Funny how life changes,

See, whan I was a kid and my family took me to go see this film, there were no other films with Native Americans being portrayed as lead characters. I can't tell you how exciting it was to see an Athabaskan man up there on screen. And then of course to see some other faces that were familiar enough in Hollywood along with him. I was entranced.

Now I'm in my mid thirties. I've studied theatre at the University of Alaska Anchorage, written a couple of short plays and of course read everything I could about writing screenplays. I see the films I want to make in my head and it's tough because they're great movies, but no one else can see them. I'm much more articulate now about what I find positive in a movie and what doesn't work anymore. The whole industry including what an audience will tolerate has grown up in many ways.

So when I saw the film again, which because of some legal issues I couldn't for 20 years I was surprised. The film still has it's charm, and some great scenes. It is still one of the best pieces of celuloid about early town life in Fairbanks Alaska. Now it was a low budget film even in it's time, and the original screenplay has some flaws. It's just to say that I remember it differently.

I would love to re-write the screenplay, and I might do just that as an excersize. George Atlas really did accomplish something great by winnning the Iditarod, but this film only focuses on evercoming some early obstacles in his life. In fact now that I'm writing this I seem to remember asking why the film was over because they didn't get to the Iditarod, just some day races in town. I would take the story all the way to his first Iditarod championship. I can even see Adam Beech from Windtalkers playing the lead. Adam's not Athabaskan, but he's a bankable star I think, and at least he is Native American. The wish would be for an unknown Alaska Native actor that had leading man chops, but hey, y'know?

Plus being such a big fan of the movie, and a believer in providing some actual truth in pop culture regarding Native Alaskans for when future generations come to that point where they look for their heritage in pop culture, I think I'd be the best person for the job. Of course I'd want Graham Greene in the picture, that guy seems like he'd be alot of fun to work with on set. I'd want to have plenty of Native Alaskans too, in the cast and crew.

I don't know when there might be a DVD or vhs copy available. The last I heard, the writer/director finally had the rights to the film but didn't have enough resources to put a direct to market project together. Maybe if I can write a re-make, or a re-envisioning as seems the way these days, maybe if that movie gets a DVD we could make it a package deal with both films on the DVD. I'd like that alot. Sorta like the El Mariachi DVD.

Hmmmm, I wonder if a guy like me with heart, talent, drive, and vision could really convince people to invest in a project like this. Where's Marlon Brandow when ya need him? Just kiddin, that man's done plenty. It just feels so overwhelmingly impossible to accomplish, but man I'm telling you the movie would win awards at Cannes and Sundance. My cousin says the dreamers must be the doers. We'll see.