- Sample Reel
- Jim Flood
- Charles Fracchia
- Paul Anders
- Judith Lynch
- Robert Cherny
Interviews:
- Ralston
- Sutro
- The Bonanza Kings
A Documentary-in-Progress by Geordie Lynch
This isn't the Gold Rush. THIS is the Silver Rush.The discovery of silver in 1859 skyrocketed San Francisco from a chaotic mining boomtown into a world-class metropolis. Like a volcanic eruption, sudden massive and concentrated wealth from the Comstock Lode sent San Franciscans into frenzy.
This historical documentary tells the fascinating story of the Comstock Lode, silver madness, the San Francisco stock exchange, and the epic struggles of individuals who built the West, such as William Chapman Ralston, William Sharon, George Hearst, Adolph Sutro, and the Bonanza Kings.
William Chapman Ralston
Visionary, banker, and gambler. "The Man Who Built San Francisco." He was the ultimate tragic figure. Beloved by all, he propelled San Francisco forward with his ideals of a West Coast Mecca.
Ralston's entourage was a group of insiders known as the Bank Crowd. With their aid, he used the riches of the Comstock to create both an opulent private life and an opulent San Francisco. But he also had a manic side. Unable to control his risk-taking on the stock market and his extravagant spending, he went too far. Taken by his own game, he met with tragedy before the city he imagined came to full fruition.
Adolph Sutro
Maverick, entrepreneur, "Man of the People." In the 1860s, Ralston and Sharon were busy building a monopoly over the Comstock silver mines. Nobody stood in the way, except for Adolph Sutro. He had a vision of his own: to dig a 4-mile tunnel laterally to the Comstock's heart.
He proved a threat to the Bank Crowd's monopoly, and he and Sharon became arch enemies. Through sheer perseverance, however, he finally raised the money to dig his tunnel. It was fought every step of the way. He finished his tunnel, 10 years later, but it was too late.
The Bonanza Kings
Upstarts, capitalists, dream makers. A group of four Irishmen, they all came from humble origins. They were determined to destroy the arrogance of Sharon and the Bank Crowd.
John Mackay and Jim Fair knew how to work the mines. James Flood and William O'Brien knew how to work the stock market. Together, they made a formidable team who schemed craftily and diligently to take control of the Comstock.
They went on to hit the richest silver strike in US history, known as the Big Bonanza.
Contact Us
Please send comments or questions to cityofwhitegold@att.net. Thank you!
- Geordie Lynch
- David Brown
- George Kelly
- Ben Ferrer
- Jason Williams
Co-Producer/Director. Geordie is a filmmaker who comes primarily from a post-production background. He has been motion graphics designer, production assistant, and assistant editor with various production and post-production companies, including for the award-winning television series 'More Than Entertainment' for Frame By Frame Productions. He most recently created, directed, co-produced, and co-wrote a half-hour sketch comedy for cable television.
With a passion for history and the film arts, he is now answering the call to blend the two spheres together.
Co-Producer. David L. Brown is an Emmy Award-winning San Francisco documentary filmmaker who has produced, written and directed over 80 productions and 11 broadcast documentaries. His films have received over 85 international awards, include three Emmy Awards, have been broadcast nationally on PBS and in sixteen countries, and have been profiled in major magazines and on national radio and television.
His most recent works have earned Emmy Awards for Outstanding Achievement and Best Graphics & Animation, and an Emmy nomination for Best Documentary.
Line Producer. A third-generation cameraman, George B. Kelly studied Film, Theater and Television at UCLA and Film at NYU Grad. George later used his expertise to open CineSpecial Productions, specializing in Line Production, 1st Assistant Directing and 2nd Unit Directing for independent features in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. He was also a founding member and President of Reel Live Crew, a below-the-line production service company.
He is currently a Producer/Director at Transvideo Studios, a high-end production studio.
Director of Photography. Prior to joining Transvideo Studios, Ben was a freelance Director of Photography in San Francisco since 1996. His interest in visual communication started at the age of ten while making super 8 movies. While working towards his Bachelor of Arts in Media & Communications at Sacramento State, he earned the Kelly Broadcasting Scholarship, twice, and interned at the NBC affiliate KCRA-TV. Ben specializes in docs, corporate, and short narratives.
Ben is enjoying the success of shooting a short film for the San Francisco 48 Hour Film competition.
Editor. Before joining Transvideo Studios as a Senior Editor, Jason Williams had been working as a freelance editor in New York and San Francisco for clients such as McCann Erickson and MTV Networks. Jason has worked on a wide range of projects, from shorts to feature documentaries, in a variety of capacities, ranging from colorist to line producer to director, in locations from London to Shanghai.
He took a BA in Film from San Francisco State University, as well as studies at New York University.
Get involved.
- Donate Online
- Donate By Check
- Incentives
- Contributors
Online or by Mail donations made through the San Francisco Film Society are tax deductable.
City of White Gold is now raising money for feature film production. Donate $250 or more and receive everything listed on the Incentives page (link at left), plus a chance to win prizes. Drawing for 4 prizes to take place February 28, 2012. Your contribution is greatly appreciated.
Tax-Deductible donations can be made online through
San Francisco Film Society.
Or non-deductible donations can be made directly to the filmmaker using the Paypal button below.
| Tax-deductible checks to: |
San Francisco Film Society 39 Mesa Street, Suite 110 The Presidio San Francisco CA 94129-1025 |
Be sure to write checks to San Francisco Film Society. Please write City of White Gold in the memo line.
________________________________________________________
| Non-deductible checks to: |
Geordie Lynch City of White Gold PO Box 693 Larkspur CA 94977 |
Be sure to write checks to Geordie Lynch. Please write City of White Gold in the memo line.
- $100+: Listing on the website as a major donor. Invitations to special events.
- $250+: Invitation to screenings. Free autographed copy of DVD (when documentary is completed).
- $500+: Special Thanks in film credits.
- $1000+: Name with title in film credits.
- $250+, Winter 2012 incentive: Everything above plus chance to win prizes. Drawing for 4 prizes to take place February 28, 2012. Prizes can be awarded to contributors in the USA only.
Rene Lynch, Frank Lynch, Eric Short, Victor Blajot & Montse Mitjans
Fredric Hamber, Bill Karpowicz, Susan Macke, Steve & Debbie Layman, The Clampers, Yerba Buena Chapter 1
Andy & Eva Dobrov, Brian & Jennifer Goodrich, Jon Stedman, Tony Wood, Matt Gray, Merin Mathew
David Curtis, Frank Derfield, Montse Flaquer, Lluis Ignasi Flaquer, Teresa Flaquer, Merce Blajot, Jeff & Cam Frankenfield, Carlos Garza, Tracy & Miha Krumpak, Kevin Packard, Colin Sebestyen, Verna Sheehan, Thomas Stedman, David Thompson, Jim & Emy Thurber, Davey & Shona Waterson, John Wilk
Make a tax-deductible donation to our goal of filming at the Comstock
Lode in Spring 2012.
Watch this 3-minute promo video! More information can be found on the Donate page. Prizes can be awarded to donors in the USA only.
Sign up for our e-letter. cityofwhitegold@att.net
Director Geordie will be presenting on the film and its subject. Thursday, January 19th, 2012, at the Mechanics' Institute in downtown San Francisco. Click here for details.
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