Current mood:	optimistic
Current music:	Predator: RAW
Entry tags:	bible, creative, david, jonathan, movies, religion

David & Goliath, Jonathan, Samuel, and Saul...
...what do they all have in common. I want them to be characters in my Biblical Epic of a summer blockbuster film.

A few years back my pastor was in the middle of his Sermon on David when he stopped and chased a rabbit about how he wanted to see a blockbuster based on the Life of David... that was as huge as the Ten Commandments film.

It struck something inside my head and apparently I can't shake it. I'm even having vivid dreams of what it would look like. (Complete with a couple of actors already cast).

I have a specific picture of how I would portray Saul - of all the characters he's the only one that NEEDS a well known actor. Brad Pitt style as the Bible describes him has one that the people saw as good looking, a good leader, strong, etc... and who better to have that role than a modern day celeb who people could easily see in a leadership role? Brad is a two time "People's Sexiest Man Alive" winner, he's a humanitarian, he's into global warming. Good enough for me.

Saul was the people's choice for King. David was God's... if I were to cast this film David would be an unknown actor just because David was an unknown when he was annointed by God through Samuel... so that'd be my creative way of getting that across without banging it over people's heads.

Jonathan has always been my favorite Old Testament "character". I've always admired his faith and his courage. It took a lot to basically be the Prince of Israel who would never rule the land not because of his age or because of a death but because he simply was not God's choice. He accept that, he loved David - who essentially was taking his throne - and he defied his father many times in order to protect David. He's such a graceful and benevolent character - and yet we know so little about him. So he would be the avenue I would have to make the movie mine and not just a biopic docudrama of David's life.

I totally could see Orlando Bloom - or an actor like him - in the role. I honestly don't think Bloom needs to be in the role, but when I dream the movie he's the one who gets the part. He's totally type cast into these roles, as I think Jonathan does mask quite a few of the characters Orlando has played (Ok, let's face it, when I picture Jonathan I picture Will Turner-pre pirate, so sue me! LOL)

Anyway with Jonathan I don't have to just follow history because there doesn't seem to be much of a recording of what his life was like. I can play around with it. We know he had a son, so I assume he was married... and I assume he's a romantic of sorts... so I have this whole courtship with his wife (or favorite wife, who knows lol) and everything.

Why would I care other than the fact that he's my favorite in this whole story - because the life of David was filled with tragedy. I want to do a trilogy to fully hit the main stories that filled his life... the first film would center around him growing up within Saul's household, fighting off the giant, and end with him being forced to flee from Saul (and in a way Jonathan)... the second movie would be his accent on the throne. Which means Jonathan dies and David in the Bible is reportedly distraught at the loss.

In order for me to have the emotional response I want with the audience I have to make them fall in love with Jonathan so they can grieve with David. So that's why I want to flesh Jonathan's character out.

Anyway - I want to start fleshing this whole movie out. Hey it's what I want to do in the long run is be a film director, so the sooner I get this worked out the better, IMHO. I can continue tweaking it over the course of time lol


So my first step is to research all of the key players.

Which at this time are
Samuel
David
Saul
Jonathan

at some point I'll need to research Bathsheba... but that's a while yet, and really there are David & Bathsheba films out there already. Maybe I should just have a duology. lol.

I have no idea where to start really - outside of the Bible. However, seeing as how David is also a hero in Jewish history (possibly even more so than in Christian history) I know I can't limit myself to just my religion's picture and history... for all I know there's a lot more recorded about all of the main men in the story...


so - I need some idea of some books that I should read to get caught up with not just Dave but with the others...

anyone know where to look????


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