One of those small bright spots of the late 1930’s was the first published work of C.W. Anderson, Billy & Blaze. This little book started Mr. Anderson on his prolific book publishing career and set the stage for many happy hours of reflection for children around the world. The hope and triumph that is in this book contributed positively to the greater universal needs the times demanded.
As such, the Billy & Blaze series has become a classic, cherished by those who grew up on the wonderful story of Billy and his bay pony, Blaze.
It is our pleasure to announce that Welkin Studios now owns the film rights to the entire series, has an estate approved script ready to film, and is looking for funding for the first in this series, the legendary story,
Billy & Blaze.
Billy & Blaze
Film Project
Film Option Rights Secured
Screenplay by Cynthia Rogers Erkel
Copyright ©2012 WGA# upon request
Period: Late 1930’s. We are introduced into Billy’s world through scenes of lush rolling hills, white washed barns, and stone fences. The credits roll. Horses frolic and run and the music softens and swells until we are at a white farmhouse and enter the quiet of a boy’s bedroom, with an unfinished scrapbook project spread out on the floor. The decor is completed with a number of juvenile watercolors, all of horses and all with the prominent signature: BILLY.
The music stops to magnify the tinkling and swishing of a paintbrush and Billy tacks his painting safely to the wall. The astute viewer will recognize this scene in Billy’s room to be the first illustration in the book, Billy & Blaze, adored by young horse lovers since the thirties (and currently still in print). As the film proceeds 45 more detailed reenactments of the famous picture book will appear. It is a quiet story with loud emotion and we sit back and feel that day when a boy could take off across plowed fields at a steady run, to reach his destination happily out of breath, and climb up to straddle a mountain of a work horse. We begin to see how it is to be only nine years old and to want a pony more than anything else in the world. When a sharply maintained luxury car pulling a horse trailer comes down the country lane, the friendly gesture Billy offers the boy in the front passenger seat is not returned and we have our first introduction to Gordon Hill. There are many colorful characters in this story, but it is this boy who will be a constant contrast to Billy’s fresh spirit. Gordon insists his father purchase the mare intended for Billy’s birthday and actually causes Blaze, a pony of unusual spirit and beauty, to become Billy’s instead. An intense jealousy brews when Gordon understands the result of his petty behavior.
Billy revels in his relationship with the pony of his dreams enjoying many explorations in the woods near his home. On one of their woodland adventures Billy discovers a dog caught in a farmer’s trap. Bereaved of his master, an old horse trainer, the dog comes to trust Billy as his new master and to join their romps in the woods to jump joyously alongside Blaze. When Gordon realizes Billy may be his competition in the horse show his family sponsors he determines to keep the silver cup from Billy. Convinced of the misery that would occur should the trio be divided, Gordon, accuses Billy of stealing Rex. Gordon’s selfish plan is well conceived for it is evident, as Billy and Blaze wait to enter the ring on the day of the show, that Billy does not have the heart to win. Suspense builds as Rex struggles to escape Gordon’s father’s kennels, and the crowd cheers when Rex, as is his custom, rushes into the ring to jump alongside his companions for the last round as Blaze gloriously wins the cup. Every paragraph C.W. Anderson wrote is employed to guide the plot of a film children will love and the most distinguished equestrian will appreciate.
