Kurtz Dossier from Apocalypse Now (open source for all!)

Ehyder20

Active Member
Hello folks! Want to make a replica of Kurtz's Dossier? You have come to the right place!

After seeing Adam Savages build of his Dossier, I instantly knew I had to make one. I have made paper props before like the grail diary, but this has proved to be an entirely different beast. There is just such a large amount of material and small parts and for me personally I found that really overwhelming to get started. It is my goal here to upload all material I have compiled into a organized and accessible place. The files uploaded here are a mix of a lot of Adams work from his Dossier, as well as files I have made myself. I am quite new to photoshopping stuff and making the documents so forgive me if there are some things that are not 100% accurate. I am always wanting to make it better so feel free to point something out that doesn't look quite right! Ivory's will be updated as I add more material.

The documents are sorted by the Different Ivory's. Page 1 is the top piece of paper for that Ivory it goes in order underneath from there. Documents labeled with (OS) are to be printed in onion skin paper. Don't have access to that? Simply take some tracing paper and adhere it to some regular printer paper with a glue stick around the edges. Trim the edges. This will give it enough grab to feed into most consumer printers. you can simply then peel off the paper and there should be little to no residue. For assembly watch Adams video seen here:
It will be your bible.


(PHOTOS) All the photos that need to be printed out can be found here!: Kurtz Dossier (In the miscellaneous I have included the clippings that can be adhered to specific photos seen is Adams video)

(VINYL POUCHES) One of the more difficult parts is going to be getting the correct vinyl pouches. The only way to really get them is to have them custom made. I don't have the cash to do that but I have found these: Snap Closure Vinyl Envelopes - 6 x 9 They are not perfect but they are pretty damn close.

(CLASSIFIED FOLDER) Ivory's 3 and 4 both have a red jacker that covers them indicating they contain classified documents. There is 2 options for getting these. You can download the file called red-grunge-background found in the misscelaneous section and then adhere it to a donor folder or you can buy these folders called "Skillcraft classification folders" here is an example :Office Depot Brand Pressboard Classification Folders With Fasteners, 2 Dividers, Letter Size (8-1/2in x 11in), 2in Expansion, 100% Recycled, Red, Box Of 10 Credit goes to Jamesfett for finding these!

(US ARMY WAX STAMP) When Willard first gets the dossier, there is a shot where he tears off the string of the folder and breaks a seal. I am assuming this is a standard US army eagle. I found one that looks very close found here: US Army Symbol Wax Seal Stamp



UPDATE LOG:
-added insert that is glued on to the inside of the red folder. It can be found in miscellaneous (03/30/24)
-added front and back of 1960s Vietnamese ids (03/31/24)
-added last to pages for Ivory 3. It is now complete. (03/31/24)
-Finished ivory 4 (03/31/24)
-added TIME magazine cover in miscellaneous (04/09/24)
-added the envelope that gets handed to Willard at the start in miscellaneous (04/10/24)
-added envelope letter in miscellaneous (04/22/24)
 
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Ivory 1: (Complete) I have included a PDF of a dissertation of the Philippine insurrection. I took the first chapter and used that as the paper Kurtz wrote
 

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Ivory 2: (Complete)
 

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Ivory 3: (Completed)
 

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Ivory 4: (Completed)
 

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miscellaneous files:
 

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Okay. I am going blind looking at folders.

My Map/Phot bag is on the way.

I have looked at tons of folders and I have no idea what to look for, size, or anything.

There is the big envelope with the seal and anti tamper marking. It looks to be a standard Post Office envelope that I can probably get once the bag is here. Size should be easy as it barely fits in the bag.

Then there are the four "Ivory" files. No clue what to look for for those. Adam said he ended up with lots of extras looking for the correct one. He says he had manila folders but they look tan. The back half raises up the entire length for labeling, unlike current manila folder that just have a tab.

Military jacket folder

Vinyl Folder with clear window. Adam had them custom made.

I am starting to go through the other old Kurtz file threads to see what is in them.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Tom
 
This might work for the four "Ivory" folders.

 
This might work for the four "Ivory" folders.

Those look really good, the color is a lot closer then what I bought. I think the key thing is that they are straight tab manila folders. I bought these ones: Amazon.com
 
Not much luck on the red classified file so far.

I will add these on the first page as an option. I think it will be really hard to find an absolutely perfect version. thanks for finding those!
 
There are a couple things that I have really struggled to find that are both for the "Colby file". There is a photo of a young Scott Glenn while he was serving in the military, and a photo of his two kids standing in front of a house. I have not had any luck finding either of them. They can be seen in the photo below!
 

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How about these for the Red File?

One thread shows one of these in all four Ivory files, but in Adam's video it just had a red one in the 3rd Ivory file I believe.

The one below looks real close. I am thinking I can pick it up and send the extras out to members?

 
There are a couple things that I have really struggled to find that are both for the "Colby file". There is a photo of a young Scott Glenn while he was serving in the military, and a photo of his two kids standing in front of a house. I have not had any luck finding either of them. They can be seen in the photo below!

No luck either. I found a number of pics from him in the film, even though from what I remember there is just one shot of him standing there. I guess the rest of his role got cut.
 

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Adam says the big side opening manila folder with the seals is 9”x12”. That seams small, but he is the man so I assume that is correct.


Okay later he seems to correct this and says it's a
10"x15" side opening Document envelope
Made by Quality Park Products
Item number 54301
 
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Many of Adam's links are dead unfortunately.

Maybe one of our members here has them saved?
 
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