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ASP3: This is John Galt

Posted by sdesapio 11 years, 6 months ago to Entertainment
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Ideally, the actor playing John Galt in Atlas Shrugged Part 3 will appear to have jumped right off of the pages of Atlas Shrugged. However, in our quest to find the perfect John Galt, some tough choices may have to be made. That's where you come in.

If you had to choose, which would you consider the number one priority in casting John Galt?

A. As long as the actor looks and acts like John Galt, I don't care what his personal beliefs are.
B. The actor needs to possess a deep understanding of, and passion for, Ayn Rand's ideas first and foremost.

Leave your answer in the comments below.


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  • Posted by dougslay 11 years, 6 months ago
    I believe the actor needs to possess a deep understanding of, and passion for, Ayn Rand's ideas first and foremost. Normally this would not matter. However, I believe the message the Atlas Shrugged movies is communicating is so important, the actor playing John Galt is vital.
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  • Posted by marjacks 11 years, 6 months ago
    I would prefer option A. A well trained actor would study the parts and do their best to bring realism to the role.Earlier responses have been good, especially the suggestion of Gary Sinese or maybe Liam Neilsen. I do not believe that it is critical to possess a deep understanding of Ayn Rand. It is more important to understand the depth of the character being portrayed.
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  • Posted by supererogator 11 years, 6 months ago
    I believe that there need be at least an understanding and acceptance of Rand's system of believes,or the role will suffer, but the strong physique she often idolized should also be included. So, I go with C. A blend would work, but if the look and character feel can be achieved with a true Randian, then it will only be better.

    Thank you for asking.
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  • Posted by Amarsir 11 years, 6 months ago
    Would Ayn Rand want you to reject a mans work because of his beliefs? I don't think so. The only disqualification should be if someone is so anti-Objectivism that they tank the part.

    (Also, these questions leave me worried that there's a conflict in production, and that the fans are being asked to play jury without hearing both sides out. If there's genuine disagreement, I'd like the parties to make their own cases.)
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  • Posted by VBBob 11 years, 6 months ago
    Appearance: Rugged, handsome, conveys work ethic.

    Voice: Firm, purposeful, confident.

    Background: Intelligent (i.e., understands "Atlas Shrugged" and sees dangerous parallels with today) and dedicated to self-reliance. Proven actor.
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  • Posted by $ Maree 11 years, 6 months ago
    Who is Galt? He's someone we don't already know. Please don't make him soft. He doesn't need to be eye-candy. Viggo Mortensen as Argorn in LOTR was a dreadful disappointment to we women who love real men.
    It would be great if we outside the USA don't have to wait so looooong for the DVD next time.
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  • Posted by Rex_Little 11 years, 6 months ago
    To me, how Galt looks isn't as important as how he sounds--especially if The Speech is going to take up more than 5 minutes. I'd like him to have a rich voice, along the lines of James Earl Jones or John Rhys-Davies. Obviously neither of those particular actors would be right for the part, but surely there's an unknown out there who has the chops. If he turns out to be black (they seem more likely to have that sort of voice)--hey, why not?
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  • Posted by darren 11 years, 6 months ago
    >>>Please remember how foolish the actors were in The Fountainhead.

    The ACTORS weren't foolish; the DIALOGUE was.

    That's what happens when a novelist tries to write for the screen. Ayn Rand should never had done the adaptation of her own work.
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  • Posted by darren 11 years, 6 months ago
    >>>Ideally, the actor playing John Galt in Atlas Shrugged Part 3 will appear to have jumped right off of the pages of Atlas Shrugged.

    The first description of Galt in the novel was something like, "He had a face without fear, or pain, or guilt." Not much to go on in terms of concrete details that a camera can actually photograph.

    >>>However, in our quest to find the perfect John Galt, some tough choices may have to be made.

    The "tough choices" are called CASTING. Instead of crowd-sourcing for suggestions, can't Aglialoro and Kaslow hire a good casting director? Hollywood has many of them.

    >>>A. As long as the actor looks and acts like John Galt, I don't care what his personal beliefs are. B. The actor needs to possess a deep understanding of, and passion for, Ayn Rand's ideas first and foremost.

    You need to find someone who can ACT. You need to find someone who can DIRECT. You need to find someone who can WRITE a compellingly dramatic screenplay.

    The idea that the actor must himself be an Objectivist, or have the "sense of life" of one, is stupid and absurd.

    I can see by this very question that the Atlas Shrugged production team is continuing its fine tradition of doing everything in as unprofessional a way as possible.

    Among other things, the question tells me that the team hasn't a clue as to how to make Galt convincing and interesting on the screen, especially when it comes time for the Big Speech. The question itself makes me highly doubtful that the screenwriting is coming along as smoothly as some claim.
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    • Posted by overmanwarrior 11 years, 6 months ago
      I wouldn't be so sure. This little thread generated over 600 comments in a 24 hour period and more than that are lurking just reading what other people think. Hollywood is full of of people who can ACT, DIRECT and WRITE compelling drama. But they aren't exactly doing knock out business. Most of the big money is still coming from comic books. I don't think taping into a city of copy catters will get the job done.

      For an independent film, which is what this AS3 is, they have a lot of buzz interest, which is seen in these comments.
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      • Posted by C_S 11 years, 5 months ago
        Yes, I remember hearing (from objectivists) how much "buzz interest" there was for Part I. And it bombed. Same with Part II.
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