Atlas Shrugged: The Making of a Movie, The Atlas Society | Ayn Rand, Objectivism, Atlas Shrugged

“Atlas Shrugged: The Making of a Movie” was an evening to remember. On December 7, 2010, at the historic Hudson Theatre in New York City, The Atlas Society sponsored a celebration and backstage look at “Atlas Shrugged, Part I,” John Aglialoro’s adaptation of Ayn Rand’s magnum opus.

The highlight of the evening was a ten-minute clip of the movie, including the first scene and select trailer snippets. ( See Walter Donway’s powerful, evocative description of the impact this film excerpt had.)

Aglialoro (an Atlas Society trustee) worked 18 years to find studios and stars for the project. But, with his movie option running out, he decided to produce the film himself (see “ Atlas Wraps "). Introducing the film clip, he described his successful struggle to bring Atlas to a movie-viewing audience. The film covers Part I of the novel, with the rest of the trilogy to follow over the next few years.

Aglialoro announced that the movie will hit the big screen on April 15, 2011—an appropriate day to remind us of the struggle between producers and looters!

Following the dramatic excerpt of the film, Aglialoro joined other members of his production team—fellow producer Harmon Kaslow; screenwriter Brian O'Toole, who also manages the movie's Facebook page; executive producer and second-unit director Mike Marvin; and post-production supervisor John Orland—in a panel discussion about the joys and challenges of the project. The panel was moderated by John Fund of the Wall Street Journal.

Also on the evening’s program:

Atlas Society executive director David Kelley outlined the narrative elements and essential themes he looked for as a consultant on the script.
Stephen Moore of the Wall Street Journal explained the genesis and extraordinary impact of his 2009 article “ Atlas Shrugged: From Fiction to Fact in 52 Years .”

Atlas Society chairman Jay Lapeyre gave a special Atlas Award for our chairman emeritus Frank Bond.

The Atlas Society thanks the Leadership Sponsors whose support made the evening possible: John Aglialoro and Joan Carter; Cliff and Laurel Asness; Frank and Shelda Bond; Scott and Leslie Jacobs; David Kelley; Jay and Sally Lapeyre; Ed Snider; Ashwin and Mari Vasan; and Fred and Sandra Young.