William Wallace: A giant warrior. A legendary sword. He fought for Scotland's freedom from the English Crown. His story became BRAVEHEART.
Peter Francisco: A 6'6" giant. A six-foot broadsword. He fought for America's freedom from the British Crown. His story has never been told on this scale.
Until now.
In 1976, during America's Bicentennial, the United States honored Peter Francisco on a postage stamp. Now, during the era of America's 250th anniversary, it's time for the world to know his name.
Peter Francisco became one of the most remarkable soldiers of the American Revolution... the giant remembered as George Washington's "One Man Army".
His story has monuments. He's on a stamp. It has a place in history.
Now it is time to put it on the screen.
Peter Francisco was born into a wealthy family in the Azores in 1760, yet would one day change the course of history for the United States and the World.
Peter is kidnapped by pirates at the age of five and raised as a slave on a plantation in Virginia. By the age of 16, Peter stood 6'6", a foot taller than the average man.
After falling in love with a wealthy girl named Susannah, Peter realizes he will never marry unless he is free. Upon hearing Patrick Henry's famous words, "Give me liberty or give me death!", Peter is driven with passion for freedom and joins the Continental Army. His owner, Judge Winston, releases him from slavery to fight for freedom, and he becomes famous for his extraordinary strength, bravery, & courage on the battlefield.
George Washington has a 6' broadsword made for Peter just in time for one of the most critical battles of the Revolution. But the ruthless Colonel Tarleton of the British Army is determined to kill Peter and Susannah. Ultimately, Peter's fight for freedom becomes a fight to save the love of his life.
The investment begins with a story that has both cinematic scale and emotional stakes.
He is fighting for America's freedom and for the woman that he is forbidden to marry.
Epic battlefield scenes of heroic courage and strength.
Forbidden love filled with hope and faith that inspire.
It's an immigrant story. A love story. A war story. A story of faith and providence. And ultimately, a story about freedom. Think Braveheart. But this story helped create America.
Before asking the public to help finance the pilot, we raised funds and made a nine-minute LUSO proof of concept.
We have researched Peter Francisco's story in the Azores and mainland Portugal, filmed in North Carolina and the Azores, and brought together a team ready to take the next step.
The proof of concept gave us the chance to put Peter's world, action, and emotional stakes on screen. We seek your help to move from that proof to a completed pilot episode, but you can own a piece of LUSO and share in it's success.
LUSO is led by Travis Bowman who is a 7th generation descendant of Peter Francisco, a film producer, and the author of LUSO: For Love, Liberty and Legacy.
Brian Patrick Wade, known for The Big Bang Theory, Teen Wolf, Generation Kill and Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., brings Peter to life.
Mark Koch, Erik Weir, Kevin Peeples and Oliver Keller each bring over 20 years of production and marketing experience on films such as Lost in Space, The Passion of the Christ, I Can Only Imagine, Black Dog, Pirates of the Caribbean, Spider-Man, Sound of Freedom, War Room, Overcomer, Unbroken, I Still Believe, and more.
Audiences like you show up to see extraordinary historical figures come to life. Braveheart. Gladiator. The Patriot.
But what if you could help bring the next great historical epic to the screen?
Instead of relying exclusively on Hollywood studios and traditional financiers, we're inviting the people who believe in this story to help us bring it to the world.
Through our Regulation Crowdfunding offering on Wefunder, audiences like yourself have an opportunity to invest in the company behind LUSO.
This isn't simply about building an audience. It's about building an army. An army of investors, supporters and ambassadors who believe Peter Francisco's extraordinary story deserves to be told.
Before The Chosen became a worldwide television phenomenon, thousands of ordinary people were given an opportunity to invest in the vision. They didn't wait for Hollywood to decide whether the story deserved to be told.
The animated biblical epic DAVID took audience-powered entertainment financing to another level. But the strategy wasn't simply about raising money. It was about building a community around the film before its release.
The faith-based historical film DANIEL provides an especially important example for LUSO. Why? They used Wefunder.
With your investment of $100 or more you are automatically signed up to make, if there is any profit, 120% of your investment plus your pro rata share of the investors' profit (50%), if any. Future returns are not guaranteed.
The current revenue plan combines home entertainment and streaming licensing deals and box-office as paths for profit participation. The remaining episodes and theatrical finale depend on additional financing and distribution arrangements.
Wefunder hosts the official offering materials, investment terms, disclosures, risk factors and other information prospective investors should review before making an investment decision.
In addition, we have some exclusive perks for investors, as we want future audiences to know who has supported bringing Peter's story to the screen.
$100 Patriot - Digital access to the Peter Francisco documentary; exclusive investor email + video updates; membership in the private LUSO™ Founding Investors Community.
$250 Revolutionary - Everything above + signed copy of the LUSO™ novel with a personalized inscription from Travis “Francisco” Bowman + your name on the series website.
$500 Continental - Everything above + investor chooses one LUSO™ merchandise item from LUSO.tv/shop + exclusive digital BTS content from development/pre-production.
$1,000 Founding 250 - Everything above + limited-edition LUSO™ investor certificate personally signed by Travis “Francisco” Bowman and Brian Patrick Wade + invitation to an exclusive investor livestream. ONLY 250 AVAILABLE!
$5,000 Founder's Circle - Everything above + investor's name in the LUSO™ pilot end credits + invitation to select private virtual production updates.
$10,000 LUSO Insider- Everything above + two invitations to a private cast/crew or investor screening + an opportunity to participate in an exclusive Zoom with the producers/director discussing how LUSO™ is being made.
$15,000 Battlefield Experience - Everything above + one-day set visit for two + lunch with production team + professional photo on the LUSO™ set + opportunity to appear as a background actor, subject to production needs.
$20,000 Red Carpet Circle - Everything above + two VIP tickets to a LUSO™ premiere/red-carpet event + VIP meet-and-greet/reception with filmmakers and available cast + signed film poster.
$25,000 Associate Producer - Everything above + Associate Producer credit on the LUSO™ pilot, on-screen and IMDb where permitted + VIP set access for two + premiere tickets + invitation to selected producer/investor production calls.
$50,000 Executive Producer - Everything above + Executive Producer credit on the LUSO™ pilot, on-screen and IMDb + name on official poster (where contractually permitted) + VIP premiere experience for two + private dinner with Travis and Brian + invitation to a private rough-cut screening + one authentic production prop/wardrobe/set item after production.
Peter Francisco was born in Portugal. He became an American. He fought for freedom. He became a legend. And then, America forgot him.
More than two centuries later, we have an opportunity to introduce him to the world. Not with another history textbook. Not with another monument. Not with another plaque. With the power of film.
History remembered him. America forgot him. Together, we can change that.
Help put Peter Francisco on screen and help build the audience that carries LUSO forward.