Directors What movie would you make? (1 Viewer)

[Garrett Lundy]

Lets say that a small movie company picks your name out of the phonebook instead of, lets say Uwe Boll, to direct a new movie (They can't do any worse I suppose). What movie would you make?

Rules: Can't be porn (like you need a studio to make porn), or a Star Wars film.

I'd make:

Title: 1%'er
Subtitle: Sonny Barger and the Hells Angels

Synopsis: Re-enacted from first hand accounts the film follows the events and exploits from his founding of The Oakland Chapter in '57 through his imprisonment in the mid 80's (focusing on the late 60's: Altamont, Hunter S., The rivalry with the Outlaws, the drug charges, et cetera).

Why would it make money?: There are what, four chopper shows on Tv right this second? Theres a huge cult of Biker-worship going on right now, and this film would cash-in. It would also help seperate fact from fiction in todays motorcycle lifestyle. (People with 500 miles on their sportster acting like bulletproof assholes vs. most anything the HAMC has been accused of doing).

Why it won't get made: Since the film wouldn't follow the "authorized" history from barger, but the more notorious history (true? scandal? who cares, its great drama!) of Barger, it would get tied-up in legal hell forever (The HAMC has lots of lawyers). And you probably don't want them "critiquing" your choice of imagery

 

[Greg_S_H]

Deep Space Nine. Warning! Spoilers!

Cardassia is in the rebuilding stage, with help from both the Federation and Bajor. Mending fences, forging alliances. Unfortunately, the Federation is still in a weakened state following the Dominion War, and the Breen attack. Ultimately, this threatens the Romulans, and this storyline becomes the impetus for a lasting alliance between the Romulans and the Federation.

I would not exclude any characters. Storywise, O'Brien should have nothing to do with it, but it would not be fair at all to freeze Colm Meaney out after all the time he spent on TNG and DS9. The rationale for having him and his family back on DS9 would be the entrance of Bajor into the Federation (finally!). He'd be back for the celebration. I'm not sure how I'd get Odo back yet, but he wouldn't be happy about it. Leaving his idea of paradise would not be seen as a good thing, so it would have to be necessary.

The search for Sisko would be important, and I would have his return happen quickly if it was to be the only movie, or at the very end of the movie if it could be reasonably expected to extend to a sequel or trilogy.

 

[Henry Gale]

1%'er (2005) starring Ralph Barger Jr.
Written, Produced & Directed by Garrett Lundy!

 

[clayton b]

I would make...

Daredevil, The Guardian Devil

Co-directed by myself, Robert Rodriguez and Kevin Smith. What part would I play in this whole affair? I'd just bring it all together, as you asked what my dream project would be.

Why would it work? Guardian Devil is a great story, and Sin City proved that a near direct comic book to movie adaptation is possible if the source material is good enough.

Why wouldn't it be greenlit? Does Fox even own the rights to most of the characters in Guardian Devil? Would Fox have the balls to green light such a project? Would Fox either sell it to Miramax or would Smith and Rodriguez work for Fox?

This is just a project I'd like to see. I think the whole thing would be mired in red tape and would never get off the ground.

 

[Andy Sheets]

I would make an adaptation of Joe R. Lansdale's novel Dead in the West.

Synopsis: An indian medicine man is lynched by the residents of Mud Creek, Texas, but places a curse on the town before he dies, causing the dead to rise and prey on the living. Meanwhile, a washed up, gun-toting preacher rides into town only to find himself desperately fending off the horde of undead.

Why it would make money: Zombies simply couldn't be hotter right now and placing them in a gritty Old West setting would stimulate the genre just before it goes back in hibernation for another 20 years.

Why it won't get made: Because Hollywood supposedly is already making at least a couple of zombie westerns. Unfortunately, none of these are written by Joe Lansdale, which means they're probably going to suck, which in Hollywood logic means the concept doesn't work on film, not that the talent isn't right. That's a pity because no one alive writes weird westerns better than he does.

 

[Garrett Lundy]

Obviously he looked a bit more intimidating 30 years ago.

 

[Chuck Mayer]

Two films, both historical epics, different time periods.

The Battle of Leyte Gulf is one of the key battles in the WWII Pacific Theater. Here is a bit of history on the event itself:

The four-day battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944 marked the eclipse of Imperial Japanese naval power, the last sortie in force of the Imperial Navy, and the largest naval battle ever fought on the face of the earth. It was separated in four parts, each carrying its own name: the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, when U.S. carrier planes struck the IJN’s Center Force and sank battleship Musashi; the Battle of Cape Engaño, where U.S. carriers destroyed the Japanese carrier force that had served as a deception; the Battle of Surigao Strait, where U.S. and Japanese battleships fought the last dreadnought engagement of all times; and lastly, the Battle off Samar, where the Japanese Center Force took to sinking the U.S. escort carriers defending the beachhead and were soundly defeated by miniscule forces.

I had this idea in 1998, just after Titanic opened. What Titanic did was open up cutting edge CGI for historical epics, and I thought a WWII film could really make use of that. Leyte Gulf is one of the US Navy's finest moments, showcasing undreamt-of courage and sacrifice. So I imagined weaving a story into that would not be too great a challenge. Romance being on my mind, I did envision a nurse and a sailor. Sadly, Pearl Harbor was released in 2001, which not only stole my idea using a different battle, but raped it and left it for dead as well.

My other idea involves adapting my favorite book into a film: Gates of Fire. I first read the novel in 1999, before the resurgence of such films. Gladiator came as a shock to me, because that's the basic idea. Now I understand it's in development hell, thanks to Troy and Alexander (and now Kingdom of Heaven). Probably for the best, as the meat of the novel is an exploration of the various faces of courage...not just the battle. I doubt Hollywood would care too much for that.

Those are my two. For Gates, I even had movie posters and taglines, trailer shots and specific compositions (in my head).

Huge nerd,
Chuck

 

[Jerome Grate]

I thought of these characters about 20 years ago in my head and made stories about them and their adventures.

First: a time where mystical creatures walked the earth and a time where humans are outgrowing the true purpose of these creatures. With the help of a powerful wizard and the Council of Mystics and it's leader Dragonus a powerful dragon, a spell is cast that allows those mystical creatures to take human form with their respective powers. Upside the mutation will give mystic far more power than it's current ability, but the downside is that mystics prolonged life would be diminished by half. What's also learned is that when humans receive the power of dragons, the power is unimagineable and their strength puts them in the position to protect mankind from other "Enchanted Mutants" and itself. I'll stop there because I have in my head the complete saga of when it starts and what happens in todays times.

Second: A man of faith falls of his religion and lives the sinful life against his religious teachings and God, but in a split second he has found himself in a situation where he must commit a thoughtful act that saves him from damnation but does not allow him into heaven. An Angel comes to him and gives him the power of an angel but his sins keeps him human. "HalfMort" (Half Immortal Half Mortal) must now defend humans from demons that walk the earth in human form and unseen by all until the demons wish to consume them. HalfMort has great powers and his power is at his fullest when his wings are displayed. His immortal side protects him from all weapons and powers from mutants or medi-humans. But his mortal side allows him to feel, lust and hate. His dilemna is if he goes back to his old ways, his power will be removed and he will go as other go who sin to Hell.

Weird, probably but again I have complete sagas for both stories. Anyone interested with some money for some great special FX, email me.

:b

 

[David Rogers]

Pretty easy. I'd hire Stephen Spielberg to oversee the adaptation and direction of the first Honor Harrington novel, "On Basilisk Station". Preferred casting would be an unknown actress as Honor, and the rest of the decisions I would leave in the hands of Mr. Spielberg.

 

[Colton]

The Walking Dead
Based on the comic by Robert Kirkman

Taking a well-worn genre—flesh-eating zombies overrun the world and the unlucky surviving humans must deal with the gruesome aftermath—and approaching it from a purely character-driven point of view propels this series into the spotlight from out of nowhere. It opens with police officer Rick Grimes awakening from a gunshot-induced coma. From here, he's immediately dragged into a world where dangerous revenants are shambling amok without any sort of an explanation. From the moment Grimes comes to, it's a harrowing battle to avoid hordes of decomposing zombies and a hope-against-all-odds search for his missing family. Grimes makes his way to Atlanta, the nearest large city where there may be other living people, and events take several unexpected turns upon his arrival, as he meets up with a rural encampment of survivors. Of course, as in recent hit movies 28 Days Later... and Dawn of the Dead, the last humans may turn out to be as much a danger as the zombies.

- Colton

 

[Jack Briggs]

Guys, you're all playing a game of sorts here, not participating in a discussion about real films. Therefore, the thread has been moved to the only area where games are played.

 

[Mary M S]

Sticking to low budget, easily adapted for this since each chapter is very much a short story. I’d pick a few of the best chapters from Ernest Gann’s Fate is the Hunter. Using heavy handed emphasis centered on the ethereal value of “luck” using the sentence which provides title to the novel. In both incidents the official verdict was “pilot error,” but since their passengers, who were innocent of the controls, also failed to survive, it seemed that Fate was the Hunter. As it had been and would be.

Or, if I was in a light mood, Kathleen E. Woodiwiss’s The Wolf and the Dove, (one of the best of the historical romance bodice rippers), in the styling of the grittiness and period correctness, (minus, the 60’s camp) of Charlton Heston in the The War Lord. Aiming for a definite crossover audience appeal (AKA Pirates of the Caribbean) NOT a women’s channel version of the tale.

If suddenly a big budget was dumped on me, (some playboy dabbling Howard Hughes type), I’d attempt to make a version of Taylor Caldwell’s Pillar of Iron. An astoundingly well researched novel relying mainly upon actual recorded correspondance between the players involved: - a romp into the real world of school mates who competed viciously to shape the then most powerful nation. Cicero's life and his relationship with peers; Caesar (The Julius), Pompey, the lifelong archenemy; Lucius Sergius Catilina. Centered upon Cicero and Julius C’s love/hate lifelong relationship. Modernize the novel with the twist of time shifting; juxtaposing a modern American Presidential election (styled somewhat after the Manchurian Candidate or Primary Colors) - to tie the original novel to our time based on this blurb in the foreword of A Pillar of Iron. “Any resemblance between the Republics of Rome and the United States of America is purely historical, as is the similarity of ancient Rome to the modern world. …”Were Cicero alive in the America of today he would be aghast and appalled. He would find it so familiar”

For kicks, I’d like to write, produce and direct the next age-enduring monster/ghost story in the vein of Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein or Bram Strokers Dracula.

PS: in big budget; Gates of Fire would be my pick also! (when ARE they going to start production?)
Using the style of Master and Commander to focus not solely upon battles and action but heavily infusing the film with the daily realities focusing on the micro level of a closed society whom are highly dependent each to another. I would film it all geared from the rigid and merciless training of boys that molded them into the fearsome amoebae units of businesslike and rabidly feared, Spartan Men. Whose early training resulted in odds that an holdout at Thermopylae for any lenght of time, would even be possible, under the exsisting odds.

 

[Shawn_KE]

A proper Swamp Thing trilogy. Set deep in true horror.

 

[Quentin]

Actually, Hollywood is NOT making ANY zombie westerns. I know from deep, excruciatingly painful experience.

There IS an independent zombie western called "The Wretched" that MIGHT make it to a screen someday. But, I think it might suck. They have a lot of the right ideas going...but Chow Yun Fat?

There IS one person who can write 'weird westerns' as well as Joe Lansdale...

BTW, I would make a film called "Deadslinger". And, it would kick ass.

 

[George See]

The 3

 

[John Kilduff]

I am actually working on a screenplay right now, but I won't show my hand. Instead, I'll present you with a different scenario I had in mind:

"The California Project"

Summary: Taking a cue from "Aria", a group of directors of my choosing each film a short set in California and based around a retro song spanning anywhere from the 70s to the early 90s. The actors can't speak...Their actions are performed and based on the lyrics and rhythm of the songs.

Each director has 7 minutes to present their short.

The directors I would choose:

-Steven Spielberg
-Clint Eastwood
-Ridley Scott
-Kathryn Bigelow
-Adrian Lyne
-Martin Scorcese
-Walter Hill
-Jonathan Demme
-Richard Donner
-Tim Burton
-Robert Zemeckis
-Joe Dante
-Frank Oz
-John Carpenter
-Abel Ferrara
-Terry Gilliam
-Arthur Hiller
-Richard Benjamin
-Garry Marshall
-Alan Parker
-Mel Brooks
-Oliver Stone

Who would star in the shorts would be up to the various directors.

Sincerely,

John Kilduff...

It's called running the gamut.