# Wanna make a movie? Tell us what! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 11, 2003, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-make-a-movie-tell-us-what/218256 "2003-12-11T03:04:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-make-a-movie-tell-us-what/218256/1 "2003-12-11T03:04:58Z")
Anybody ever find a story that was so friggin’ awesome, you had to make a movie about it? Tell the universe! What style would you use, how would you adapt it… and, most importantly, who would you cast? Me, I’d love to do a movie version of _Final Fantasy 6_, live-action. I’d definitely cast Johnny Depp as Kefka, maybe Nicole Kidman as Celes, and Haley Joel Osmond as Relm (teehee). I’d adapt it to be similar in style to the recent LOTR movies, of course… I’d also love to do the first film version of Iain M. Banks’ _Consider Phlebas_… ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-make-a-movie-tell-us-what/218256/2 "2003-12-11T03:11:46Z")
This isn’t going to be that impressive, but I like “Guys and Dolls” a lot, but I hate the 1950’s movie with singing Marlon Brando, so I plan on producing a remake with a better cast if I become a billionaire. Also, I’d like to see a film about the Roman Republic in the era of Sulla. ---
**Author:** ![Adamcomic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/977dab/32.png) [@Adamcomic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Adamcomic)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-make-a-movie-tell-us-what/218256/3 "2003-12-11T06:13:51Z")
There are about 50,000 or more ideas that I would like to make into movies, none more deserving than my favorite book, Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein. I would like to make it a straight, true to the book adaptation. The only way I see of doing this would be to make it a made for Cable TV movie on HBO or Showtime. As for casting, the only role set in stone would be that of Jubal Harshaw: Rip Torn is the only actor I would even consider. ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-make-a-movie-tell-us-what/218256/4 "2003-12-11T11:20:47Z")
I’ve always fancied myself an armchair director and I think Wildseed by Octavia Butler would present a directorial/acting challenge. One of the main characters is a spirit that jumps from body to body during the novel. To have several actors convincingly play the same character would be interesting. Halle Berry as Anwyu and possibly Orlando Bloom as Isaac. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-make-a-movie-tell-us-what/218256/5 "2003-12-11T12:00:20Z")
I have a great script! It’s about a killer robot driving instructor, who travels back in time for some reason. His best friend is a talking pie! hrh ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-make-a-movie-tell-us-what/218256/6 "2003-12-11T12:24:04Z")
But who would you get to direct? ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-make-a-movie-tell-us-what/218256/7 "2003-12-11T12:26:10Z")
I played this game on another movie forum. My opinion hasn’t changed a bit. My movie idea isn’t big and flashy, but it’s an interesting human interest story with great music. It’d be perfect for Will Smith, but he doesn’t know it yet. I want Smith to play Thomas A. Dorsey, a legend in the Gospel community (not that I’m a part of it, I’m an atheist) and is known as the “father of Gospel music.” That’s interesting, but before he found Jesus, he was a blues guy who worked with people like Ma Rainey’s Wild Cat Jazz Band, Kansas City Kitty and Tampa Red (if these names are unfamiliar, you’ve missed out on some great music). He played piano and wrote songs that focused on double-entendres, with his biggest hit being “It’s Tight Like That.” Anyone who’s seen the wonderful documentary **Say Amen, Somebody** likely has vivid recollections of Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey in their heads. From his obituary: > [@](#): > > The man who would become closely associated with the rise of gospel music was the self-described “son of a preacher man” whose musical talents were so widely recognized that gospel tunes were called “Dorseys,” began his career on the seedy side of the street (literally, in the prostitute-laden dives on Decatur Street near Auburn Avenue). It was here that he met Gertrude “Ma” Rainey and “Tampa Red” Whitaker, with whom he would team on a number of occasions early in his career. Whitaker and Dorsey played an unusual blend of blues, integrating many influences including country, jazz and what would become known as gospel or gospel blues. > > In 1916 Dorsey moved from Atlanta to Chicago where he became noted for his double-meaning songs that were popular in bars and stag parties at which he was frequently called to play. It was here that he became known as “Georgia Tom” and began an extended collaboration with Whitaker, including the hit “It’s Tight Like That.” Dorsey was very successful as a blues musician and writer, but something happened that changed his life. > [@](#): > > In 1932, he was on the road starting a choir in St. Louis when he received news that his wife had died while giving birth to their son. The baby himself died two days later. Wracked with guilt for not being home with them and overtaken with despair, Dorsey locked himself inside his music room for three straight days. He finally poured his grief into writing these words. The result was the song “Take My Hand, Precious Lord” and his gospel career was born. He incorporated aspects of blues and jazz into his gospel songs and they were quite controversial. His genius in his new genre was soon recognized and his songs launched the careers of several name gospel singers, including Mahalia Jackson and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Thomas Andrew Dorsey died in Chicago on January 23, 1993 at the age of 93. Dorsey was featured in the fascinating documentary about gospel music, Say Amen Somebody, which is how I first heard of him. Say Amen, as great as it is, doesn’t focus specifically on Dorsey. His part in it is important, for sure, but he’s just one part. I’ve always wanted a movie that was just about Dorsey and that would hopefully focus on his early years. That’s the movie I’d love to see. ====================== (My Production Wish List) Title: It’s Tight Like That Directed by: The Coen Brothers Screenwriter: John Ridley Cinematographer: Roger Deakins Composer/Music Supervisior: Carter Burwell Lead Actor to play Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey: Will Smith Supporting Actor to play “Tampa Red” Whitaker: Taye Diggs Lead Actress to play Gertrude “Ma” Rainey: Queen Latifah Supporting Actress to play Nettie Dorsey: Joy Bryant Character Actress to play Mahalia Jackson: Viola Davis Genre: Drama (with much music and humor) Synopsis: The life of influential bluesman and “father of gospel music” Thomas A. Dorsey, focusing on the years between his heading Ma Rainey’s Wild Cats Jazz Band in about 1925, and the year after the death of his wife Nettie in 1932, when he turned away from secular blues and wholeheartedly embraced gospel music, going on to redefine that genre by adding blues and jazz musical elements. ======================= Would somebody PLEASE make this movie! I wanna go see it! I’ve heard that some sort of treatment is in the works, but I’ll bet they won’t focus on his sin-swamped early years. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-make-a-movie-tell-us-what/218256/8 "2003-12-11T12:40:01Z")
> [@](#): > > Me, I’d love to do a movie version of Final Fantasy 6, live-action. I’d definitely cast Johnny Depp as Kefka, maybe Nicole Kidman as Celes, and Haley Joel Osmond as Relm (teehee). I’d adapt it to be similar in style to the recent LOTR movies, of course… Dear God let it not be so. Anyway, I want to do a remake (or shall we say improvement) on the Dungeons and Dragons movie. I had some nifty ideas that might make the movie worth watching, such as not hiring complete fools for actors. Excepting Profion, who was perfect. Heh heh heh. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Elvis_Rojo)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-make-a-movie-tell-us-what/218256/9 "2003-12-11T14:08:21Z")
I’d love to see a true to book adaptation of **Boy’s Life**. It’s my favorite book, and I think there could be some absolutely great imagery moments when the imagination of the kids is involved. I’d love someone like Jean-Pierre Jeunet to direct it, because watching **Amelie** , I know he’s got what it takes to combine reality and imagination into something incredible. I’m a little concerned that he wouldn’t be able to get the good ol’ down home American feel of it, so he’d have to be teamed up with someone else to help with that, but I still think he’d be great for the imagery. I’d also love to see a full Japanese cast mini-series of _Akira_. The anime is pretty damn sweet, but so condenced and confusing, it just doesn’t do the story justice. I think a full scale, all out miniseries that dedicates a lot of time to getting the story right would be absolutely great. Assuming it was done for HBO or Showtime, or some station where graphic violence and profanity are allowed. Another mini-series I’d love to see are adaptations of Terry Pratchett’s _Discworld_ series. More specifically, _Guards, Guards_ and the other Night Watchmen books. I’ve never been good with casting, so I can’t really pick who’d I’d like to be who, but again, in a mini-series format, I think it would be great. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-make-a-movie-tell-us-what/218256/10 "2003-12-11T14:44:51Z")
I always thought Roger Zelazy’s _Lord of Light_ would make a dazzling film if it had the right director and cast that could combine the pageantry of ancient India with far future technology. Nicole Kidman would make an interesting Kali (which would necessitate downplaying the traditional depictions of the goddess), The death god Yama could be played by Haley Joe Osment (since Yama is described in the book as being a super-intelligent old man in a very young man’s body). Sam would be a difficult role to cast because he goes through so many changes in the book that the actor who plays him would have to be protean–Hugh Jackman, maybe. ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-make-a-movie-tell-us-what/218256/11 "2003-12-11T14:46:56Z")
I always thought _Lord of the Flies_ would make a great musical comedy. ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-make-a-movie-tell-us-what/218256/12 "2003-12-11T14:52:07Z")
Remember that e-trade commercial with the fake movie “Blow’d Up”? Well, I’d make that real. No script. No starring actors. It would be 2 hours of special-effect sequences. You know how some action movies pay lip service to a plot, character development, that type stuff? This film will not bother with any of that. It will be like playing Grand Theft Auto, except it will be on the big screen. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-make-a-movie-tell-us-what/218256/13 "2003-12-11T15:51:00Z")
I “film” books in my head. I’ve wanted to do some good SF for a long time now. I’d like to see Fredric Brown’s **Arena** done right, or Alfred Bester’s **The Demolished Man** – the teleparthy sequences could be beautiful, if done properly. Or Bester’s **The Stars my Destination** , which has one of the best openings ever. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-make-a-movie-tell-us-what/218256/14 "2003-12-11T15:52:56Z")
A film version of Pournelle and Niven’s “Footfall” would be awesome. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-make-a-movie-tell-us-what/218256/15 "2003-12-11T15:59:39Z")
the REAL Bram Stoker’s DRACULA… Sean Connery, Ian MacKellen, Max Von Sydow or Chris Lee AGAIN as the Count. Any of the above as Van Helsing. Brad Dourif as Jonathan Harker. Jennifer Connelly as Mina Harker. Russell Crowe as Dr. Jack Seward. Val Kilmer as Arthur Holmwood. Kyle MacLachlan as Quincey Morris. Either Christopher Lloyd or Dennis Hopper as Renfield. Kirsten Dunst as Lucy Westenra. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-make-a-movie-tell-us-what/218256/16 "2003-12-11T16:08:24Z")
In late 1941, a large America First Committee convention was held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Most of the leading isolationist leaders in America attended. Surrounded by tributes to the war dead of Allegheny County in Soldiers and Sailors Hall, speaker after speaker denounced the Roosevelt administration, and declared that no more soldiers and sailors would be sent to die in another foreign war. Senator Gerald Nye, the leading isolationist of the day, was halfway through his speech when an Army officer interrupted him with news of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The officer was shouted down by the crowd gathered that Sunday, and Senator Nye finished his speech, which had savaged Roosevelt for creating hostile relations with the Japanese and called the British cowards, unwilling to endure casualties. When asked afterward about the Japanese declaration of war, Nye answered, “It sounds terribly fishy to me.” It would prove to be the last major meeting of the America Firsters. Their movement evaporated in that Pittsburgh auditorium in one afternoon. The delegates and leaders gathered had to feel embarassed, shocked, and betrayed. I always thought it would make a great documentary. ---
**Author:** ![beajerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@beajerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beajerry)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-make-a-movie-tell-us-what/218256/17 "2003-12-11T16:09:15Z")
I’ve always wanted to make I, Robot. I hear they’re doing it now with Will Smith, so really it’s still not been made because I’m sure the Will, Robot movie will be nothing like the book (maybe I’ll be surprised…but why make the main character male? WTF?) Second would be Rama, as a television series. LOTS of material for that! Third would be Gravity’s Rainbow, directed by David Cronenberg (sic?) ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-make-a-movie-tell-us-what/218256/18 "2003-12-11T16:09:23Z")
also ATLAS SHRUGGED (no set cast tho I lean to Jude Law as John Galt and Janine Turner as Dagny Taggart) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-make-a-movie-tell-us-what/218256/19 "2003-12-11T16:23:52Z")
I posted a thread about **Somebody** , a short script that I wrote about an artist who finds a corpse. I plan to film that eventually, as soon as I get to know the local film crowd a little better. It will be B&W, sound, about 10 minutes. But my “dream film” would be to do a biodrama about Manfred von Richtofen, “The Red Baron”. Everybody knows that he was WWI’s highest-scoring fighter pilot, and that he was shot down in 1918. For a long time, credit for shooting him down went to a Canadian pilot by the name of Brown; but I read a book (I think it was called _The Red Baron’s Final Flight_, or something like that) that uses forensic analysis to prove (within reasonable doubt) that he was shot down by Australian ground troops. And very few people know Richtofen’s “back story”. He wasn’t always a fighter pilot! He was wounded in the head during a dogfight, too. The film has an interesting, well known character; airplanes (always a good thing in a movie! 😉 ); action, drama, and is about a time about which there weren’t that many films made. (_Gallipoli_ and _The Blue Max_ come to mind. And _Biggles_. But most modern war dramas are about WWII.) The other film I’d like to make would be an adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s **At The Mountains Of Madness**. I’d like to do that one as a period piece, complete with the bad science and everything. Wonderful story, and great scenic possibilities. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2003, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-make-a-movie-tell-us-what/218256/20 "2003-12-11T16:58:23Z")
I got a million of 'em. I wrote an adaptation of _The Tresure of the Sierra Madre_ set in the asteroid belt called _The Bright and Hollow Sky_. Billy Bob Thornton would be the ideal Fred C. Dobbs in space. How about the definitive Martin Luther King, Jr. biopic? Who could play him? (I think you’d almost have to audition an unkown). The classic time travel novel _The Man Who Folded Himself_ could be really, really cool on screen, and the sexual content would be acceptable now. Spike Jonez could handle it. I’m still clinging to the idea of an anime _Childhood’s End_. > [@](#): > > Third would be Gravity’s Rainbow, directed by David Cronenberg (sic?) Dude! David Lynch is the only person who could begin to pull that off. Him or Terry Gilliam. No, Lynch is the man. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanna-make-a-movie-tell-us-what/218256.md?page=2)