Screenplays

The Snows of Kilimanjaro was a lavishly produced hit in 1952, starring Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner. Produced by Darryl Zanuck, it strayed immeasurably from Ernest Hemingway’s short story and the famous author was never able to bring himself to watch it during the course of his life. This screenplay is more true to the original story’s vision.

In this version, the protagonist is a writer who has lost touch with his once stellar talent. As he lies wounded on a hunting expedition in Africa he relives his years of adventure, love and warfare. Like so many of Hemingway’s works, Snows very much is autobiographical. The script weaves into the fabric additional material from his real life as well as other texts about his experiences in Africa and the colorful generation of bohemian expatriate artists and writers of 1920’s Paris. In summary, this adaptation has more content from Hemingway’s life and writings than any other movie ever made.

To Have and Have Not was produced by Howard Hawks in 1945 and won an Academy Award for Humphrey Bogart. It also first introduced the world to a nineteen year old Lauren Bacall in her first screen role and ignited one of Hollywood’s most fabled love affairs. Hawks took on the project as a wager with Hemingway that he could produce a hit from his least regarded novel.

The book’s story was originally set in 1937 during the Great Depression. This was altered in the film to 1944 when the depression was over and World War Two was the major social influence on the globe. Very little was left of the original tragedy of a Key West smuggler and a charter boat fisherman.

This version expands the original story much further into the nightlife of Havana, and the roots of organized crime and social unrest in Cuba. Torrid Latin jazz music, lust and memorable characters are vividly painted on the canvas of a larger yet more authentic treatment.

Little John is on its surface a basketball story. A smallish youth on the threshold of maturity begins to grow in more ways than one. He struggles on towards manhood and his first love with a brilliant woman whose flame burns brightly but cannot continue for long. Her life’s mission becomes the awakening of a mighty hero she sees within him.

Around them a cast of characters based on the Robin Hood saga help to move him towards his fate. A great university dynasty is set to collapse and a biological father John has never known is searching for meaning. The destiny of many rests on a spirit that is buried deep inside.

A medieval knight, with allegiance to none, who wanders seeking adventure and to prove his valor.

In the 1860’s a young intellectual must flee Oxford after a tragic duel and return to his family in Virginia only to find his roots torn by the Civil War. He is promoted to high rank by General Ulysses Grant on the battlefield when his innate talents as a marksman and leader help turn the tide of the conflict.

He tries to turn his back on his predestined abilities and travels across the American west during its early roaring adolescence. Coming to land’s end in San Francisco, his new life blossoms until fate extends her hand once again. He must face his birthright as a shootist and come to terms with old debts which must be paid.

He was a rock star and a writer of hit songs, but a failure as a husband to his dying wife and father to their only child. In life’s next chapter he rises as one of the top music producers on the planet. But there is a hole in his universe.

His daughter’s talent shines so bright she is carried to the skies at the same instant he realizes that he has lost her. She is invited to be a judge on the nation’s greatest talent show. Visited by the ghosts of his past he undergoes an epiphany and starts a journey of the heart to win her back. Blocked from contacting his daughter he enters her talent show at the ground level hoping for reunion. His fortune will be forfeited and his mortality looms, but he risks all to redeem the love of a family.

H. G. Wells novel of 1897 was groundbreaking in its day with themes of science vs religion and social Darwinism. A 1938 radio broadcast by Orson Welles caused panic in the streets as listeners thought the narration was a series of actual news bulletins. There have been at least seven films and several modern mini-series spawned by the original concept causing this tale to become ingrained as part of our cultural consciousness over several generations.

The initial encounter with the invaders from Mars is true to the historic works we know so well. But this is only the beginning, not the end. With so much story to tell, this work has fledged from a single feature length film to a six-part series.

The population of Earth and the material fabric of society has been devastated by the superior technology of the Martians before they succumb unexpectantly to our planet’s diseases. Yet, terror of a return of the invaders and the finish of the remains of our race grip the people greater than any other fear.

But how can a counter invasion force be mounted with our lack of technology? No human undertaking has ever approached the magnitude of what is needed. Our greatest mind must be summoned from the depths of his depression and inspired to action. But time is so short.

An epic expedition unfolds, greater than any other. Themes of religion vs science, our evolving relationship with artificial intelligence, the nature of human existence and the choice between heart and mind are explored throughout.