34

An Open Letter to The Producers and Makers of The Atlas Shrugged Movies.

Posted by Eudaimonia 9 years, 8 months ago to Movies
62 comments | Share | Best of... | Flag

Today, the third installment of your film adaptation will be shown in theaters across the country.

You, I, and many other people on this board are savvy enough to the Marxists' game of fear, uncertainty, doubt, and agitprop to know what comes next: the savaging.
E.g.: as I write this, the http://IMDB.com page for “Atlas Shrugged: Who Is John Galt?” displays a section labeled “People who liked this also liked...” which features the documentary “I Am Eleven” - “The lives and thoughts of children from all around the world. It weaves together deeply personal and at times hilarious portraits of what it means to stand on the cusp between childhood and adolescence.”

I was at the Las Vegas premiere.
I saw the movie twice.
While I was there, a thought occurred to me.
The same thought has likely occurred to you as well, but I wanted to make it plain.

It is finished.

Let me repeat this, because it is important, and it is powerful.

It is finished.

With this third installment, the story of Atlas Shrugged has been told– a story which Hollywood and our Ruling Class Marxists did not want to be told, especially on film.

Despite their best efforts to stand in your way, you have built your John Galt Line... to the benefit of us all.

And likewise, their reaction to this last film will be the reaction of Atlas Shrugged's looters to Rearden Metal: its value is irrelevant because it poses a social danger to them.

So, when the savaging begins, and it will begin, please accept it as a badge of honor: anything that our Marxist Ruling Class feels that they must destroy must have some value.

I am confident that, as with the novel itself, as time passes, this value will be recognized.
Your trilogy will remain a part of the Atlas Shrugged legacy for years to come.

It has been my distinct pleasure, honor, and privilege to be a member of these boards since they first went on line, before the making of Atlas Shrugged Part One.

In that time I have learned that there are Midas Mulligans who are willing to finance The Gulch, and that there are Producers of every stripe who see enough value in it to offer their best effort in fair trade.

Thank you for the investment you have made.

I feel humbled that in some small way, it was an investment in me.


Rick Poach
“Eudaimonia”


All Comments


Previous comments...   You are currently on page 2.
  • Posted by telsen2 9 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Mr. Aglialoro: Thank you very much for your hard work and efforts in bringing Atlas Shrug to the screen
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by overmanwarrior 9 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Nice letter. Few know what it feels like to climb a mountain. At the top nobody is there to share the triumph. But today, we all share a bit of a mountain called Who is John Galt.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by Herb7734 9 years, 8 months ago
    This Sunday, My wife and I, and the rest of our family and (some) friends will be in the audience. The fact that there are people who are willing to risk financing such a huge endeavor gives me the kind of emotions I have rarely had the opportunity to feel.Words are not adequate to express this drink of cool water while traversing a very arid desert.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ Old4WDGuy 9 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    If I were in charge of a high school or a school district, one class I would implement would be a class called "daily life skills" or something similar.

    Think of it is a merge of home ec, auto shop, maybe ag class, and some kind of internship out in the real world. A mandatory class for graduation, no exceptions. No academic types in charge either. I would go for successful people to teach it.

    The idea would be to give people some idea of how every day things work and handle normal stuff on their own.

    I hate the idea of being dependent on others for day to day things and minor problems. I grew up around it.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 9 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Hello Harmon,
    Please see my comments and expression of gratitude to you and John below.
    Best wishes and thank you for all you have accomplished.
    O.A.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 9 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Hello John,
    I take my hat off to you and Mr. Kaslow.
    I cannot express my gratitude adequately for what you have done. I wish you both the greatest success and happiness life can bring!
    I so look forward to viewing the fruits of your labor this evening. I'm sure I will not be disappointed.
    Best wishes,
    O.A.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by Temlakos 9 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Yes, and I notice that no high school today teaches either shop or home economics. Even if you allow that maybe a school should offer each as an elective to boy or girl alike, leaving that out leaves kids without valuable skills. Which is why, when a motorist gets stranded today, he cannot survive unless he can summon aid.

    All this is part of the larger problem with schooling today: it teaches too much interdependence and not enough independence.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • 19
    Posted by $ JohnAglialoro 9 years, 8 months ago
    Fellow Gulchers.

    As I sit here reflecting, your comments have brought a tear to my eye. I wish to express gratitude to you for your loyalty to Rand, to her work and to your support of this film trilogy after 22 years of effort. What we do and what we think is noble and, in time, will change the world for the better.

    Thank you.

    John Aglialoro
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ pixelate 9 years, 8 months ago
    Thank you for the well written letter. You have expressed my thoughts and that of many others -- both here in The Gulch as well as the many individuals that have yet to be exposed to Rand's philosophy / works.

    I have been thinking - while reading these posts / articles in The Gulch -- we are essentially preaching to the choir here -- in this forum, we find a safe place to share our respect / differences / observations regarding Rand, Objectivism, current events, etc... However, I think that we can act and write in ways that can be beneficial in bringing Rand's message to millions of people, just as her writing / lectures have done.

    Consider the posts on IMDB (regarding the AS films), as well as any of your mainstream media (liberal / progressive) sites: HuffPo, DailyKos, Democracy Now!, FB: The Coffee Party Movement, Amazon [in the context of Rand's books], YouTube commentaries on Rand, etc. Many of the posts denigrate Rand (ad hominem), distort the Objectivist philosophy (fraud) and express outright hatred toward individualism. I propose the following: that we, as individuals, "find a home" so-to-speak, on these sundry media outlets -- and debate, correct and otherwise inform those people that are spreading misinformation regarding Rand / Objectivism. I do not believe that we will convince many of the vitriolic and childish posters to change their thoughts or see things from a different perspective. However, for every individual that posts, there are many more that simply read the exchanges and form their own opinions. There are now over a hundred active members here in The Gulch. If we were to voluntarily (obviously) "sign up" to moderate / respond to the negativity and ignorance posted on these sites, I think we could further affect an awakening among the general population. I want to keep The Gulch alive and flourishing long after the release of the AS films.

    Does this idea have merit? Is there some means -- here in The Gulch -- for us to create a Sub-Forum where we can maintain a "sign up list" that would match individual Gulchers to specific sites for moderation? We could share our thoughts and observations on what works and how to improve our outreach. As for me, I will be commenting on YouTube critiques of Rand / Objectivism / AS. I also will chime on on the Facebook - Coffee Party Movement page and the IMDB commentaries.

    Thanks for your attention and consideration.
    Patrick D. Grengs II / West Richland, WA
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ HarmonKaslow 9 years, 8 months ago
    Rick ... one of the great joys of this project has been meeting people, like you, that have enormous passion for Atlas Shrugged and its message. I'm honored that you're "here" ... for being a part of what we're doing ... and for being an active and productive member of this community.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by desimarie23 9 years, 8 months ago
    Great letter, I had an overwhelming feeling of pride while reading it. Well done.

    My husband and I purchased tickets and are going to the 9:20 showing this evening, luckily there is a large theatre showing the film a half hour away from me. Needless to say, after all of the discussions and promoting of the film, I am extremely excited.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by lostsierra 9 years, 8 months ago
    I doubt if there will be savaging. The film is likely to be a financial flop with few tickets sold like the last two. They don't have to savage it. Little marketing will do that for them.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by BJ_Cassese 9 years, 8 months ago
    This release is so important to so many. Hopefully, enough people see it and begin to learn what actual thought is. I have been wearing "A=A" and "Who is John Galt" tshirts for weeks, using them as conversation starters. Can't wait to enjoy this film in a few hours.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 9 years, 8 months ago
    Greetings Friends,
    I too would like to express my gratitude to all who have had a part in producing and promoting this effort. To those of you who live the life, spread the word and those who have contributed in other ways, I salute you. It is not always easy, for their are many enemies of reason and Liberty, but you should hold your head up and be proud!
    "To be, or not to be: that is the question:
    Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
    The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
    Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
    And by opposing end them?" The Bard.
    One day soon, I hope to see the day when we shall end them and once again live the life of Liberty that was our natural right, formed, fought for and promised by our founders.
    Never give up the fight for right!
    Best Regards,
    O.A.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by rjkford 9 years, 8 months ago
    Euda and coaldigger, nicely and powerfully said. Tonight, at 7:40 pm my wife and I, in Galt regalia, will be at MJR Sterling Hts., MI hoping to have to put up with a crowd. We also had the disappointment, at 1 & 2, of a sparse crowd to share the preview of the possible future of our wonderful country. We are hoping and praying, yes praying, that the mini-series rumors come to fruition. A 10 part tv series would reach a audience that doesn't seem to read much. Other than the downer stuff, kudos to those that worked so hard to make this happen and to those that are going tonight and the following days, turn off your cells and enjoy the show! I know my wife and I will. See ya at the show!
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by jimslag 9 years, 8 months ago
    Like some others, I have had to travel distances to see the movies. One, I saw this in Albuquerque (4 hours away) at a big cineplex that was showing on one screen with maybe 100 others. Two, it was showing in Lubbock (1.5 hours) and since this is flyover country, it had probably around 300 or so at the showing I went to. This one, I hope will be showing more than one week, as I am tied up at work and cannot travel very far from the facility through the weekend. I am hoping, as I have to go to Albuquerque next weekend, that it is still showing and I can go see it. I missed Las Vegas as I could not get away, but I was there in spirit with you all. I sort of wish the movie would continue, I am afraid that the incentive will disappear after this one. I know I will be here and I hope that all will agree. It has been fun, I am proudly a Producer and I am also a KickStarter contributor ( I proudly wear my t-shirt). Best to all and let's keep the ideal going.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ stargeezer 9 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    At least you have one. Our closest is a three hour drive away and sadly, right now my health won't let me do a 8 or 9 hour day in my wheelchair. So I've got to wait until it hits the DVD outlets before I get to see it.

    In any event, I wish all the best to all who were involved in this epic adventure. It's been a joy to contribute my small piece of the franchise as I've bought memorabilia, tickets and copies of the movies. I can't wait to add ASIII to the rest of my collection.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ Old4WDGuy 9 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I've been through a similar experience. I wished I had read or really known anything about Ayn Rand or AS as a youth. It would have helped a lot more than most of the regurgitated education I got through HS with the exception of Auto Mechanics.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ Old4WDGuy 9 years, 8 months ago
    I plan on going this evening after a day as a producer here at the office.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by $ rainman0720 9 years, 8 months ago
    Excellent letter. Well said on all counts.

    I've already purchased tickets to see it back-to-back tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon.

    Like most of the rest of this group, I've been anxiously waiting 18 months for this day to come. I think my wife is as glad as I am that this weekend is finally here; I've probably driven her crazy talking about it.

    I can't wait for 2:25 tomorrow afternoon to get here.
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by rr1134 9 years, 8 months ago
    looking forward to seeing the movie Saturday night.
    I have the DVD of part 1 and part 2 and looking forward to DVD part 3. It is a shame that AS3 is showing in limited places and I notice no advertisement or even mention in MOVIES in today ( Friday Sept 12, 2014) New York Times

    why are you not advertising this movie?. You cannot win the lottery if you do not buy a ticket .. I am sure AR would say that.
    Robert Rosenfeld
    Reply | Permalink  
  • Posted by Temlakos 9 years, 8 months ago
    I've endured such savaging all my life. Only when I read AS did I understand why that might be.
    Reply | Permalink  

  • Comment hidden. Undo