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MEDIA RELEASE September 26, 2013 Contact: Philip J. Marshall (410) 581-4318 pmarshall@mpt.org

O! Say will you see… Francis Scott Key’s Story

On Public Television?

Philip J. Marshall, a filmmaker in residence at MPT, launches grass roots

crowd-funding campaign to bring Maryland’s story to the nation For immediate release Owings Mills, MD – A Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign LINK (http://kck.st/181apz9) was launched today by Philip J. Marshall, a filmmaker in residence at Maryland Public Television (MPT), for the creation of a two-hour documentary production on the life and times of “Star-Spangled Banner” author Francis Scott Key titled “FSKey and the Song that Built America.”

The Kickstarter campaign is attempting to raise $180,000 to ensure that a documentary for national broadcast will be ready by September 2014. The project is being developed as part of the observance of the 200th anniversary of the writing of Key’s poem.

The documentary will trace the involvement of the amateur poet and constitutional lawyer from his early life through the burning of Washington, the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812, and his subsequent writing of the Star-Spangled Banner. The story will pick up in 1900 and trace the progression of Key’s song through it becoming the national anthem in 1931. The Film concludes with a heartfelt review of how the Star-Spangled Banner influences us today.

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Funding for the extensive research and development of “FSKey and the Song that Built America” was provided by the generous support of the Delaplaine Foundation, Inc. and the Ausherman Family Foundation plus individual gifts from; Edward H. Kaplan, George and Bettie Delaplaine, and Mike and Marlene Young. The research process began in November 2011 with a script development conference in Baltimore. Participants included more than 20 scholars and experts who discussed the historical period and aspects of the life of Francis Scott Key as a starting reference for the filmmaker. Two years of work has made the project, “ready for the green-light”.

“There was no single definitive expert on Francis Scott Key so I had to become one,” says Philip J. Marshall, the project executive producer and director. “My research on Mr. Key left me in awe of this period in our history. This was the time that most shaped who we are today. Many of the people and the political adventures in Francis Scott Key's life seems like they walked off last night's news,” he added.

“FSKey and the Song that Built America” is a documentary intended for public television, but the research may also be used for a multi-part television drama. “Kickstarter is an important way to help ensure we get a documentary on the air next September, while helping the larger, ongoing project become a reality,” Marshall added.

History enthusiasts and fellow patriots can find out more about the documentary and donate to the project HERE, (http://kck.st/181apz9) or help spread the word HERE (fskusa.org/share). People can also keep up with the project online through FACEBOOK, (facebook.com/fskmpt) TWITTER (twitter.com/fskey) and also at the project WEBSITE (fskusa.org).

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Note to media: All highlights in the electronic form of this release are active hyperlinks that can be consulted for more information.