I'm Duncan Scott, screenwriter for Atlas Shrugged Part III. Ask me anything.

Posted by $ DuncanScott 10 years, 11 months ago to Entertainment
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Long ago, I worked directly with Ayn Rand to edit the movie, "We The Living." Today, I'm honored and thrilled to be writing the Atlas Shrugged Part III screenplay. I'll be returning here at around 4PM ET this afternoon, for about an hour, to answer your questions and read your comments. I look forward to hearing from everyone!

Duncan

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EDIT 1: Duncan has just logged in and will be on with us for the next hour or so. He told me to let everyone know that he's really pleased to be here and looks forward to getting into it with everyone. Have fun!

EDIT 2: "Thank you very much. I enjoyed everyone's questions. I have to sign off now, but I will check back later and try to address follow up questions as time permits." - Duncan
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GALT'S GULCH EVENT TIPS
1. Read all of the previously asked questions before submitting your own. Your question may have already been asked.
2. Write one question per comment.
3. Vote on questions submitted by others. The most popular questions and comments will rise to the top.

Keep in mind, Duncan has only limited time to spend in the Gulch today and may not get to all of your questions. That doesn't mean he won't be back however so, be nice. :)

Scott (sdesapio)

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A four time Emmy Award winner, Duncan Scott has directed over 140 projects for film, television, and theater, including adaptations of novels by Ayn Rand, the author of The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. Duncan worked with Rand to adapt and re-edit the film version of her book, We the Living, and his production company now owns and distributes the movie. He also conceived and developed The Objectivist History Project, an on-going series of video interviews with the leaders and key thinkers that Rand inspired during her lifetime.

Buy the "We the Living" DVD: http://bit.ly/WeTheLivingDVD
Buy Duncan's "The Birth of Objectivism" DVD Set: http://bit.ly/TheBirthOfObjectivism


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    Posted by $ IMONSTRIKE2 10 years, 11 months ago
    Have the producers given you any guidelines or restrictions or requirements for what they expect in the screenplay?
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    • Posted by $ 10 years, 11 months ago
      Yes, I have had a number of discussions with the producers. We are all in agreement that the script should focus on core themes from the book and bring them out as forcefully as possible, rather then try to squeeze in every plot twist and turn. They haven't really given me restrictions, rather they'd rather see the solutions I come up with.
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  • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 10 years, 11 months ago
    How difficult is it for you personally to sacrifice so much of the material in order to distill it down to movie size?
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    • Posted by $ 10 years, 11 months ago
      I don't look at this as "distilling" her novel. A film is a different medium and needs to be adapted in a way that fits the medium. For instance, It's easy reading a novel to stop and ponder the issues. A movie plays out in a short, finite period of time. I look at it more as capturing the essence of the novel. That said, there are many parts of the novel that are iconic and it's tough when I realize those parts won't make it into the film.
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      • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 10 years, 11 months ago
        It must be tough, realizing you will be criticized no matter what choices you make when selecting what will and what will not make it. That's why they pay you the big bucks... Well that's the line I'm handed anyway... :)
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  • Posted by khalling 10 years, 11 months ago
    What is your second largest challenge in scripting AS III?
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    • Posted by $ 10 years, 11 months ago
      Starting a movie that's two thirds into the novel and finding ways to get the viewer caught up without resorting to a lot of backstory. Along with this, I felt it important to re-engage the viewer with Dagny -- who she is and why we should care about her. I've worked out a very interesting opening for the film to this end that I can't divulge right now.
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      • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 10 years, 11 months ago
        Tease! I expect this film to be awesome just as the final part of the book was. It pulls everything together. It is the climax! In this way it also has a greater potential for commercial success. Don't you agree?
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  • Posted by overmanwarrior 10 years, 11 months ago
    Please tell me Ragnar Danneskjöld makes an appearance in the Gulch. I know he has only been seen in a newspaper clip from the first film but remember that Boba Fett is one of the most popular characters in Star Wars and he only had about a minute and a half of screen time. It's all about swagger. : )
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  • Posted by khalling 10 years, 11 months ago
    How do you think Ayn Rand would react to the movies?
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    • Posted by $ 10 years, 11 months ago
      Wow. Well I tried to convince the producers that I could channel Ayn Rand, but it's not really true. I CAN draw from my experience working with her while we adapted the old film classic, WE THE LIVING. Even though that film had been made without her involvement, she recognized what it did accomplish and, with some revisions, she wanted to see that film released. I think she will be very pleased with AS-3.
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  • Posted by $ rockymountainpirate 10 years, 11 months ago
    Will Gulch members be able to attend the premier and where will the premier be?
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    • Posted by marchon 10 years, 11 months ago
      My wife and I hosted the New Hampshire Premier for Part 2 in New Hampshire with the Atlas Society. If Gulch Members would like to attend the next one, we can see what we can do about that. - It was the best attended premier for AS2 in the world. If you want to see pictures - ask me. ;-) If you want to more information on Open Objectivism in New Hampshire send me a message.
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  • Posted by $ GMudd 10 years, 11 months ago
    How can someone who would like to get involved with the making of part III do so? (this question can involve many avenues of "help" i.e. financial, making of the movie, participation as an actor or extra.)
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  • Posted by Hawron 10 years, 11 months ago
    It seems these days the world is fast starting to emulate the world in Atlas Shrugged.
    In Europe first we see punitive tax rates introduced.
    Then raiding the bank accounts belonging to the "rich"
    Now the next proposal is huge levy taxes on homes & properties deemed "wealthy".

    Will you be weaving some of that into the movie to make it feel up to the moment?
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    • Posted by $ 10 years, 11 months ago
      Great question. One of the amazing sensations of reading the book today is the feeling that Ayn Rand must certainly have traveled ahead in a time machine and captured quotes from today's "looters and moochers" and included them in her novel. One of the challenges in writing this script is to be sure that it stays true to the timelessness of these issues and never gets perceived simply as political commentary on the events and issues of 2013.
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  • Posted by khalling 10 years, 11 months ago
    Is there going to be a scene with Dagny and a priest? If so, why?
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    • Posted by $ 10 years, 11 months ago
      John Aglialoro, the Producer of Atlas Shrugged, has raised some interesting ideas regarding Ayn Rand’s original take on a Priest character (she had developed a priest for Atlas that later she decided to leave out) but no, a Priest scene is not in the script at this time.
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  • Posted by loganspire 10 years, 11 months ago
    Will the Actors in part III be the same as in part 2? Keep up the fantastic work I am a big fan of Ayn Rand and what she believed. The movies are pretty good now I'm going back and re listening to the books via Audible.
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