Journalist writing about AS3 looking for fan input
I'm a journalist working on a piece about AS3. Any die hard fans here who donated to Kickstarter and have read the books interested in telling me about what they love about the AS movies and what they think could be better?
Atlas Shrugged is one book. When you say "read the books" to which other books are you referring? Who are you writing the piece for? Have you watched ASI and ASII? Have you read Atlas Shrugged?
I was introduced to AS around 1970, when I was about 25. An 'objectivist' friend of mine would discuss Randian issues in our downtime at work.
When I finished AS, the ideas expressed in it "changed my way of thinking"... about MYSELF more than any book I'd ever read before that. It was an incredible gift to me. It gave me one of my first perspectives on the source of my personal 'value,' and where it comes from.
So, I've waited over 40 years for someone to even TRY to capture AS' ideas in a motion picture. Yes, I saw her characters in my mind's eye as I read... I'm predominantly visual in the way my mind works, so the pictures were vivid for me.
I have also worked in engineering and marketing for many decades as well as seen quite a few movies, too, so I knew that any producer, director and actors probably would not match the 'pictures in my mind' in their movies, but I was hopeful that the kernels of her concepts would come through.
I think AS1 and AS2 were pretty damned good at achieving that kind of goal, and like many other folks here, was disappointed that the cast of AS1 wasn't retained in AS2. They'd "fit my pictures" pretty well, and the AS2 cast was, in some cases startlingly different.
I found that the production quality, right down to the scripting, improved in AS2. One of my first reactions in AS1 was to some obscure line Eddie Willers 1 spoke. When I heard it, I wanted to kick the screenwriter. "No human being says those words in that order in normal speech. THAT line needed violent rewriting."
Yeah, engineers pick nits, too... it's genetic, maybe.
Yes, there's a $ next to my name, because I donated more money to AS3's funding than I did to Ron Paul's first run at the Presidency, and I think I've gotten a better ROI already, even months before AS3 will be on the screen.
The Galt's Gulch features and environment have added to the rewards for me, above and beyond the promised tangible rewards of the disk and anything else in the future.
I've 'only' read AS about four times and recommended it to countless people, but that's been over 40 years, remember...
Now, in the interests of honesty and 'free-market-fair-trade,' I'd like to hear back from YOU on a question or several...
Have YOU read AS?
Have YOU seen AS1 or 2 in theaters?
Coming into this project, what kind of preconceived notions or prejudices would you be willing to 'fess up to?
Do you plan to see AS3 in a theater or do you already have your strong opinions about the quality or message of it or its content or style.
Just curious. I showed you mine... your turn, if you're willing...
Oh, wait... the 'what could they do better?' part?
Re-shoot Eddie's line in AS1.
In AS2, re-do the CG effects of the Dagny's train ripping through the mountains. Without serious banking on the turns, no train, not even one made completely of Rearden Metal, could negotiate those radius' curves at those speeds. Bank the turns or make the curves much larger radii. Try to obey at least SOME of the 'real' laws of physics, even in CG... otherwise it just looks like a sci-fi cartoon act.
My two cents.
Cheers!
We The Living and The Fountainhead. Rand was
recommended to me, at age 15, by a friend who is
treasured to this day. she is an RN and I am a
professional engineer, and we are both producers
in Ayn Rand's worldview, where producers run
the spectrum from the poorest to the richest, from
least educated to greatest, from smartest to less
than bright. producers support the world with
honest work and integrity, building up rather than
tearing down. moochers and looters make up the
rest of the world -- with the distinction between
them that looters use force for their undeserved gain.
these movies give life to my mind's eye view of the
characters and situations in the book, and they
also give me comfort that I am not alone in my
love for Rand's view of life -- the first and only
explanation of capitalism done in depth
which I have ever known.
in this world, we would have to use the term
"moral capitalism" to identify this concept.
AS3 promises to be very fine, with well-chosen
actors and actresses, exciting scenes and a strong
message for the world we're living in, now. you may
know that a number of the people contributing
to this forum are also contributing to the film. these
are strong individuals who share our appreciation
of Ayn Rand's work.
"Galt's Gulch Online" administrators are identified
by the human profile to the left of their names in
these postings, as the dollar mark identifies some
of us as "producers", signifying that we have paid
our dues for online membership. some of the
administrators are involved in AS3 and their parts
in the production of this movie are heartily
appreciated by the rest of us!
I am 65 and consider myself a "die hard" fan,
since my life has taught me that it was the truth
which I discovered when I was 18 and
finished AS the first time.
may you be so lucky!!! -- john
I am a Kickstarter and own 1/5 of one of the 35mm prints of Part Two of the film. What I liked best about seeing part I and II in the theaters was seeing some people come out with tears in their eyes. Complete strangers actually talked about it with us, how sorry and fearful they were of what was happening today. It gave me faith that we might be able to change things.
Although Atlas Shrugged is has been a tremendous influence on some people most folks just don't get it.
Is there a pejorative note in your word 'die hard'?
Anyway, I could be in that. I am a freeloader on this forum, a kickstarter for the movie, and a great admirer of the thinking of Ayn Rand. This is not the same as a devotee as you perhaps imply.
Rand's rationality appeals to me especially with the romantic story lines.
AS, tho' published in the fifties stuck me as mirroring events today, I think it is good prediction from sound thinking. Contrary to critics who have not read the book who state that Rand supports the rich and worships money, I like the way Rand describes the medium characters (those who have read the book will know who they are) and their fate. The honest people who are worth their pay stand to lose from profligate and ideological government, they gain from the super heroes - the productive and creative- when government gets out of the way.
As for criticisms and improvement suggestions -as well as praise- on the movies, this site is full of them. Perhaps you have not looked?
I would have to say that while I have seen ASI and II and I am a Kickstarter ASIII funder, I am very emotional about the movies and their presentation to the world. There is much to say about this medium in spreading the word. It is great indeed that these movies were ever made and for this I am grateful. However, nothing can ever be substituted for the sheer concentrated, laser beam words of Rand that burns into the heart of the matter etching the soul forever.--JC Lanier
I would have to say that while I have seen ASI and II and I am a Kickstarter ASIII funder, I am very emotional about the movies and their presentation to the world. There is much to say about this medium in spreading the word. It is great indeed that these movies were ever made and for this I am grateful. However, nothing can ever be substituted for the sheer concentrated, laser beam words of Rand that burns into the heart of the matter etching the soul forever.--JC Lanier
Afiricano@polyconceptna.com
To answer your immediate question: "All fans transduce the novel into visions of their own. I always pictured Dagny as a blonde although she is described as a brunette. The John Galt Bridge, Elias Wyatt's home, the Valley, even the villains Lillian Readen, Balph Eubank and Cuffy Meigs, all of that in every detail, each of us as individuals repeatedly have read into the lines that Ayn Rand wrote. So, we judge the film realizations against our own intentions. Once you step back and take an objective view of the production, it is easy to see the craftsmanship, the artistry, the creativity, and hard work. Anyone who enjoys Romantic cinema from _The Maltese Falcon_ and _The Fountainhead_ to _Harry Potter_ and _Firefly_ appreciates the heroic values projected in the the _Atlas Shrugged_ movies. Would I have done them differently? Sure, if I had money, training, and talent. Short of those, I am happy to receive the productive work of so many people for about ten bucks at the theater and $29.95 on disk. Gotta love capitalism."
(Apparently not so private...)