelfand
Director of Photography: Jeff Griecci
Associate Producer: Ian Carlsen
Director of Photography (2nd Unit): Justin Balog
Gaffer (2nd Unit): Tyler Trepod
Color: Flip Kotsishevskiy
Composer: Cormac Brown
Sound Mix: Justin Asher
Main Title Design: Andrew Scripter
Stock Footage: Northeast Historic Film
Special Thanks:
Rich Horn
Portland Press Herald
Mike Ivancic
Ellsworth American
Gabe Goode
Pizza by Alex
Craig Cote & Steph Mantis
Karin Carlson-Snider
Peyton Holland
Coast City Comics
and
Kevin Eastman
© 2024 True Life Media