The "Make it Happen" Challenge.

John Boehner, leader of the house republicans and man with the tan, recently ranted, "Hell no you can't".

He obviously hasn't heard of "Make it Happen", the crowd-sourcing challenge to see if my big ideas can come to fruition thanks to the rich community of creatives, writers, artists, designers, inventors, scientists, architects, pharmacologists, techies, provocateurs, ethicists, military contractors, etc.

MIH Brief 005

OBJECTIVE:

Create a feature length film for cinema or TV about the recent health care reform saga.

The battle for health care reform may be over, but it's never too early to start mythologizing. A highly contentious, yet landmark policy initiative that will ultimately affect the social, economic and political fabric of America for years to come deserves to be retold like only the entertainment industry can.

There have been many successful movies made that have centered around major political events in recent years. HBO immediately comes to mind with "Recount",  their stellar recounting (couldn't resist) of the 2000 presidential election. Holly Hunter starred in "Roe Vs Wade", one of several movies made about the landmark abortion Supreme Court decision. And some time this year "The Crusaders", a major movie relating to another landmark Supreme Court case, Brown Vs Board of Education will be released.

A movie about the events of the past year would add to this rich genre.

THOUGHT STARTERS:

  -  Should this be a political thriller in the style of "All the President's Men"? After all the fight for health care had it all. Drama, intrigue and political chicanery of the most artful kind.

  -  Considering the cast of zany characters like Democratic Congressman Alan "Republicans want you to die" Grayson, Sarah Palin and her death panels and Michele "Internment Camps" Bachmann, perhaps this should be a black comedy, e.g. imagine a "bizzaro world" scene where Adolf Hitler is compared to Barack Obama.
  -  Casting will be very important. It may influence the success of the film. Who should play Obama? Will Smith is a good, if obvious choice. Maybe there is an opportunity here for some unconventional creative casting, e.g could an ourang-outang play Joe Wilson?
  - Try to find a fresh angle, e.g. what would David Lynch do?
  -  Should this movie be apolitical? Or should it come from a particular point of view, e.g. what would it look like if Sean Penn directed it. Or if Sean Hannity wrote it?
  -  Is there a role for fictional health care couple Harry and Louise, e.g. Harry is dying of AIDS and Louise is transformed from health care reform critic to activist.
  -  Jack Cassell is a urologist from Florida. He has a sign posted on his office door, "If you voted for Obama seek urologic care elsewhere. Changes to your health care begin right now, not in four years." Every good movie needs a bad guy. Could he be ours?
  -  Explore the idea of an interactive movie, where the user gets to chose between various scenarios. How would the movie end if the public option had been adopted? Or what if health care reform had been defeated.

MANDATORIES:

  -  Keith Olbermann must play himself.
  -  There will be no roles for Obama Girl or Jack Kevorkian.

  -  There must be a car chase scene, even if it's random.

  -  All health care insurance executives must have bushy eyebrows and thick southern accents.

Good luck and make it happen, people!