Last week someone asked why we should be interested in making a film about someone who died 83 years ago and moreover why we should donate – sponsor such a movie. Well I think there are five reasons:
First, history is important; even something that happened 100 years or even one day ago. It makes sure in learning the mistakes of the past we don’t make the same mistakes in the future.
Second, Lawrence was a fighter, an agitator in what he did. He was potentially assassinated by an establishment that was unready for the WW2 and that thought it could appease a dictator. Lawrence (with Churchill) aimed to be ready for war and ensure we won it with the smallest loss and by intelligence. Which we did! This was one of the earliest examples of state sponsored assassination, which in those days’ people would not have considered the authorities capable of.
Third, Lawrence fought with the Arabs in WW1 to ensure that Greater Arabia (Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Saudi, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon as it is now) would eventually be ruled by the Arabs. In the event at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919 at which Churchill and Lawrence were delegates working with the Arabs, Arabia was carved up against the wishes of the Arab Nations by the British, Americans and French. We see the results of those terrible decisions 100 years on still raging in the region.
Forth, it’s a damned good story! Lawrence was a 20th century hero – though he would disagree himself – and heroes should be held up as a mirror to us all.
Finally, a film is art. Art is what makes us human. It’s how we evolved as humans. Earth without art is just eh? Film is a wonderful art form in which we can lose ourselves and find ourselves at the same time.
A good film can be a great influencer. I remember being very young and seeing films like “Lawrence of Arabia”, “Cromwell”, “A Man for All Seasons”, films that had a great influence on me and the way I thought. If this film were to influence just one person to make the change they want to see in the world then all the time, hard work, 8 years of writing and all those goes with it will have been worth it.
Making a film is an enormous mountain to climb and at base camp and on the ascent you meet those saying, “it can’t be done”, “I wouldn’t even try”, “don’t bother” - dowsing the fire of desire and creativity with cold words. I’m also a firm believer that persons who say, “it cannot be done” should not interrupt the person who is doing it!
Lawrence wrote “All men dream. Some by night in the dusty recesses of their minds awaking in the morning to find it was just vanity. But the dreamers of the day are dangerous men for they make their dreams real. This I Did.” As powerful an affirmation as anyone would be make. I’m hoping with the cast and crew we’re building we will make one dream of the day real.
Thanks for your support!
