TESLA
Highlights


FULL TITLE:
TESLA - The Poet of Electricity


LOGLINE:
He electrified a world that was not yet ready for his brilliance.


PRODUCER:
James R. Jaeger II
Matrixx Productions


WRITER:
John Shorewood


STORY SYNOPSIS:
Please email Carol Snyder at contact@mecfilms.com.


SCREENPLAY:
When one considers Tesla lived for 86 years, it's easy to see how a screenplay could be lengthy and the question of what parts of his incredible life should be left out, difficult. To resolve this problem, the screenplay comes in two versions: the short version and the extended-length version. The short version may seem more acceptable upon first glance, but the extended-length version may be what millions of worldwide fans would rather see. To read a 30-page excerpt from the screenplay click here.


PROJECT HISTORY:
TESLA - The Poet of Electricity has been in development since 1986. After many years of research and endless re-writes of the story assembled from original sources, we believe this is the most accurate and compelling version of Nikola Tesla's incredible life ever created. Over the years, a number of screenplays have been written on this subject, mostly by fans or enthusiasts that failed to understand the true importance of Tesla to modern civilization or his relationships. Accordingly, no movies have made it to the U.S. screen to date. On the other hand, several documentaries have made it to U.S. TV, but the last person to tackle this subject as narrative drama for the screen was the late Orson Wells in THE SECRET OF NIKOLA TESLA. Unfortunately, Orson's version never made it to screens in the United States, possibly because it failed to address the most interesting periods of Tesla's life -- or perhaps the still ubiquitous Edison/Morgan powers stopped it.


PACKAGING METHODOLOGY:
Since today Tesla is relatively unknown, this part may best be played by a relatively unknown actor. This could be a talented TV actor looking to work in features or a non-U.S. actor not (yet) familiar to American audiences.

This a younger J.P. Morgan, who later made Tesla an offer he probably should not have refused. Click on photo to enlarge. Because this is a bio-picture, we feel it needs a strong director, but most importantly, a director that is sincerely interested in Tesla and understands his circumstances.

This a 28 year old Nikola Tesla at start of the picture. Click on photo to enlarge. Unlike the part of Tesla, the cast is anticipated to be comprised of supporting roles which will require about one to twelve days each, therefore, so-called name talents are welcome if they can schedule time between other shoots. Many of the parts in TESLA are known or influential people of the time. Some of these parts are: Mark Twain, Sarah Bernhardt, Thomas Edison, J.P. Morgan, George Westinghouse, Marguerite Merington and Rudyard Kipling.

This Ava Astor, wife of John Jacob Astor IV, the wealthiest man in New York. Click on photo to enlarge. The only major supporting role we will finalize after the part of Tesla is cast is the part of Marguerite Merrington. Because Marguerite was the only woman Tesla really had feelings for, we feel this part can't be cast until after it's known what talent will play the part of Tesla, otherwise there may be inappropriate on-screen chemistry.









MARKET CONSIDERATIONS::
No one knows what the market for a motion picture will ultimately be, but one can make some educated guesses. Indulge us.

We believe the potential market for a Tesla project is $312 million over 18 -24 months. Our reasoning for this figure is as follows: Starting with a domestic U.S. population of about 300 million, we feel it's reasonable to estimate that at least 50 million people are involved with a creative endeavor. By this we mean they are an artist, inventor, filmmaker, writer or even an entrepreneur or investor trying to get some new or creative venture off the ground. Of these 50 million people, we estimate that at least 99% of them are frustrated -- frustrated artists, frustrated inventors, frustrated filmmakers, frustrated scientists, frustrated writers and frustrated entrepreneurs, even potentially frustrated alternative energy investors. And it's easy to deduce this because less than 1% of people get their art, writing or scientific papers published, or their films made, inventions brought to fruition or their "BIG IDEA" for a new company financed. Thus 99% of 50 million people in the U.S. could be categorized as frustrated artists, inventors, filmmakers, scientists, writers entrepreneurs or investors. This amounts to about 49 million people that are as frustrated as Tesla was frustrated towards the end of his life.

So, let's say you COULD sell an $8 movie ticket to all 49 million of these people, but to be conservative, let's say you only sell an $8 ticket to half of them ... no, let's make that 20% of them. That's still 9,800,000 ticket sales generating a gross box office of $78,400,000 (8 x 9,800,000). This revenue now doubles for foreign theatrical because many in the foreign markets will be familiar with Tesla as he was from Serbia and Marconi was Italian. Thus the gross revenue is now $156,000,000. When you add in homevideo, you can double this figure again, bringing total gross revenue to at least $312 million over 18 to 24 months. None of this takes into account cable TV, network free TV, pay-per-view, video-on-demand, syndication or second run Pay TV which could easily bring the total to over $600 million after a 10-year run.

The second point is this: the Tesla market is probably inelastic. The subject of Tesla has a built-in audience, similar to the STAR TREK, ALIEN and BOND franchises but is not as element-sensitive as other pictures. In other words, Tesla fans, and scientists interested in Tesla, will pay to see a Tesla movie no matter WHAT the screenplay is: "good" or "bad" -- and the longer the movie, the better, as they can't get enough of this man. They will pay to see a Tesla picture regardless of whether the plot was well executed or even if their is NO plot at all. Look at all the documentaries that have already been made on Tesla. Further, Tesla fans will go to a "Tesla movie" regardless of WHO acts in it or whether they do a "good" or "bad" job; they will also go regardless of production values. Thus, most conventional methods of "evaluating" a "screenplay" or "package" are to a great degree irrelevant when considering a Tesla project. We believe that a certain number of people, numbered in the tens of millions at least, will pay to see a Tesla movie no matter what. The only question is whether such number is 8 figures or 9 figures and how long it will take those revenues to be generated.

Lastly, Tesla fans will go to more than one Tesla movie if more than one is made, just like "Mars Freaks" went to see RED PLANET (with Val Kilmer in 2000) and MISSION TO MARS (directed by Brian DiPalma in 2000) and GHOSTS OF MARS (directed by John Carpenter in 2001). A Tesla movie will address many market segments, not only "Tesla fans," and "scientists" but it will address "science fiction buffs," "conspiracy theorists" and "anti-Establishment activists" in general, not to mention "occult worshipers" and "free energy freaks." And all of these "markets" will pay to see more than one, possibly more than three, Tesla pictures -- ESPECIALLY if one is positioned as the "Establishment's version of reality" and the others are positioned as "Tesla's version of reality."

So, all things considered, we believe TESLA - The Poet of Electricity could easily be a tent-pole production exploiting many markets and market segments, not to mention a "cult classic" when released on DVD.


WHY TESLA MUST BE MADE:
A film about a brilliant electrician who invented, not only alternating current, but florescent lighting, radar, the bladeless turbine, laser and radio, would be boring. Even a film about a mad scientist or another conspiracy theory is old. In TESLA - The Poet of Electricity, we tried to fully understand who Tesla was and what motivated his quirky ways. We sought to understand his love-life and the women who pursued him. Most of all, we sought to understand why he rose so high and was ultimately turned into almost a non-person by the powers that be. Here are some specific reasons why TESLA must be made.

This a younger J.P. Morgan, who later made Tesla an offer he probably should not have refused. This one of the places Tesla hung out with his wealthy New York friends. Visual Setting - New York City at the turn of the century, "the age of innocence," has to be one of the most moving and cinematic settings possible. The horse-drawn carriages, the busy streets, muddy ditches, sweatshops and labs; the elegant and stately attire of high society; the posh restaurants, hotels and mansions where Tesla occasioned; the twisted maze of dangerous electrical wiring strung all over the city by twenty competing, incompatible electric companies.





This George Westinghouse, the industrialist who gave Tesla his first real break. Dramatic Characters - Do you get more dramatic characters? Tesla, a handsome, eccentric Serbian genius who, though not gay, thwarts the passion of endless women literally throwing themselves at him.

This Mark Twain, one of Tesla's many interesting and talented friends.


Mark Twain, Tesla's best friend, stays up all night in the lab drinking and joking around with his "mad scientist" buddy. The famous actress, Sarah Bernhardt, who flirts with Tesla while he's hard at work. J.P. Morgan, thought to be the richest man alive, whose mere word on Wall Street can make or break any man.


This Sarah Bernhardt, the talented actress who admired Tesla greatly, as he admired her. Anne Morgan, J.P.'s beloved daughter who adored Nikola Tesla only to be amongst those thwarted by the "genius." Thomas Edison, America's greatest inventor, complete with his quirks and flaws, was ultimately so intimidated by Tesla's genius, he allowed himself to participate in some drastic measures.



This a Marconi, a strong and talented competitor with Tesla in the development of radio. Ava Astor, John Astor's sexy, cheating wife doesn't get very far with Tesla either. Stanford White, built the new wing on the White House as well as Tesla's new lab -- but couldn't keep his hands off married women between projects. Sara Dodge, rich and beautiful beyond belief, but did Tesla even notice? Benjamin Harrison, President of the United States, but, as a bachelor, made time to party with Tesla and Twain.

This Katherine Johnson, a true friend of Tesla and one of his many female admirers. Heavy Conflict - TESLA is a picture that contains heavy conflict -- about as heavy as it gets in the business, social and creative worlds. The conflict between the large corporation vs. the lone inventor; the conflict between marriage and bachelorhood; the contest between AC and DC; the conflict between love and career dedication; between making money and giving to society. In our version of this story, Nikola Tesla is the protagonist whereas Thomas Edison and J.P. Morgan are the major antagonists. Recognizing the great accomplishments of both Edison and Morgan, we have made every effort to avoid disparaging these two American icons by showing that they acted like anyone in their position would have acted. Edison and Morgan were as much victims of the competitive industrial machine of their time as was Tesla. But, because most of us know only of the conflicts told from the mainstream victors' points of view, we felt it was time to take a chance and tell this story from the point of view of the lone inventor, Nikola Tesla.



This Topsy, one of the casualties in the War of the Currents. This the TESLA COIL invented by who else but Nikola Tesla. This one of Tesla's labs where he conducted his important experiments. Rich in Special Fxs - Modern digital technology makes it possible to produce this picture in a way Orson Wells would be proud: 135-foot sparks flying from Tesla's high frequency coils; Wardenclyffe Tower receiving bolts of lightning from the stratosphere; static electricity pervading and gapping every metal object in town; ball lightning floating around and exploding; buildings and entire city blocks vibrating from standing waves; a 12-megaton blast in the Tunguska forest.



This one of Tesla's labs where he conducted his important experiments.


Important Story - The story of Nikola Tesla transcends the American Dream. A poor immigrant rising to the top of his profession, Tesla gains massive fame and fortune, is endlessly on the cover of prestigious magazines, and is worshiped by his peers in the engineering and scientific establishment. So important are Tesla's inventions, industrialized civilization would not have been possible without him. Tesla's invention of the polyphase generator and AC alone made possible the long-range transmission of electrical power without which New York City would not exist as we know it today. Further, because of the ability to transmit electricity long distances, the aluminum industry was made possible, thus opening the door to aviation. But today, the general public is not aware of any of this. What happened?







This is the tower for Tesla's WORLD SYSTEM of communications and the transmission of wireless electricity. Inspiration for Future Generations - In a time when many nations are in need of energy independence and greater, clean sources of energy, we would like to remember and pay due respect to Tesla, the poet of electricity. A dreamer and loner, Nikola Tesla dared to buck the system and go after new sources of energy, no matter what the cost to his personal life. As such he was a tragic figure who could emerge as an inspiration to a new generation of inventors and creative thinkers -- if only they knew more about him.

These are the first AC generators based upon Tesla's patents. Wide Audience Appeal - The above cinematic elements will combine to make TESLA - The Poet of Electricity visually exciting, tragic, and potentially a best picture with wide international audience appeal. To millions of scientists around the world, Tesla is not only remembered, he's a serious, bone fide engineer. Like Watt, Volta, Ampere and Newton, Tesla had a unit of scientific measurement named after him -- an honor less than ten men in history have shared. But Tesla also has an inestimable audience of fans, many of which worship him as an almost occult figure. In this screenplay, we have done our best to satisfy both audiences, yet remain true to who Tesla was.


TESLA - The Poet of Electricity distinguishes itself as a motion picture because it emphasizes the element of unrequited romance in Tesla's life as well as the dynamics of the little-understood power relationships that influenced, and eventually crashed, his career. But more importantly, Nikola Tesla represents the creative genius in all of us and the hope that the future can be brighter than anyone can imagine, especially if we are courageous enough to explore new possibilities and work together as a world.





As of February 2009, we have taken this project to three major studios all of which have reviewed the screenplay and recommended it for production pending the official attachment of a suitable name director. We have also taken this project to a number of name directors who have reviewed the screenplay and indicated their interest in participating in this project when it is set up at a studio. Three name acting talents are unofficially attached. A preliminary budget is available. If you represent a suitable director, studio or major production company that may be interested in this project, please contact James Jaeger or Carol Snyder at 310/499-7110 or contact@mecfilms.com.

If you are interested in playing the part of Nikola Tesla (or any of the other supporting roles) please send your picture and resume to Matrixx Productions, P.O. Box 5155, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, Attention: Carol Snyder.

We reserve the right to withhold certain information with regards to this project including, but not limited to, the budget, screenplay, story, talent attachments, contracts and financial matters as such relate to the production.

The source of this document is http://www.mecfilms.com/tesla



Copyright 2009 by Matrixx Productions
All Rights Reserved