C. W. Johnson, Jr.

That Should Be A Movie: Destiney of the Republic by Candice Millard

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Thursday, July 28, 2022

The train ride to Elberon, New Jersey was peaceful. All the engineers and conductors in the region switched off their engines and waited for the president to pass so that no sound of bell or whistle would disturb him. Along the train tracks thousands of ordinary men and women stood in silent respect. When the train reached Elberon it continued on 3,200 feet of track laid by two thousand people the night before so the president could be taken to the door of where he was staying, Franklyn Cottage. However, the train could not reach the cottage due to its steep hilltop location.
A crowd had been waiting all day for the president’s arrival. As soon as the problem became apparent, two hundred men ran forward. They grabbed ahold of the train cars and silently rolled them up the hill.

Curt Iles Louisiana

That Should Be A Movie: As The Crow Flies by Curt Iles

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Monday, July 11, 2022

A teenage girl fleeing her criminal past finds love and redemption in the Outlaw Strip of western Louisiana.
Now that should be a movie
Short Pitch.
It’s called As The Crow Flies.
It is a western romance.
In the vein of Redeeming Love.
It is like Tom Sawyer meets Anne of Green Gables.
It follows a book loving petty thief Missouri Cotton.
And teenage Redbone country boy Daniel Moore.
As they eke out a living and search for love and redemption in the No Man’s Land of Western Louisiana.
Problems arise when tensions between whites and the Redbone people turn violent and some of Daniel’s relatives think Missouri is not a good fit for him.
Together they will prove that no matter how wretched someone’s past or family background, love and redemption are stronger.
The idea came to I saw that Curt Iles had just published a new book. Having read and written blogposts about his other books and even grown personally from the messages in Iles’ books, I immediately thought “that oughta be a movie.”
My unique approach would be how the messages of the sophisticated novels like Les Misérables that Missouri likes to read share much in common with the unassuming back wood folk of western Louisiana.
A set piece would be at a bonfire on May Day. All the boys and men are jumping over the fire. Missouri has just learned that all the letters that she had written Daniel had been hidden from him by a family member. She has now realized her sadness and anger toward him were misplaced. Before anyone can stop her, she runs and jumps over the fire. “Feet don’t fail me now,” she yells as the flames leap up and singe her dress. As she comes down for a landing on the other side of the fire, she falls right into the arms of Daniel. “Girl, you are some kind of crazy,” he says. All is forgiven.
Target audiences would be men and women, 30 to 80 years old, fans of westerns and period romances, faith-based viewers, and Louisianans.
People would want to see it due to the themes of love, redemption and grace as well as its western and period piece settings.

Islam War on Terror

That Should Be A Movie: The Yazidis at Sinjar

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Monday, July 4, 2022

An evil not seen since the Nazis is carrying out a medieval genocide in the Middle East until modern technology and American representative democracy comes to the rescue.
Now That Should Be A Movie
Short Pitch
It is called Sinjar.
It is a survival drama.
In the vein of Defiance.
It is like 13 Hours meets Dunkirk.
It follows poor Yazidi widow Alifa Murad living in Iraq
And young professional reporter Dakhil Shammo living in America.
As they try to survive and alert the world of the genocide being carried out against the Yazidi by ISIS.
Problems arise when the Yazidi people are trapped on Mount Sinjar without food and water and the world does not seem to pay any attention to the unfolding crime against humanity.
Together they will survive and work with government agencies until the American military and its allies come to the rescue.
The idea came to me when I was thinking about great moments of humanitarianism in American history and vaguely remembered something about a rescue in northern Iraq in 2014.
My unique approach would be the juxtaposition and cognitive dissonance of representative democracy and comfort and security in America and Europe as modern forms of communication alert people to the medieval holocaust unfolding against the Yazidis in the harsh environment of Mount Sinjar.

World War II

That Should Be A Movie: The Battle for Castle Itter

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Monday, June 20, 2022

A set piece would be when Lee’s Sherman Tank is hit by enemy artillery. In the ensuing explosion, Americans survive by jumping into the ravine surrounding the castle. Inside the castle, A German mother throws herself over her children and is wounded by flying mortar and stones. The older, aristocratic French gentlemen who have been standing around in the courtyard are galvanized in action by the sacrificial actions of the German mother. They grab rifles and machine guns and join the Americans and Germans on the castle walls to fight off the SS.

American Civil War Courtroom Dramas

That Should Be A Movie: Incident At Otterville Station

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Monday, June 13, 2022

Short Pitch
It’s called Incident At Otterville Station.
It’s a Legal Drama.
In the vein of A Few Good Men.
It is like Rules of Engagement meets The Trial of the Chicago 7.
It follows idealist Union soldier Francis Merchant.
And strong slave husband John.
As they attempt to keep a slave owner from selling John’s family during the Civil War.
Problems arise when Union commanders charge Francis Merchant and his fellow soldiers with mutiny for freeing John’s family.
Together they will become the focus of internal political debates in both the Union government and the army command.
The idea came to me when reading the description of John Christgau’s book Otterville Station: A Civil War Story of Slavery and Rescue on Amazon.
My unique approach would be the nuanced experience of Union soldiers juxtaposition with the ambiguous goals of the Union high command and political leaders regarding slavery.
A set piece would be when the Union soldiers who freed the slaves are marched through Jefferson City like common deserters as Lincoln takes the stage in Gettysburg. As they are imprisoned in the basement of an abandoned hotel, Lincoln claims that the United States was conceived in liberty. As the soldiers are put on half rations, Lincoln declares that all men are created equal. As the soldiers convey to each other their feelings of betrayal by their officers, Lincoln declares that a “government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
Target audiences would be history buffs and men and women aged twenty-five through sixty-five.
People would turn out to see the film due to the universal themes of nuanced history, ambiguous political intrigue, and common soldiers fighting the system.

Courtroom Dramas

That Should Be A Movie: The United Sates vs. The Spirit of ’76

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Tuesday, June 7, 2022

Short Pitch
It is called Robert Goldstein and The Spirit of ’76.
It’s a Courtroom Drama.
In the vein of Trumbo.
It is like The Post meets The Artist.
It follows an aspiring producer named Robert Goldstein.
And a young actress named Jane Novak.
As they make a patriotic epic during the silent area of Hollywood.
Problems arise when America enters World War I and the film is accused of being treasonous and a violation of the Espionage Act of 1917.
Together they will remain friends as Robert weathers prosecution and imprisonment by the American government.
The idea came to me when I read blurb in a history book while preparing for a test and thought about the similarities of the Espionage Act and other hysteria during The Great War and that of The Patriot Act and other US government actions after the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks.
My unique approach would be the juxtaposition of the idyllic dreamworld of early Hollywood against the harsh realities of big government and a hysterical public mindset during war time.

African American History War on Terror

That Should Be A Movie: Into The Fire by Dakota Meyer

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Monday, May 30, 2022

Short Pitch
It’s called Into The Fire.
It is in the vein of Lone Survivor.
It is like Eye In The Sky meets 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi.
It follows a young grunt eager to see combat named Corporal Dakota Meyer.
And professional veteran advisor Captain William Swenson.
As they battle to win hearts and minds and save their comrades as they battle the Taliban in the mountains of Afghanistan.
Problems arise when local villages began taking sides with the Taliban and high command refuse to give Meyer and Swenson the reinforcements and artillery support needed when they are trapped in a valley of crossfire.
Together they will defy their commanders and drive the Taliban from the valley.

African American History Hurricane Katrina Louisiana Saints

That Should Be A Movie: From Bags to Riches, Part 2

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Sunday, February 13, 2022

There is so much potential for a movie about the Saints’ Super Bowl Victory. It is a Cinderella story of underdogs. It is the comeback story of a great American city. It is a story of healing. It is a triumphant story of overcoming divisions. It is a story of the power of faith, belief, hope and community. Universal themes that transcend cultural and national barriers.

Hurricane Katrina Louisiana Saints

That Should Be A Movie: From Bags to Riches, Part 1

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Saturday, February 12, 2022

The excitement was so palpable that when the crowd erupted in cheers after Curtis Deloatch scooped up the ball for a touchdown, that he made a beeline for the goal post. Spiking the ball over the bar with a one-handed reverse dunk, he nearly hit his helmet on the cross bar, 10 feet from the ground. “I was going crazy,” he later told reporters. “You could feel the dome just rocking. We must have celebrated for 20 minutes” The referees did not throw any flags. Strangers hugged each other. Fans tumbled over seats and spilled out into the aisles. The celebration continued out into the street and through the night.

African American History Hurricane Katrina Louisiana Saints

That Should Be A Movie: Home Team by Sean Payton

By C. W. Johnson, Jr. on Saturday, January 29, 2022

The story of the Saints and Super Bowl 44 has many great elements that would make a great movie. It is combination of underdog, comeback, and Cinderella stories. It is a story of hope and inspiration, of rebuilding and rebirth in the face of devastation, themes that resonate with people across the world and time. It is a story of racial and economic healing as people unite in their common goal to overcome adversity The language of film offers many apropos montages of New Orleanians and the Golf Coast Who Dats cleaning up and rebuilding intercut with the Saints training to become a better team and winning victories on the field.