In Good Company

I recently signed an option agreement with a production company that plans to produce a low budget movie based on my novel “The Bridge.”  And I’m now thrilled to learn that I’m in good company. A low budget production of Ayn Rand’s book “Atlas Shrugged” is being released this month. It’s no coincidence that the movie version of her book is being released on tax day.

I’m not sure what constitutes a low budget modifier, but I’m thrilled that there’s any budget for my book. Poor Ayn passed away long ago, so the movie deal is of no consequence to her. The fact that both of our books are being made into a movie is where the similarity ends. Ayn was a world-class writer, whereas writing is something I do instead of playing golf. My books are fun to read, and Ayn’s books are scary.

For several years after publication of “Atlas Shrugged”, and as recently as 1991, a Library of Congress survey of The Book of the Month Club found that readers rated “Atlas” as the second most influential book in their lives, behind only the Bible. I doubt surveys will ever produce similar results for any of my books.

The notions put forth in “Atlas” were prescient. Keep in mind the book was published over fifty years ago. The central theme of the book deals with how politicians generally cause economic crises and then address the crises with programs that in turn cause more problems and the cascade goes on and on until the productive members of society become exasperated. The financially successful are saddled with regulation, and their success is re-distributed to the less successful.  In essence, failure is heralded, and success is penalized.

While reading the book, I was mindful of the banking fiasco caused ‘primarily’ by the community re-investment act. If you know a banker, ask them about the C.R.A. and the burden it places on banks. You’ll gain a new perspective on the financial debacle we’re presently digging out from under. And the list goes on.

“Atlas Shrugged.” Read the book before you see the movie. Oh, by the way, the movie is a trilogy. Once you see the book you’ll understand.