“Valhalla Awaits!” Promotional Piece/ March
Written by Victor DeBonis
The sky was blue and clear as the actors gathered together for marching through the Texas Renaissance Festival. Actors painted black streaks that stretched across their cheeks and even reached across their eyes. Leather flasks with dragon heads dangled by their rough pants and boots, and their swords stood proudly by the actors’ sides as they made their way into the festival. Some of them had their hair braided at the back and painted their own shields made from whatever material they could find. Images of dragons or bears graced the center of their shields as they planted them in front of themselves in preparation for the march.
The actors also brought different kinds of pointed helmets and armor to match the look of the era of Vikings as much as possible. Before the march started, the performers heartily talked to each other about what they did for their jobs outside of acting, and a few guzzled whatever alcohol they admired in their wooden goblets. Even the mere act of drinking from a cup of this time was something that they wanted to appear as authentic as possible to the days when Vikings stormed through whatever villages they could find.
I recall one actress dressed with elaborate jewelry that roped down her hair and choosing to say few words in order to stay further into character. Yet, she would occasionally give the smallest of grins to reveal that she was loving the opportunity to soon perform with the rest of the group on this sunny morning. She maintained a vast presence that the rest of the actors worked diligently to maintain as well for their roles.
There was a reason for many of these talented actors to gather together on this day for the march, and it was to let others know about an upcoming movie being produced by Revolving Red Productions known as “Valhalla Awaits” as well as to start gathering extras for the movie. The lead actor of the film, David Kufner, will be playing King Sigurd of Sweden, and the story will be written by Gabriel Theis and created by Kufner and Winkler. At this time, the script is still going through revisions.
The main premise of this drama consists of a conflict further escalating between Sigurd Hring and Uncle Harald Wartooth, King of Denmark, as they viciously dispute with each other over territory. Both Kufner and Winkler are producers who partnered with Revolving Red Productions (a production company run by Anna Robles and Director of Photography of the movie, Bradley Escalante) to help bring this vision to life. Kufner and Winkler essentially joined RRP as partners to make this movie among many others who are diligently contributing their talents and efforts to help bring it to life.
When the march began, director Anna Robles moved with impressive speed in front of the actors and his lead actor giving the chant at the front. Her camera spun from where it was perched but still followed the aggressive movement of the Vikings with every step and motion. And, through this brief parade, the actors followed Robles’ direction of halting when Kufner as Sigurd halted and turning left or right as their leader commanded. The group practically moved together in unison and caused others to pause as they observed what interesting chaos was thriving from these Vikings.
Stomping down the dusty trail in his thickly strapped boots, Kufner raised his sword in the air and bellowed loud enough for dozens of nearby pedestrians in elaborate costumes to notice his presence. “What’s the name of our MOVIE?”
His brigade of Vikings behind him fiercely chanted back. “ ‘VALHALLA AWAITS!’”
Several times, the army of Vikings chanted to notify the others in the fair of Robles’ upcoming project, and, after about 20 minutes, they ended their march at a wooden bar.
“Valhalla Awaits” is currently in preproduction, and Robles and Escalante plan on starting casting in mid-January and filming in mid-March. Please keep an eye out for this project, and follow or like Revolving Red Productions on Facebook for more details!