Let's come up with secular movies ideas

[Sébastien Chikara]

Scientologists are busy in Hollywood and got a movie made recently, and apparently the kabballah lot are getting ready to follow their lead, not to mention Mel Gibson pimping fundamentalism with his latest movie.
To balance all this made up stuff I would like to hear movie ideas that would inform people about secularism and inspire them, either original fiction ideas or historical figures's lives that would need to be put up on the big screen etc

[clark]

One may already be in the works: Julia Sweeney's (http://www.juliasweeney.com) Letting Go of God.

http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/media/godsaidha1.jpg

Julia is a former Saturday Night Live cast member, best known for her androgynous Pat character. After SNL, she lost a brother to cancer and at the same time learned she had cancer, which she would beat. She made a monologue of this time in her life called God Said "Ha!". It was made into a movie by Miramax (co-produced by her friend Quentin Tarantino). The movie, which just came out on DVD, received extensive critical acclaim. Roger Ebert gave it three-and-one-half stars, comparing her to Benigni in Life is Beautiful in her reaction to tragedy with respectful humor. Ebert wrote, "This film has a dignity, an underlying taste, in the way it deals with subjects like cancer and dying. It doesn't simply use the subjects as an occasion for manipulative sentiment. At the end of the film, we feel we've been through a lot with Julia and Mike Sweeney and their family. We're sad, but we're smiling. I was thinking: Life's like that."

Letting Go of God is a similar monologue, but it deals with how Julia went from Catholicism to metaphysical naturalism, after a visit from a couple of Mormon missionaries, a lot of reading, a visit to the Galapagos Islands and a lot of reflection and cognition. Her intellectual journey was a slow, thoughtful and painful process, and a lot of us can relate to it. Her monologue destroys any negative stereotypes one has about atheists. Even the most fundamentalist or pious person couldn't help but like Julia and respect her. I've seen "working versions" of the monologue three times, most recently this weekend. It's uplifting, hilarious, emotionally moving and the essence of humanism. When she gave it at the James Randi "Amazing Meeting" in Las Vegas in January, even Randi himself teared up. Julia is the most inspirational atheist around today. If Letting Go of God gets any kind of acclaim and distribution that God Said "Ha!" did, the perception of nonbelievers in the US could improve.

My wife and I got to have lunch with Julia and a few others yesterday in Colorado Springs (at a Colorado "Country Buffet" immortalized in South Park as the restaurant of choice of the elderly, no less). Julia is an incredible lady.

THOUGHTfully Yours,
Clark

[Writer@Large]

Off the top of my head, a biography of Bertrand Russell or Robert Ingersoll might be interesting. I don't know how exciting their lives were, but it wouldn't be the first time Hollywood had made a historical movie with dramatic license. :D Or even a biography of MM O'Hair, so long as the filmmakers didn't cast her in the role of villain.

There was a book put out a couple years ago called Terrible Lizard (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0805067728/InternetInfidels/) that would be a good film. Its themes aren't atheistic, but rationalist and naturalistic, and subtle enough that it might not be decried. Richard Owen, powerful and religious, basically uses his position to ruin Gideon Mantell and crush any notion of dinosaurs that didn't jive with the Bible. Mantell actually has a shit life because of Owen, all because Mantell fights for the correct science. Owen comes off looking like a real shit in the book, Mantell like the sympathetic hero, and science both victim and victor. It might make for a great film.

--W@L

[AspenMama]

We need not look too hard for good stories. Here at II, we have this: Atheist Testimony (http://www.iidb.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=35947)

There is LadyShea's story. There is mine as well. And a few other women I know online who've been through some tremendous challenges over the last few years and relied on friends and family to get through rather than the supernatural.

It is the stories like these that people can relate to more than a movie designed specifically to promote secularism.

[Gawdawful]

Saved! (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332375/) is opening soon. Looks to be a funny look at Fundies. If the commentary at IMDB is any indication, the only complaint is from Christians complaining about how Christians are portrayed. I saw the previews at a theater where The Passion was playing. I wondered at the time if they showed this preview before that movie?


Warren the Okie

[Naruto]

We could do a biography of Jesus that quite clearly illustrates that he was a man. We could show him sinning left and right, and have a few interesting scenes between him and Mary Magdelene ;) Then, near the end of the movie, he gets crucified, and we show his tomb, 3 days later...with Jesus's rotting corpse inside. Then we flash forward to 5 months later, 10 years later, and 2000 years later, each time showing his remains...still there.

[graymouser]

We could do a biography of Jesus that quite clearly illustrates that he was a man. We could show him sinning left and right, and have a few interesting scenes between him and Mary Magdelene ;) Then, near the end of the movie, he gets crucified, and we show his tomb, 3 days later...with Jesus's rotting corpse inside. Then we flash forward to 5 months later, 10 years later, and 2000 years later, each time showing his remains...still there.
The stuff about the tomb aside, didja ever see Jesus Christ Superstar? It's pretty much an attempt at a rock version of a Historical Jesus story. The Norman Jewisson film has some very flawed parts, but a lot of really excellent scenes.

-Wayne

[Brother Daniel]

We could do a biography of Jesus....
Better yet, a film dramatizing Christian origins, set in the 1st century, with no Jesus in sight.

---

Paul: Uhh, Mark, that's a dangerous book you're writing.

Mark: Whaddya mean?

Paul: I grok the symbolism, man, but not everyone will. I can picture people many years from now (assuming that I'm wrong about the end of the world coming soon) mistaking your book for a real biography. You know, imagining that you really mean that Jesus was a man, in the same sense that we are.

Mark (laughing): Don't be silly. No one who cares about this kind of stuff would be that stupid.

Paul: Don't be so sure, man.

[Deacon Doubtmonger]

How about Calling Bernadette's Bluff directed by the Coen Brothers? They're the best for absurd black comedy.

[clark]

How about Calling Bernadette's Bluff directed by the Coen Brothers? They're the best for absurd black comedy.

And, it's set in Minnesota, so they can use all the accents from Fargo, doncha know :).

You're darn tootin'!

THOUGHTfully Yours,
Clark

[A. Uiet bhor]

The FOUNDATION trilogy by Issac Asimov would rock, written from an atheist perspective, and the sequence were they use religion as a weapon to defend science and learning is brilliant.

SMALL GODS by terry pratchett, amazing understanding of the flaws of religion.

Also DARWIN the movie, a kind of anti-passion, focusing on a real hero, complete with superior morals and no blood, plus a plot with educational material, and cool locations. Effects shots of the tree of life and the last 2 billion years would rule.

(I'm a broke film maker, would do it myself if I had the lolly) :D

[usartist]

To balance all this made up stuff I would like to hear movie ideas that would inform people about secularism and inspire them, either original fiction ideas or historical figures's lives that would need to be put up on the big screen etc
Sounds like proselytization, are you sure that's what you want to do?

[EverLastingGodStopper]

There is an "atheist movie" being made, called "Heart of the Beholder," and Darlene could use some financial support. I personally know atheists who have sent her money for this movie. www.beholder.com

-Janice

[Brion]

I'd like to see ''Moses, the Butcher''.

[capsaicin67]

There are these 2 cops, see, and they are forced to be partners----BUT MAN ARE THEY DIFFERENT! One's a fundy, and one's an atheist , and BOY THEY CAN BARELY STAND EACH OTHER! But they gotta solve this case, see, and gradually over time they grudgingly learn to appreciate one another's strengths in a series of zany events leading up to the capture of the bad guys.

And then there is the one about the atheist that goes to hell, but it's an action adventure and he/she decides to escape. Trained in the martial arts from childhood, the hero fights it's way back out thru many levels of hell culminating in a massive car chase and ultimately diving toward the camera, from the ferry, as a HUGE fireball follows. Satan is killed in the final fight scene. And here's the bombshell----in the final scene the atheist, about to repent---finds out that *there is no god*, all there was was Satan all along! Or something. Lots of action and lots of succubi and product placement. And stuff.

Actually, joking aside, I think that good humanistic, freethought media ventures are sorely needed. Probably the single most powerful leverage point in the culture.

[Space Chef]

I have a great idea for such a movie... and I'm not telling.

[Sébastien Chikara]

I would like to thank people who proposed ideas and references, keep em coming!



Sounds like proselytization, are you sure that's what you want to do?

Are you sure you know what you are saying?
Why would you assume making an atheist movie would equal converting people to a conception of atheism that would be like a religion... you don't make sense at all. Please come-up with atheist film ideas, that's what this thread is all about. To me, seing brillant atheist dialogs in a film would be top quality entertainment.

[Jayjay]

Why would you assume making an atheist movie would equal converting people to a conception of atheism that would be like a religion... you don't make sense at all. Please come-up with atheist film ideas, that's what this thread is all about. To me, seing brillant atheist dialogs in a film would be top quality entertainment.

In my opinion atheism alone is not interesting enough to be a topic of an entire movie. What I'd like to see is a bit more openly atheist characters in "normal" movies and tv dramas.

Here's my pitch for a Jesus movie:

It begins where Passion ends, with screaming and struggling Jesus being dragged to the cross where he dies an agonizing death. The disciples cry in the sidelines, sworn to make a difference of their leader's life... and they will. They smuggle the corpse out of the tomb, they rationalize that Jesus's spirit appeared to them in one form or the other (dreams, rumors, strangers they meet). Years pass, and more and more embellishments follow as the disciples try to reconcile messianic prophesies with Jesus life and elevate him to the status of the son of God, if not God himself. In the end, we see the idealism of the disciples transforms into a vile propaganda machinery ready to take over the world.

[EverLastingGodStopper]

I agree, JayJay, just seeing regular characters in regular movies who are atheists would be a great start.

[clark]

I agree, JayJay, just seeing regular characters in regular movies who are atheists would be a great start.

We have a few: Contact, Contender, Touching the Void, and Oh Brother Where Art Thou?, for example. We have some in TV, too (Malcolm in the Middle, Homicide, Dawson's Creek, That 70s Show, Becker and All in the Family from old). In most movies and TV shows, religion, or lack thereof, isn't ever an issue. I would like to see more atheistic characters.

THOUGHTfully Yours,
Clark

[RawData]

The FOUNDATION trilogy by Issac Asimov would rock, written from an atheist perspective, and the sequence were they use religion as a weapon to defend science and learning is brilliant.

SMALL GODS by terry pratchett, amazing understanding of the flaws of religion.

Also DARWIN the movie, a kind of anti-passion, focusing on a real hero, complete with superior morals and no blood, plus a plot with educational material, and cool locations. Effects shots of the tree of life and the last 2 billion years would rule.

(I'm a broke film maker, would do it myself if I had the lolly) :D
Seen Master and Commander? Kind of a Darwin like character in that one (the doctor). Pretty good flick too.

How about "Burning Library". About Hypatia and Alexandria (Killed by early Christians).

Oh, also from Terry Pratchett, Feet of Clay (about an Atheist made of clay in a world where the Gods are practically walking around with people).
Also the book by him and Gaiman, Small Gods. That would be a hoot.

RawData

[McGargoyle]

I would like a movie about the Battle of Worringen, in which the citizens of my hometown fought against their feudal lord and archbishop for independence.
Granted, this was only part of the bigger picture, but nonetheless...
Considering that this was the biggest battle in medieval history, this would even appeal to action fans.

[RawData]

Also the book by him and Gaiman, Small Gods. That would be a hoot.
RawData
Pardon my 'Duh!" moment there (repeating). That should have read "Good Omens"
D'oh!
RawData

[Zahir al~Dawud]

In my opinion atheism alone is not interesting enough to be a topic of an entire movie. What I'd like to see is a bit more openly atheist characters in "normal" movies and tv dramas.

Here's my pitch for a Jesus movie:

It begins where Passion ends, with screaming and struggling Jesus being dragged to the cross where he dies an agonizing death. The disciples cry in the sidelines, sworn to make a difference of their leader's life... and they will. They smuggle the corpse out of the tomb, they rationalize that Jesus's spirit appeared to them in one form or the other (dreams, rumors, strangers they meet). Years pass, and more and more embellishments follow as the disciples try to reconcile messianic prophesies with Jesus life and elevate him to the status of the son of God, if not God himself. In the end, we see the idealism of the disciples transforms into a vile propaganda machinery ready to take over the world.

Uh, huh. But how did the disciples get past all those Roman soldiers? Didn't Pilate install about 50 of them or something to prevent the exact thing? And aren't Roman soldiers known to NEVER retreat? (and I only know that because my step-dad's a military strategist).

[ElysianFields]

we could have this guy be born in a stable on Christmas, right next to JC. He could join an anti-Roman resistance movement, be mistaken for a prophet, and become a reluctant Messiah. We could even have some funny British guys like John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Terry Gilliam, and Michael Palin play in it. We could even use it as a vehicle for social and political commentary. It could be pretty funny!

Oh, wait -

http://imdb.com/title/tt0079470/

[MysteryProf]

I'd love to see a good movie about a PTA battle over creationism vs. evolution in schools. Heh heh. Or about a religious family dealing with somebody's deconversion.

In any of these films, though, I'd really want to see characters that viewers could relate to, regardless of religious persuasion. (As in, both the atheists and Christians wouldn't necessarily be bad people.) That way it would make viewers think about whether that atheist down the street is really an evil satan worshipper, without offending any fundies.

~MysteryProf

[never been there]

I'd love to see a good movie about a PTA battle over creationism vs. evolution in schools. Heh heh.

Wasn't that Inherit the Wind? But you're right, I'd love it if a major studio would bite off the making of an updated version of that, unlikely though it is.

A biopic of Dr. Henry Morgentaler would be a fierce movie - from religious young man to the Shoah to bitter survivor to Canada's lightning rod for abortion rights. Lots of good dramatic scene potential.

[Malachi151]

Here is a simple one:

Paine

Now showing: Paine the world's greatest revolutionary; his life, his times, his struggles.

Also, I'd love to see a modern movie about the life and times of Karl Marx.

(this isn't so much a secular movie idea, just one that I think would be cool)

I thought it would be cool havea movie about the resurection of Karl Marx and V.I. Lenin.

The trailer would be something like this:

Black screen, the sound of rumbling, a faint smoke begins to appear while the camera is shakeing.

Giant CGI lifelike images of Marx and Lenin begin to emerge from the smoke as they walk forward, and then a thunderclap and the camera stops shaking.

Marx and Lenin stand side by side with their arms crossed looking down powerfully on the people with a stern look.

Then both begin to crack a smile, they turn to look at each other, and then begin to laugh.

The screen goes red with silence, and the words: The Revolution Begins Again

Appear on the screen.

I can just imagine what would happen if that trailer ran in a movie theater :D

I'd also like to write a movie about the future of theocratic America, where Jesus is everywhere, and corporatations and churches have joined to become one and the same with every organizatin having a religous mouthpiece. "Worshi technology" has been integrated into everything, commercials all feature religious messgaes "Jesus loves the new GMC Hummer, the best SUV to drive when you want to get your precious sheep to the church in safety. Buy one today, Jesus loves you."

The top corporate and religious leaders are all atheists who live in palaces filled with naked womn and have orgys all day and use lots of drugs, homosexuality is rampant.

Meanwhile the citizens have their religious government theocracy, there is prayer in school, everyone has to affirm their beleif in God to get a job, and atheism has been abolished in public.

Fake elections are held with CGI candidates, and entire "virtual world" is created in the media, fake wars, fake history, fake news, evrything is fake, but all geared to reinforce Christian ideology, while the "men behind the curtian" are really all atheists.

[neo_mp5]

i think a michael moore style documentary would be good. but rather than being anti-gun or anti-gm, it'd be anti-god. the problem is you'd need michael moore to do it properly, because he has a way of getting people to make fools of themselves on camera. but mike's a catholic.

[Ego]

lol, yes, the Life of Brian should be mandatory viewing! ;)

how about a movie titled WWJD (I believe WWJD is some sort of yank christian thingy called "What Would Jesus Do") We'll need to hire Jackie Chan (Or John Cleese, but I don't think it would work as well) Get some script writers (Jackie Chan written movies are awful script wise - but the actual movie no matter how cheesy always seems quite good!) And we have a Martial Arts movie where Jackie Chan is visiting hillbilly land...erm...bible belt...and is on a mission to take down the corrupt and evil congregation of a church who all coincidentally know kung fu. Lots of legs and arms flying, Jackie Chan stunts and at for the end we have the evil kung fu pastor having his ass kicked in the church.

The movie itself would be titled: "What Would Jackie Do?"

But if that Idea doesn't sell, we could have Jackie Chan as a Roman Cop hot on the tails of group of grave robbers. Some lunatic has been executed for his crimes and the danger to society that he poses. The two guards are drugged by the kung fu fighting gang who promptly make off with the body. Jackie on their trail discovers that the gang are planning to try and ressurect their master. Jackie storms into the gang's HQ and seeing the rotting corpse held upright by ropes being carried away in a horse cart, kick ass to the other side of the building gets into a handy chariot then in an epic chase where the deranged followers sacrifice themselves to protect their masters body theytry and stop Jackie who jumps onto the horse cart, knocks the driver out and while battling the new leader of the gang the cart he knocks him over and jumps off as the cart, horse, corpse and evil leader go over a cliff and in true hollywood stlye the cart explodes destroying the corpse...but not the ideas...and the leader manages to surivive the crash... (And then we have a sequel!)

As you can see, this movie I doubt would work with John Cleese.

[MysteryProf]

Speaking of WWJD... I'd kill to have one of those bracelets, except one that says "WTFWJD." Hahaha!

~MysteryProf