"The Strike"
FUN FACTS
1. Atlas Shrugged took 12 years to write.
2. The working title of Atlas Shrugged was, "The Strike." It was actually Frank O'Conner, Ayn Rand's husband, who recommended "Atlas Shrugged" after the book was finished.
3. We're making another movie.
WHAT!? :)
Working on the Atlas Shrugged films presented us with some of the most challenging moments of our lives. It was rewarding too of course, but Challenging - with a capital C. Why? Those of us on the crew with any knowledge of the material were vastly outnumbered by those with none... by 1 to 100. I could count us on one hand. And at times, one finger.
The result? The movies do not adequately convey the message of Atlas. Period.
And, THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT OF MAKING THE MOVIES - to accurately convey and propagate the message.
But, what if we had another shot? What if we could do it all over again from the beginning? What if we could put together the ideal team of artisans whose sole purpose it was to finally bring Atlas to life as it was meant to be?
I spoke at length yesterday with John Aglialoro, one of the Producers of the films and sole owner of the movie rights to the book.
If you're at FreedomFest today in Vegas, John's going to be on a panel. You may want to attend.
We're making another movie.
Scott DeSapio
Associate Producer, Atlas Shrugged 3
1. Atlas Shrugged took 12 years to write.
2. The working title of Atlas Shrugged was, "The Strike." It was actually Frank O'Conner, Ayn Rand's husband, who recommended "Atlas Shrugged" after the book was finished.
3. We're making another movie.
WHAT!? :)
Working on the Atlas Shrugged films presented us with some of the most challenging moments of our lives. It was rewarding too of course, but Challenging - with a capital C. Why? Those of us on the crew with any knowledge of the material were vastly outnumbered by those with none... by 1 to 100. I could count us on one hand. And at times, one finger.
The result? The movies do not adequately convey the message of Atlas. Period.
And, THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT OF MAKING THE MOVIES - to accurately convey and propagate the message.
But, what if we had another shot? What if we could do it all over again from the beginning? What if we could put together the ideal team of artisans whose sole purpose it was to finally bring Atlas to life as it was meant to be?
I spoke at length yesterday with John Aglialoro, one of the Producers of the films and sole owner of the movie rights to the book.
If you're at FreedomFest today in Vegas, John's going to be on a panel. You may want to attend.
We're making another movie.
Scott DeSapio
Associate Producer, Atlas Shrugged 3
Now to business,. Here is how I would approach it.
The philosophy would be narrated in addition to the visual application. Like Dune was narrated to explain thoughts during the movie. I would show the real life degradation of current neighborhoods that used to thrive. Expose the truth that our nations brightest people in science aren't even American but visitors with temporary visas. Play real hard on the whiny entitled feeling that so many people do not even realize they have and run it to it's conclusion repeatedly. Then show it again in a different industry. Then show it again and again that shows people for what they are. Instead of not wanting to be the "bad guy" in the movie, make it so they don't want to be seen as the "moocher". I would love to go on and on but I have more work to do. $$$ TA
Think of the recent John Adams mini-series put out by HBO. Can you imagine something like that condensed into a movie, or spread out into 3 movies a year or more apart?
I think a movie, or trilogy of movies, will only work if you have a huge budget.
A mini-series is much more workable. Also, you can make the entire series at one time, to ensure that you have the same actors portraying characters throughout, for one thing.
The 1st attempt at making the movies was at least an attempt. But if we are honest with ourselves in true objectivist fashion, fell way short of the mark. Those films felt much more akin to several of the "christian" films and christian programs of recent years - poorly produced productions that only "true believers" will want to see, programs that preach to the choir but will never generate interest or be seen by outsiders.
This time lets be sure to get it right, and to put some real money into this. It's better to do this fully-funded, or not at all.
Someone should approach Peter Thiel this time to fund this.
oh, boy. yes, please. ok, yeah, right, OK. squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee .
where's the employment office?
I refuse to enter the debate on miniseries v. movie; on which actor, which role; on "how to..."
I find such debates annoying, certainly pointless after the fact, and generally a waste of time. Most of it is opinion being presented as truth.
The observation that not enough people knew anything about the material they were using is brilliant. Achieving that will make whatever is done have that vital look of having been produced and driven by a single mind.
Again, where is that employment office? See you there.
edited for emphasis
Atlas Shrugged cannot be made a successful film in its native state, as AS 1-3 have shown. It must be carefully dramatized, with much less and much shorter dialogue. Dagny's inner thoughts have to come out but, since we're viewers, not readers, they have to come out via her expressions and interactions with other characters.
It can be done. I'd love to try it.
As for virtue, any acting human has virtues by which they gain their values. It is what one believes to be a value that is the key. Some choose values that further life and are rational. Others choose values that are anti-life and have virtues by which they will try to gain such, shell we say evil, with them. What makes life interesting is that no two people have all the same ideas and thus are individuals. Hard to like many of them for everyone.
Philosophical speeches will bore audiences, even those who know the speeches. Can there be a way to dramatize important ideas as Rand did in a movie without explicitly giving speeches?
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