'Atlas Shrugged' Producers Intend to Complete Trilogy; CNN & MSNBC Reject Their Ads
Lately, there have been duelling stories in the entertainment press about the future of ”Atlas Shrugged.” With disappointing box office returns, the producers have been asked if they will go ahead and complete the franchise and in one interview we’re being told there will be no trilogy and in another we’re being told that there will. To clear the air, I reached out via email and “Atlas” producers John Aglialoro and Harmon Kaslow were both good enough to respond with exclusive quotes that should help to calm fears of “Atlas” fans everywhere.
Most surprising, though, was the revelation that CNN, CNBC, and MSNBC are refusing to broadcast 15-second “Atlas” spots. What’s that about?
“I’m going to get a picture of Roger Ebert and Peter Travers and the rest of them so I can wake up in the morning and be reminded what we’re up against,” Aglialoro wrote in an email. “They’re revitalizing me with their outrageousness.” Aglialoro then went on to state that he had been “misunderstood” when he said that the critical drubbing the film took “influenced him to abandon the second and third films in the Atlas Shrugged franchise.” He confirmed that he has ”no intention to go on strike.”
That should come as very good news to the many, many people who obviously enjoyed the film and found it to be something special. Personally, I’ve never seen such polarized reviews before. The critics savaged it and yet everyone who sent a revew into us loved it. The most interesting thing I’ve noticed is that no one was on-the-fence about the film. No one said, “Yeah, it was okay.” People either passionately embraced Part 1 or passionately didn’t. You don’t see a lot of movies like that. So, for those of you who loved it…
“Make no mistake, we want to make Part 2 and Part 3 and we’re committed to finding a way to make it work,” Aglialoro wrote. “There’s a temptation to make the movies expecting to lose money, to say to heck with the critics and invest another $10 million and hope to make some of it back. But to do so would betray Ayn Rand’s principles. This has to be a profitable venture. The challenge is in finding a way to overcome the critics and the rest of the establishment, who are united against us. The most frustrating thing is knowing that there are people who are missing out on an opportunity to enjoy the experience of Atlas Shrugged on the big screen either because of what critics have said or because they just don’t know it’s in theaters because they haven’t heard about it.”
The producers also told me they are “moving ahead with the theatrical release because demand is still high in several markets – [we have the] highest per-theatre gross of movies currently playing in Nashville and Atlanta. We are also continuing with the word of mouth campaign because, as expected, the mainstream media have largely either ignored or attacked it.”
The most interesting development, however, is that in their effort to expand television advertising, MSNBC, CNN and CNBC “have all rejected a 15-second ad for ‘editorial’ reasons [with] no further explanation provided.”
“This unforeseen censorship effectively puts the brakes on our follow-up marketing efforts where we were trying to reach millions of people unaware of the movie being in theaters now,” Kaslow wrote. “We are continuing with the theatrical release because we have great word of mouth and awareness for the movie increases daily.”
You can find “Atlas Shrugged” theatres here and request your local theatre make it available here.
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Comments
Atlas Shrugged
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Fri, 04/29/2011 - 10:49am.
Of course, even in a hotbed of conservatism such as Texas, the nearest showing is 225 miles away from me. I wonder why it's not a box office smash.
And my town's pop. 100,000
Atlas Shrugged
Submitted by mandrake on Fri, 04/29/2011 - 11:04am.
IMHO, it was never intended to be a movie. It was a book of philosophy. Any attempt to make it otherwise is going to fail.
Time to boycott advertisers of CNN, CNBC, MSNBC
Submitted by daveposh on Fri, 04/29/2011 - 11:32am.
Thanks for the information about CNN, CNBC and MSNBC (which I never watch). However, I may buy products that are advertised on those networks and I am ready to start a boycott of those advertisers! Stay tuned....
I saw it and was impressed
Submitted by auldsailor362 on Fri, 04/29/2011 - 12:47pm.
With how well they stuck to Rands book. It would be a hugh disappointment if the next two episodes are not made, but I notice today the theatres near me (15 miles) have both dropped it after only a very short run (2weeks), maybe this is due to the lousy reviews.
If all else fails take it to DVD direct, I certainly would buy the set.
Agreed....
Submitted by nonncom on Fri, 04/29/2011 - 3:24pm.
I'll bet cable or per view won't turn a cold shoulder to it.....all they care about is the return.....and isn't that what it's all about?....LOL....
Atlas Shrugged is exposing what the communist left has been
Submitted by Dave. on Fri, 04/29/2011 - 5:59pm.
...doing to America for the last 100 years, and they aren't happy about it.
Not even a little bit.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
part 2 and 3
Submitted by michiganruth on Sat, 04/30/2011 - 11:52am.
well, don't worry if they don't make the rest of Atlas Shrugged, the Movie. we'll be able to see Parts 2 and 3 played out in real life if Obama is reelected!
Look Long Term for True Profits
Submitted by gopcongress on Sun, 05/01/2011 - 5:09pm.
I'm not too convinced with the following argument:
"“There’s a temptation to make the movies expecting to lose money, to say to heck with the critics and invest another $10 million and hope to make some of it back. But to do so would betray Ayn Rand’s principles. This has to be a profitable venture. The challenge is in finding a way to overcome the critics and the rest of the establishment, who are united against us. ”
Obviously, the bottom line is important. But looking at the project in the long term, one can also say this is an investment in maintaining the type of society that Rand truly wanted, and in essence reject as mightily as one can the society that is currently represented by the Statist vision.
In addition, Rand wrote that it is ok to be selfish. So go ahead and be selfish: Make the movie regardless of profit or loss. Treat it not solely as an ROI stat, but as a complete capitalist transaction. Specifically, enjoyment! When you go buy an expensive car, even though a less expensive car may be just as good for what you need to do, then you are spending money "needlessly" in that way, even though you could afford it. The fact is that the enjoyment you get from driving a more expensive car is worth the extra cost to you. This is as Randian as one can get.
In the same token, you can make the movie despite the fact that every liberal from here to Timbuktu will call it the worst movie in the history of, well, history. Even if you spend more money, keep in mind you are doing it for YOURSELF, and NOT for society, NOT for the critics, and certainly NOT for the moochers. Bottom line: Not only are you NOT betr4aying Rand's principles, you are holding them to their HIGHEST REGARD.
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