Theos-Talk Archives (April 2005 Message tt01151)

To all interested in making or seeing such a movie made...

(Answering Cass) What parts could they play in the society of HPB's time -- 
other than servants of one kind or another?  

That being as it was -- I see all our dark skinned friends, besides all that, 
also cast as adepts and chelas of the masters, as well as some of the masters 
themselves, as well as princes, kings and shamans of all the African, South 
Asian and Native American peoples HPB met and visited with on her extensive 
world travels.  

Besides -- since this production must rest on its story alone -- we expect 
the entire cast will be international, and it will not use any recognizable 
American or other internationally renowned actors for their box-office appeal.  

In fact, It's a UAP company policy (as it was in my Westworld Artists 
Productions in the 60's) to use "End Titles" only, and to credit list the entire 
preproduction, production and post production staffs and crews, as well as actors, 
directors, writers, producers, etc. -- in alphabetical order -- i.e., we have 
no "Stars" in any of our productions. Therefore, all recognized actors (if 
they are self chosen and play their parts right) will be personally 
"unrecognizable" on screen. The only recognizable "Star" character in thisbiographical 
film series that we currently have in mind will be HPB herself.  

BTW, "Hollywood Style" as I use the term, simply means having the "production 
quality" of a first class Hollywood film. It has no reference to the 
"box-office" values of any individual producer, director or actor -- since the 
production company is part of the non profit Uniworld Artisans Foundation and Guild 
-- and "box-office" returns are only of interest to the distributors and 
exhibitors. Therefore, any net profits made from the pictures by the production 
company after costs of labor and production distributed fairly, will be used to 
promote theosophical causes that are for the benefit of everyone.

Remember, we are planning the true esoteric story of HPB's life and 
adventures as a great adept -- mostly culled from her personal writings andreports in 
newspapers throughout the world, along with other records and eye witness 
information -- rather than relying solely on the glossed over or biased 
biographies and histories heretofore presented... Although there's plenty of grist for 
the mill in those sources. The nitty gritty story we envision will based on 
her personal life, and only teach theosophy metaphorically through the words and 
actions of HPB and all the wise and not so wise people she meets and 
interacts with along the way.  

It's a foregone conclusion that HPB was an extremely headstrong and 
adventurous character... Since, she couldn't avoid taking a shot at being awarrior 
with Garibaldi and getting blown off a horse in a big battle -- as well as flying 
off a mountain top in a Tibetan kite glider... And also, when she crossed the 
American continent -- walking across death valley alone and on foot while 
dodging rattlesnakes, scorpions and other dangerous or hungry critters -- (which 
can be done, since I did it in 1947 :-) -- and riding a horse and buggy over 
and through the single dirt road lane of the Cajun Pass in the Rocky Mountains 
with thousand foot cliffs on one side or another -- (which also can be done, 
since my Dad did it in his 1917 Ford fliver, following her entire path fromNYC 
to LA :-). I'm sure there are hundreds of other such adventures and exciting 
"barneys" in her life that could fit into enough stories to fill half a dozen 
pictures.  

Actually, all that, along with all the worldly and important people she met 
and agreed or fought with in science, technology, philosophy, religion and 
government throughout the world -- we wouldn't be surprised if HPB's entirelife 
story might take at least three, and maybe even six full length feature films 
to tell it properly. (BTW, we are not ruling out the possibility that this epic 
biog might be a TV mini series.) 

In a sense, HPB could be portrayed as some sort of "Superhero," and the story 
lines, starting from her childhood adventures as a born psychic, could be as 
interesting and exciting as was the Indiana Jones or the Luke Skywalker (Star 
Wars) series. Although, while not having all the techno and fictional stuff, 
there should be enough "magic" and psychic phenomena special effects to suit 
the most enthusiastic mystery, magic, or adventure film buff. In other words, 
for all you outlanders, it should be a corker of a story and a ripper yarn 
with enough barneys and interesting blokes to wake up the most jaded battle 
cruiser. :-)  

When its all done, the audience should walk out of the theater fully satiated 
and satisfied that they have learned something, still thinking about it, 
somewhat ego scratched, in love with HPB, and eager to find out what she wrote 
about that got everyone she met so tangled up with her one way or another. :-)  
If not -- then we didn't do the job right.  

So, since we've got some sort of cockamamie preproduction team building up 
around here, we might as well stop horsing around (although kibitzing is the 
best part of the game while your up to your neck in it :-) and get serious about 
finding a good story/screen play writer who, for openers, can, at least, give 
us the working basis for building the first of the series of "Hollywood style" 
films out of it.

Best wishes,

Leon Maurer
Uniworld Artists Productions 

In a message dated 04/18/05 8:45:51 PM, silva_cass@... writes:

>Imagine for a moment, Connolly and Williams (Robyn) in a barney! You need
>to start thinking about offering a role to our american-afro actors too.
> 
>Cass
>
>Iain <ibse03888@...> wrote:
>
>For some good fight scenes why not get some transcripts of the meetings
>when various sections left the original movement, nothing like skin and hair
>flying about, I doubt if you could get anything more violent. Nothing likea 
>good barney!!!
>cheers Iain
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "Mark Hamilton Jr." 
>To: 
>Sent: Monday, April 18, 2005 7:11 PM
>Subject: Re: Theos-World Re: Blavatsky Movie - Hollywood style
>>
>> Maybe you can add a few fight scenes. I would be willing to help the
>> cause. If not I make a good extra. :)
>>
>> I'm actually pulling a stunt similar to this; I'm developing a
>> computer game based on the Adepts and Theosophy. Suffice to say, it's
>> not a small task. I've already been working on it for almost 3 years
>> now and all I have is some pretty pictures of the game engine.
>>
>> -Mark H.
>>
>> On 4/18/05, leonmaurer@... wrote:
>>>
>>> Production note:
>>> Ok... That's good for starters. So, we'll consider Iain, possibly, as
>>> comedy director (HPB was funny, wasn't she?) -- Cass, maybe, as casting
>>> director -- and Mauri, speculatively, as story director. Now let's see 
them all  
>>> come up with some useful ideas that coordinate with each other. LM
>>>
>>> To: Iain, Cass and Mauri,
>>> I wasn't joking. I was just poking and maybe pulling your legs a bit to 
>>> see if there were any real filmmakers among us. But, if you want to keep
>>> on that way, that's Ok, too. BTW, since this is an American picture, we 
>>> don't use "aeroplanes." Besides, airplanes and Empire State type 
>>> buildings weren't invented yet.
>>> Leon
>>>
>>> In a message dated 04/17/05 6:13:47 PM, ibse03888@... 
>>> writes:
>> Ok need someone to climb the Empire States building they need to be
>> hairy.and good at swatting aeroplanes
>> cheers Iain
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Cass Silva" 
>> To: 
>> Sent: Sunday, April 17, 2005 11:36 AM
>> Subject: Re: Theos-World Re: Blavatsky Movie - Hollywood style
>> >
>> > No that Sean Penn and Michael Jacksons scene.
>> > Cass
>> >
>> > Iain wrote:
>> >
>> > Great! will they be up to the mud wrestling scenes?
>> > Iain
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: "Cass Silva"
>> > To:
>> > Sent: Sunday, April 17, 2005 11:16 AM
>> > Subject: Re: Theos-World Re: Blavatsky Movie - Hollywood style
>> >
>> >>
>> >> And as Mrs Colomb, Robyn Williams as Mrs Doubtfire?
>> >> Cass
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Iain wrote:
>> >>
>> >> OK I can live with that, how about Jim carrie for Mr Columb?
>> >> cheers Iain
>> >> ----- Original Message -----
>> >> From: "Cass Silva"
>> >> To:
>> >> Sent: Sunday, April 17, 2005 3:07 AM
>> >> Subject: Re: Theos-World Re: Blavatsky Movie - Hollywood style
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>>
>> >>> I have already given the role of Krishnamurti to Sean Penn!!!
>> >>> Cass
>> >>> But seriously, I think it is a great idea, not yours, Leon's.
>> >>>
>> >>> Iain wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>> dear Mauri for a successful movie dont confuse the issue with facts 
>> >>> we
>> >>> need
>> >>> blockbusters I think Tom Hanks for Col Olcott
>> >>> Arnie Scwartzeniger for K.H. Sly Stalone as M. Jodie Foster for AB, 
>> >>> Md
>> >>> Columb..Maddonna. Mr Columb Sean Penn. Cant wait that lenth of time 
>> >>> for
>> >>> M
>> >>> Jackson to play CWL any suggestions for a replacement? We need to 
>> >>> find
>> >>> some
>> >>> cheap tigers/lions for the fight scenes any contacts with zoos Etc
>> >>> anything
>> >>> thats half alive will do. Is Clarence that cross eyed lion still on 
>> >>> the
>> >>> go
>> >>> I
>> >>> liked that one when he was in Daktari in the 1960's. we also need an
>> >>> iceberg, the one from TITANIC should do that went down well!! Can we 
>> >>> get
>> >>> Shrek in for a couple of shots, keeps the kids interested.Need to do
>> >>> more
>> >>> work of the heavy bed scenes, Need to get the custume people to get
>> >>> acurate
>> >>> designs, can we get nylon flannels?Product Sponsors need their stuff
>> >>> promoted in the film, we need to find a way to get the Acme Digita
>> >>> Alarm
>> >>> Clocks in full view, also Gucci Computers ,We also need the Busby
>> >>> Berkley
>> >>> Girls for the dance sequence, we can pass that off as a dream 
>> >>> sequence.
>> >>> of
>> >>> course every thing is done IN THE BEST POSSIBLE TASTE!!!! Bring on 
>> >>> the
>> >>> empty
>> >>> horses.
>> >>> S Goldwyn ( cheers Iain)
>>
>> >>> ----- Original Message -----
>>
>> >>> From: "Mauri"
>>
>> >>> To:
>>
>> >>> Sent: Saturday, April 16, 2005 10:08 AM
>> >>> Subject: Re: Theos-World Re: Blavatsky Movie - Hollywood style
>> >>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Me too. So far have a tentative first
>> >>>> chapter for a novel that opens on a
>> >>>> mountain in Tibet. I've been thinking
>> >>>> in terms of creating dramatic
>> >>>> adventure/jsuspense fiction (with
>> >>>> visuals for a possible movie version)
>> >>>> interspersed with sprinklings of
>> >>>> historical fact. I figure that with
>> >>>> characters (out of real life, no less!)
>> >>>> like HPB, Masters, Olcott, Sinnet,
>> >>>> Coulombs, etc, how could such a book or
>> >>>> movie fail to be a blockbuster???
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Speculatively,
>> >>>> Mauri
>> >>>>
>> >>>> leonmaurer@... wrote:
>> >>>>
>> >>>>> We've been working on it since 1975, and Bates would be a good
>> >>>>> candidate for the lead role -- but have yet to find a suitable 
script 
>> >>>>> that would make a good movie for theatrical release, or even a 
>> >>>>> stage play suitable for Broadway.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> As for who would play Judge, Olcott, Besant Leadbeater, KH, M, etc. 
--
>> >>>>> that's all up for grabs depending on the story (and the budget) -- 
>> >>>>> which could be limited to any portion of HPB's adventurous life ora 
>> >>>>> full epic biographical approach. Problem is maintaining an 
underlying 
>> >>>>> pure theosophical philosophical basis that would "entertain," 
"teach" 
>> >>>>> subliminally or metaphorically, and awaken interest in theosophy -- 
>> >>>>> without an obvious New Age "message" that would trigger
>> >>>>> a religious or political backlash. For our professional interest, a
>> >>>>> suitable picture would have to have the same character and big screen
>> >>>>> impact as Star Wars, the Matrix, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, 
Master 
>> >>>>> and Commander, etc. -- so as to attract the largest audience 
possible.
>> >>>>> All ideas from story-line and development to preproduction financing 
>> >>>>> welcome.
>> >>>>>
>> >>>>> Leon H. Maurer,
>> >>>>> Exec Producer
>> >>>>> Uniworld Artists Productions

(Clip previous letter suggesting Bates as a dead ringer of HPB to play her in 
a film biog)