Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Wyz_sub10 · 09-12-2002, 09:44 AM

Sick of crap movies that butcher science? Here's some good news:

<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/artsCanada/stories/deniro120902" target="_blank">http://www.cbc.ca/artsCanada/stories/deniro120902</a>

Quote:

De Niro calls for science scripts
Last Updated 2002-09-12

The Arts Report

New York - Actor Robert De Niro is inviting screenwriters with an interest in science to send their scripts to his film production company.

De Niro's Tribeca Films and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation have teamed up to fund a program which will produce a film with a scientific or technological theme.

"What we're doing here is really looking for the next A Beautiful Mind, Memento or Good Will Hunting," said Doron Weber, program director of the Sloan Foundation.

Two winning writers will get financial assistance, along with help developing their scripts from filmmakers and scientists. At least one of the scripts will be read at De Niro's Tribeca Film Festival in 2003, and a film based on one of the screenplays will debut at the 2004 festival.

Despite the requirement of a science/technology theme, the contest is not open to science fiction.

The scripts must have a leading character that is a scientist, mathematician or engineer. Each submission should include a feature-length script, a short synopsis up to two pages, and the writer's resume.

To be considered, scripts must be received at Tribeca by Nov. 1. They can be mailed to Tribeca Film Institute, 375 Greenwich St., New York, NY 10013, Attention: Tribeca/Sloan Film Program.

For more arts news, listen to The Arts Report weekdays at 7:12 a.m., 8:12 a.m. and 5:55 p.m. on CBC Radio Two

Valentine Pontifex · 09-12-2002, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wyz_sub10:
<strong>Sick of crap movies that butcher science? Here's some good news:

<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/artsCanada/stories/deniro120902" target="_blank">http://www.cbc.ca/artsCanada/stories/deniro120902</a>

</strong>

Now lets hope they get some who not only knows science, but actually knows how to write!

Tom Sawyer · 09-16-2002, 12:13 PM

It's good to see that someone in a position to do something about the poor way that science and technology are portrayed in popular is taking steps to do something about it.

DeNiro really is a class act.

Copernic · 09-16-2002, 03:39 PM

This begs the question....
What scientist, engineer, mathematician, would you most like to see brought onto the big screen?

Matthew Broderick did a reasonable job w/ Steven Weinberg but I'd like to see another portrayal.

Thoughts?

Corwin · 09-16-2002, 03:57 PM

Well do they want a science movie? Or one about a scientist? The movies he mentions seem to be the latter... (focusing on issues like schizophrenia...)

In that vein... my vote would have to go with Dr. Alan Turing...

Copernic · 09-16-2002, 06:46 PM

Er... I meant Richard Feynman.
Although Weinberg wouldn't be bad.

Alan Turing would be great, especially focusing on his deciphering German encription during WWII. Did the recent movie "Enigma" have any depiction of Turing? I didn't see it.

His later work on neural nets, AI, and Biology was genious.

Unfortunately, his tragic ending may not make for a Hollywood blockbuster though.

Regards,
J

Nikolai · 09-17-2002, 08:31 AM

This is great, more of "A Beatiful Mind" and less of "Signs"

Lex Talionis · 09-19-2002, 05:18 AM

I agree with Turing's life making a good movie.

Another would be, imo at least, Nikolai Vavilov. Vavilov was the geneticist most associated with the resistance to Lysenkoism in Soviet science in the 1930s. His story is quite relevant to the modern USA; Vavilov was the scientist who stood up against Lysenko and his theories based upon communist idealogy instead of actual research and was imprisoned (and died in prison two years later) as the result.

Feather · 09-19-2002, 05:32 AM

I seeth whenever I see a movie that butchers my favorite science--Physics.

And almost all of them do.

Shadowy Man · 09-19-2002, 06:44 AM

Which movies *haven't* butchered physics? Not many!

[ September 19, 2002: Message edited by: Shadowy Man ]</p>

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09-16-2002, 12:13 PM	#3
Tom Sawyer Talk Freethought Staff Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Toronto, eh Posts: 42,293	It's good to see that someone in a position to do something about the poor way that science and technology are portrayed in popular is taking steps to do something about it. DeNiro really is a class act.

09-16-2002, 03:39 PM	#4
Copernic Regular Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: St. Louis, MO, USA Posts: 446	This begs the question.... What scientist, engineer, mathematician, would you most like to see brought onto the big screen? Matthew Broderick did a reasonable job w/ Steven Weinberg but I'd like to see another portrayal. Thoughts?

09-16-2002, 03:57 PM	#5
Corwin Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 4,369	Well do they want a science movie? Or one about a scientist? The movies he mentions seem to be the latter... (focusing on issues like schizophrenia...) In that vein... my vote would have to go with Dr. Alan Turing...

09-16-2002, 06:46 PM	#6
Copernic Regular Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: St. Louis, MO, USA Posts: 446	Er... I meant Richard Feynman. Although Weinberg wouldn't be bad. Alan Turing would be great, especially focusing on his deciphering German encription during WWII. Did the recent movie "Enigma" have any depiction of Turing? I didn't see it. His later work on neural nets, AI, and Biology was genious. Unfortunately, his tragic ending may not make for a Hollywood blockbuster though. Regards, J

09-17-2002, 08:31 AM	#7
Nikolai Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Richmond, Virginia Posts: 422	This is great, more of "A Beatiful Mind" and less of "Signs"

09-19-2002, 05:18 AM	#8
Lex Talionis Regular Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Indeterminate Posts: 447	I agree with Turing's life making a good movie. Another would be, imo at least, Nikolai Vavilov. Vavilov was the geneticist most associated with the resistance to Lysenkoism in Soviet science in the 1930s. His story is quite relevant to the modern USA; Vavilov was the scientist who stood up against Lysenko and his theories based upon communist idealogy instead of actual research and was imprisoned (and died in prison two years later) as the result.

09-19-2002, 05:32 AM	#9
Feather Veteran Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 1,827	I seeth whenever I see a movie that butchers my favorite science--Physics. And almost all of them do.

09-19-2002, 06:44 AM	#10
Shadowy Man Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: A Shadowy Planet Posts: 7,585	Which movies haven't butchered physics? Not many! [ September 19, 2002: Message edited by: Shadowy Man ]</p>

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