Seabiscuit

As regular readers of this space may know film criticism and movie reviews are not the only writing I am accomplished in. To my credit there is a non-fiction book, several screenplays--unproduced, to date, a humor series, a planned mystery series, countless opinion essays, several hundred articles on a variety of subjects and topics, and fictional works in a variety of genres.

Because of this canon, then, I find myself often involved in workshops where the nuts and bolts of such efforts are explored, deconstructed, and studied with the singular purpose being: How can I do that?

Recently, while doing a workshop, there came a lull in the proceedings. Not wanting to lose my otherwise captive audience I opened the floor to comments and questions. In no time this dialogue went from matters writing to matters pop culture, and someone asking why the entertainment and publishing industries are in 'crisis'.

Pretending that I did not understand what this meant I asked for an explanation. I got more than that. I got an unforgiving, unrelenting tirade on why it is people, The Great Unwashed Masses, increasingly, do not read and do not go to see films and movies in a theatrical setting.

Finally, when the dust had settled and I had opportunity to speak I didn't. Instead, I let others have their say on the matter.

Long story short: I came away that day enlightened beyond my wildest dreams. I came away that day with a certain desire: To bring together, once more, the entertainment and publishing industries.

To date I have not done so.

But others have, with the prime example being "Seabiscuit".

"Seabiscuit" is the story of a small horse with a decidedly lazy streak. Sleeping and eating, eating and sleeping were his preferred activities, and he did not, early on, demonstrate any measure of manners or discipline. But all that changed when three men (three wise men? Oh, let's not get biblical here.) entered his world and transformed him into one of the best-loved, if not best-known, sports legends of the 1930s and beyond: The owner, Charles Howard, who had a curious ability, a knack, really, for seeing heroes in outcasts; the trainer, Tom Smith, who was considered by many a screwball, a fool, a boob, for thinking he could heal and make well horses other trainers would destroy without a moment's hesitation; and the jockey, Red Pollad, who started out as the lowest of lows and became one of the most amazing stories to ever come out of horse racing.

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