GerryShannon

Doing a presentation in a few days based around creativity, is it something one is born with or learnt? Just curious did Ayn Rand ever provide a direct quote on creativity, I'd love to include it if possible.

Funnily enough, I caught that Fountainhead rumour too when looking up information on W. From what I know of the book, it seems strangely appropriate Stone should want to tackle it. Who would he want to cast I wonder? Extended W. trailer:

Wow! Thank you very much, Barbara!

Missed your post. Thanks - glad to be here!

Personally, I think Stone is an astonishing filmmaker - as for JFK, I know it's a load of tosh, but it's probably my favourite film of his. (I would definitely recommend Vincent Bugliosi's Reclaiming History, a mammoth tone that backs up the lone gunman theory and tackles all the greatest conspiracy theories, Bugilosi has a particular distaste for Stone and statements he made around the time of JFK's release). I think it was put best when a critic once equated Stone's JFK to D.W. Griffith's silent epic The Birth of a Nation - both masterfully created cinematic works of their time, but both present serious (and particularly in Birth's case, quite horribly morally depraved) distortions of recorded fact. Even some popular conspiracy enthusiastis are embarassed by Jim Garrison's cock-eyed persual of Clay Shaw and the alleged 'conspiracy'. There's a truly great array of resources here related to the film: http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/jfkmovie.htm No way am I believing this will be anything of a truly definite take on Dubya and his legacy, (it looks more and more deliberately satirical), but it's a film most will be talking about - I look forward to checking it out.

Will do. Thanks very much.

Hey, that's cool to know! Similar to how Rowling gradually revealled various main characters' unknown fates following the very definite end of Harry Potter Book 7.

I actually much preferred Alan Moore's far superior graphic novel, which is a more satisfying exploration of it's anarchist themes - and it's depiction of the society there. (Though you really wouldn't have much time for that in a film). I'd definitely recommend it you liked the film, (or even didn't care for it - which I didn't). lol I remember that quote, actually haven't watched Braveheart in years!

And beyond the find book recommendations I'll check out as soon as I can, anyone point me to any good online Objectivist resources - particularly anything pertaining to specific writings of Rand herself? Even if it includes material from the two main organzations. The great abudance of it out there seems so overwhelming it's hard to know where to start exactly.

Having particularly got into this band over the summer - and read Atlas Shrugged for the first time - I've been particularly struck how this song from their second album evokes themes and ideas from Rand's magnum opus, particularly the overall concept of a society falling apart over it's altruism ("working for the Church") and the paralysing fear of a society in chaos, with no obvious solution to save it. I eventually managed to track down an online review that suggests this (though more about the album in general): Through Neon Bible, the band is seemingly sending a beacon to other reasonable people forced underground by the world's insanity. It's almost like a musical version of Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged. The song (but a fan-made video): The lyrics: The king's taken back the throne The useless seed is sown When they say they're cutting off the phone I'll tell 'em you're not home No place to hide You were fighting as a soldier on their side You're still a soldier in your mind Though nothing's on the line You say it's money that we need As if we're only mouths to feed I know no matter what you say There are some debts you'll never pay Working for the church While your family dies You take what they give you And you keep it inside Every spark of friendship and love Will die without a home Hear the soldier groan, "We'll go at it alone" I can taste the fear Gonna lift me up and take me out of here Don't wanna fight, don't wanna die Just wanna hear you cry Who's gonna throw the very first stone? Oh! Who's gonna reset the bone? Walking with your head in a sling Wanna hear the soldier sing Working for the Church While my family dies Your little baby sister's Gonna lose her mind Every spark of friendship and love Will die without a home Hear the soldier groan, "We'll go at it alone" I can taste your fear It's gonna lift you up and take you out of here And the bone shall never heal I care not if you kneel We can't find you now But they're gonna get their money back somehow And when you finally disappear We'll just say that you were never here Been working for the church While your life falls apart Singing hallelujah with the fear in your heart Every spark of friendship and love Will die without a home Hear the soldier groan, "We'll go at it alone" Hear the soldier groan, "We'll go at it alone" Information about the band: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcade_Fire

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uxgwLRrInw Probably the best-cut trailer I've seen all year. More obvious in this trailer that Stone is going for something of a dramedy approach. Has to be said, Richard Dreyfuss as Dick Cheney is simply an inspired bit of casting.

Selence - It truly is incredible to see people associated with the movement way back when in these parts, I'm sure you've some stories to tell. I'm glad to be here so far, and thanks very much for the welcome. Michael - Your work in numismatics sounds truly fascinating. Cheers for the bit on the Irish coins! ;) Sort of makes one realise something of a national identity is lost with the introduction of the Euro, (but of course the harp still remains on the Irish-Euro coins). Ah, the Irish film industry... To be fair, it's quite easy from the perspective of a student to judge the merits of the homegrown filmmakers - but I'm keeping my options open right now. In my fourth and final year of college, and have absoloutly no idea where it will take me... but determined to learn as much as I can. Nice post there from that other board, I'd be much interested in reading a genuine critical dissection of the structure of the plot and character set-up in AS. Is there such a guide available?

Wow, thanks for all the nice welcomes! galtgulch - Thanks for all those suggestions! Most definitely check the out as soon as I have the time. Chris - I'm based in Ireland. Funnily enough, I seem to be the last person my age that hasn't checked out Pineapple Express yet. There's nothing I haven't enjoyed to some degree from the Judd Apatow staple. I'm going to try and find that Atlas talk now, thanks for the recommendation! Michael - Thanks for the CeltX suggestion, I usually just format scripts to their proper specifications on Word. Final Draft is still that bit too much pricey right now! ;)

Greetings one and all, I'm a 21-year old film student (hoping to excel in screenwriting), and have very recently become deeply interested in Ayn Rand's writings and hope to read as much as I can. Something of a confession: The first thing that pointed me towards Objectivism was by way of my interest in comic books... particularly the work of artist Steve Ditko. I'd always been a fan of Ditko's work at Marvel Comics (such as with Spider-Man), and particularly after Jonathan Ross' documentary In Search of Steve Ditko, I was determined to track down some of Objectivist-slanted, independently produced work. I was particularly taken (and still am) with his Mr. A superhero-vigilante character. The stories often begin with Mr. A directly addressing the viewer at length in relation to a theme present in the story, and then this is explored throughout the story. Mr. A's true identity is that of Mr. Graine, a news reporter who is highly controversial and then dispenses justice to criminals he personally feels do not get their full, true punishment by the law. He dresses in a white suit and face mask, and often carries a gun. The stories then tend to end with Mr. A confronting the criminal in a meta-physical landscape that represents right and wrong. Of course, one of the character's phrases is "A is A." I'd recommend anyone here to pick up Blake Bell's recent The World of Steve Ditko coffee table hardback, that talks at considerable length, (at least how Blake percieves), the strong influence of Ditko's Objectivist beliefs on his work and career choices. If anyone knows of any study of Ditko's work within Objectivist-slanted literature, I'd greatly appreciate reading it. Naturally, this brings me to Atlas Shrugged, which I picked up and became very engrossed as I worked during the summer away from college. I truly loved Rand's cinematic imagination and deeply fascinating lead characters, and I was oddly disappointed the book ended at the point it did. I would have loved to have seen Galt & co. continute to rebuild the world in their image, and perhaps seen some seen some salvation for Eddie Willers. I don't think this takes away at all from the fact the book is an astonishing piece of literature, and it a testment to the power of the story and characters that I wanted to see more of them. The book remains very much in my thoughts, and I'm particularly stirred by some of Rand's ideas including the emphasis of how one must treasure their mind, the rejection of "mystic" religions as a framework for your life (something I've struggled with for a long time with a personal loss a number of years ago), the potential greatness of the individual, and I could go on and on. I hope to read The Fountainhead soon, having already picked up Anthem (which I've just finished) and We The Living. I've spent quite a while looking at the various Objectivist web resources (including that of the two main organizations), and reading about much of the movement itself, and I decided to settle in to checking out here - seems a cool place. As much as I note some positive things about them both, (I recognize Peikoff seems to be someting of a controversial figure in these parts, but I enjoy reading his notes in the books), I'm not particularly keen on joining either organization at this point - particularly the ARI - just hoping to find a more individualistic outlet to talk all things Rand and Objectivism. If that makes any kind of sense.