American Engineuity

Currently Funding

Rodney Rucker is a true American success story. Rodney likes to build cars. Not just any cars, but the biggest, most outrageous driving machines that anyone can imagine. To help with his hobby, Rodney has assembled a colorful and ingenious team of enthusiasts, fabricators, tuners, and money people who share the same goal: to “WOW” the crowds and shock the world with their unique creations.

Funds will be used for the completion and distribution of this film.

Funding Progress | $45,000 of $135,000

33%

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Overview

American Engineuity

Rodney Rucker is a true American success story. As owner and operator of Pro Dirt Construction he quickly established himself as “THE MAN” for the really, REALLY big jobs. Armed with no less than EIGHT massive forty-eight ton Caterpillar Wheel Loaders, Rodney and his crew have moved massive amounts of earth (as well as bridges, trains, and anything else in their way). But it’s not Rodney’s business success alone that makes him a genius. It’s his hobby. Rodney, a former monster truck racer, likes to build cars. Not just any cars, but the biggest, most outrageous driving machines that anyone can imagine.

To help with his hobby, Rodney has assembled a colorful and ingenious team of enthusiasts, fabricators, tuners, and money people who share the same goal: to “WOW” the crowds and shock the world with their unique creations.

As with any venture, the more EXTREME the goal, the more EXTREME the obstacles – and with Rodney, his car building goals are extremely extreme. In each episode of American Engineuity, Rodney and his cast of characters undertake the building of a brand new, never-before-seen driveable masterpiece. They use airplane engines, boat parts, tanks, and anything else they can get their hands on. From idea, to design, to scouring the country for parts, to assembly, to test-driving, to showing off the finished product, the crew must overcome every possible obstacle set before them. And with high stakes, deadlines, and Rodney’s perfectionism, the team’s tempers are often tested. But for Rodney, failure is simply not an option.

But as extraordinarily impressive as his creations are, there is one supreme dream that has captured Rodney’s imagination above the rest. Somehow, someway, Rodney wants to find and acquire an elusive Pratt & Whitney R-4360 engine. While this particular brand and model number may mean nothing to the average viewer, suffice to say it is the BIGGEST piston motor ever built… designed by Howard Hughes specifically for Spruce Goose – and there were only ten ever made! Rodney’s ultimate goal: Get his hands on this legendary AIRCRAFT engine and construct a CAR around it that will break the land speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats Speedway!! As a result, each episode of American Engineuity will not only feature the specific creation of one insanely crazy vehicle after another, but it will also give the viewers a front row seat as Rodney continues his ONGOING quest to achieve this ULTIMATE goal!

CAST

Albert Finney

The son of a Lancashire bookmaker, Albert Finney came to motion pictures via the theatre. In 1956, he won a scholarship to RADA where his fellow alumni included Peter O'Toole and Alan Bates. He joined the Birmingham Repertory where he excelled in plays by William Shakespeare. A member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Finney understudied Laurence Olivier at Stratford-upon-Avon, eventually acquiring a reputation as 'the new Olivier'. He first came to critical attention by creating the title role in Keith Waterhouse's "Billy Liar" on the London stage. His film debut soon followed with The Entertainer (1960) by Tony Richardson with whom had earlier worked in the theatre. With the changing emphasis in 60s British cinema towards gritty realism and working-class milieus, Finney's typical screen personae became good-looking, often brooding proletarian types and rebellious anti-heroes as personified by his Arthur Seaton in Karel Reisz's Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1960). His exuberant defining role, however, was in the bawdy period romp Tom Jones (1963) in which Finney revealed a substantial talent for comedy. In the same vein, he scored another hit opposite Audrey Hepburn in the charming marital comedy Two for the Road (1967).

Ioan Gruffudd

Ioan Gruffudd was born on October 6, 1973 in Cardiff, Wales, UK to educators Gillian (James) and Peter Gruffudd. He has a brother, Alun, who is two years younger and a sister, Siwan, who is seven years younger. He got his start at age 13 in the Welsh soap opera Pobol y Cwm (1974). He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art from 1992 to 1995, and was then cast as the title role of the television remake Poldark (1996). After playing Oscar Wilde's lover John Gray in Wilde (1997) and Fifth Officer Harold Lowe in Titanic (1997), Gruffudd became a leading man in the Hornblower series of television movies between 1998 and 2003. He then played Pip in the big budget BBC production of Great Expectations (1999). Other film roles include 102 Dalmatians (2000), Black Hawk Down (2001), King Arthur (2004), Amazing Grace (2006), Fantastic Four (2005) and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007).

Michael Gambon

Sir Michael Gambon was born in Cabra, Dublin, Ireland, to Mary (Hoare), a seamstress, and Edward Gambon, an engineer. After joining the National Theatre, under the Artistic Directorship of Sir Laurence Olivier, Gambon went on to appear in a number of leading roles in plays written by Alan Ayckbourn. His career was catapulted in 1980 when he took the lead role in John Dexter's production of "Galileo". Since then, Gambon has regularly appeared at the Royal National Theatre and the RSC. Roles include, King Lear, Othello, Mark Anthony and Volpone. He was described by the late Sir Ralph Richardson as being "The Great Gambon" and he is now considered to be one of the British theatre's leading lights. He was made a CBE in 1992.

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FOR-PROFIT FUNDING PARTNER

At Kappa Distribution, we strive to ensure absolute transparency and fairness for all those who contribute financially to our films. This includes both those who have supported the film’s production and those who contribute to its marketing and distribution. Therefore, we reject the conventional Hollywood financial models where only a few individuals receive the majority of the revenue generated by the film, leaving the vast majority with little to no compensation. Instead, with Kappa Distribution, we all share in the revenues from the very first dollar generated until the last.

When a film is distributed, there are myriad revenue streams that generate income, such as theatrical releases, digital streaming, and foreign sales. The majority of the revenue (approximately 70%) is earned within the first year after the film’s release. By the end of the second year, approximately 90% of the film’s total revenue will be received, with the remaining 10% trickling in during the third year and beyond.

As our mission at Kappa Distribution is to impact the culture for Christ, we believe it is crucial to assist filmmakers in achieving financial success so that they can continue creating films that make a positive impact on the culture. Therefore, after decades of experience and years of prayer, we firmly believe that the following financial model is in the best interest of all parties involved:

Initially, all revenues generated through the film’s distribution will be split as follows:

Marketing & Distribution funders 40% (prorated)
Filmmaker/Film funders 35%
Kappa Distribution 25%

Once the marketing & distribution funders are made whole, revenues are split as follows for the duration of the agreement:

Marketing & Distribution funders 10% (prorated)
Filmmaker/Film funders 70%
Kappa Distribution 20%

Are you a fund? If so, the profits from the finances you provide can go back into your fund.

Funds needed for completion and distribution of this powerful film.

$45,000 of $135,000

33%

Episode 1

$927,296

Raised*

2,173 People*

Funds will be used for MARKETING & DISTRIBUTION (P&A). If you are considering funding all or part of the P&A, a private link of the film available upon request.

FAQ

What is Kappa Studios?

Kappa Studios is a Burbank, California based post-production service provider for film and television for over 25 years. In 2016, the company shifted its focus exclusively to faith and family-friendly content.

What is Kappa's role in film and television production?

Kappa Studios is a post-production entity responsible for creating the final versions of films or TV shows. They also deal directly with film and TV outlets including theaters, TV stations, and streaming platforms.

What is Kappa Distribution?

Kappa Distribution is a new entity launched by Kappa Studios to formalize their status as faith and family content aggregators. They act as a conduit between Christ-centered content creators and outlets, aiming to influence the world with media that points people to Christ.

What challenges do Kappa Studios help solve?

Kappa Studios helps content creators who lack the necessary funds to complete their projects. They launched The Christian Film Finishing Fund (CFFF), a 501c3 fund that receives tax-deductible donations for the completion of these projects.

What is the mission of Kappa Studios in conjunction with The Christian Film Finishing Fund (CFFF)?

The mission has three main goals:

Acceleration: Expedite the completion of Christ-advancing film and TV projects.Quality: Utilize their extensive experience to ensure projects are completed with excellence.Repetition: Free content creators from the need to raise funds or find distribution, so they can focus on creating more projects.

What happens with the profits from gospel-advancing film and TV projects?

Financial profits received from CFFF film or TV projects are placed back into the donor's non-profit donor advised fund or back into the CFFF. No financial profits can be legally returned directly to the donor.

What is the Kappa Studios impact investment model?

Kappa Studios has an innovative financial model where, after distribution income is received, this income is divided between the content creator (40%), the impact investor (40%), and Kappa Distribution (20%). Once the investor has received a 100% return, the split changes to 75% for the content creator, 10% for the investor, and 15% for Kappa Distribution.