Indeed after a wedding late this month of the cutest couple I've ever met, my neighbors Shawn and Shauna, I am packing up my home in Agoura Hills and hitting the road for Wisconsin for six months to direct my first comedy feature JELLYBEANS, a $2 million production with the great producer Dan Grodnik, former CEO of National Lampoon. A comedy about the elephant in the room no one wants to talk about, the importance of sex in a happy marriage.
But when an exciting Internet marketing seminar came up I could not miss, I put out an email to a great filmmaker group I belong to called the Table and run by the great Marc Zicree, looking for a car pool to hitch a ride. I do this when it works out to save precious investor capital in these tough times, since I work at home and only rent cars for studio meetings. Necessity is the mother of green and good karma!
Little did I know President Lincoln, renowned Lincoln actor Tom Katsis, would answer my carpooling call. As I bought Tom a coffee at McDonald's and we rode from Agoura Hills to Santa Monica I was struck by how strong Tom's resemblance to Lincoln is, even out of makeup. And somehow, Tom has the charm about him of a modern day reincarnation of the great man.
So what began as carpooling, set off a blaze of inspiration to have Tom appear in one of my ongoing kids political videos on the web. And as the seminar progressed my mind raced and the Lincoln kid video grew into a full blown firestorm, a concept for a new half hour DVD to be released on the web using all I was learning from a great web teacher/filmmaker.
"What if Lincoln came back to life somehow?" I said to Tom. "Lincoln himself knows not why or how as he travels America." And so over some margaritas at the famous Adobe Cantina just outside Malibu and LINCOLN IS BACK was born.
As fan and student of Lincoln my whole life I was sure I'd write great scripts using his voice. I'm a little usually nervous when I write a great character, but not for Lincoln. His character is so strong it seemed to write itself from the man's genuine concern for America. It was like writing Lincoln's voice has been waiting for me my whole life. I hope you agree as Tom does I do the great Emancipator a humble honor.
Here then, dear followers, is the script for episode 1 of 15 coming to be filmed in Agoura Hills, CA on September 12th. Look for the videos this blog and our official web page, www.LincolnisBack.com, also in the works. Subscribe to be notified when videos begin to post of the amazing Tom Katsis as President Abraham Lincoln.
LINCOLN IS BACK
By Ken Sheetz
EXT. WHITE HOUSE - DAY
A perfect day. A bird flies past.
LINCOLN (V.O.)
Seven score and four years ago life was violently taken from me.
President Lincoln fades into view before the White House. Abe looks at his hands, amazed he has taken solid form.
LINCOLN (CONT’D)
What act of God or Man grants the power for me to speak with you today... I know not. Therefore, let us speak quickly, a hard thing for any politician, as I do not know when I might leave you.
President Lincoln takes a moment to gaze at the White House.
LINCOLN (CONT’D)
My Washington home looks much as it did during my Presidency. But an African American family as the occupants is a staggering change.
President Lincoln turns back to face us and wipes a tear.
LINCOLN (CONT’D)
How incredibly far the sons and daughters of slaves have come. Indeed the honored dead of our Great Civil War gave birth to a new freedom. Sadly however, Barack Obama, deep into his first year as President, has lost his way on the trail of leadership. Guns and assault weapons at town hall meetings over the debates for health care? An outrage.
Lincoln pounds his fist into his palm.
LINCOLN (CONT’D)
What, I ask you, America, do our Second Amendment rights to bear arms have to do with health care? For the protection of the people and himself, it behooves the Young President to take a stand against such inappropriate displays of naked intimidation.
Lincoln lets his anger cool with a wry smile.
LINCOLN (CONT’D)
In my day, should a citizen take ill, physicians might use leeches or let blood for healing. In my day all remedies were homeopathic.
President Lincoln turns serious once again.
LINCOLN (CONT’D)
Not so in this 21st century of modern, but costly, miracles. A time where life expectancy has doubled for Americans. But lest you become complacent know that America no longer leads the free world in health care. And how is it that America stands 37th on the World Health Organization list? One word will suffice to answer: Corporations.
Determined, President Lincoln looks straight at us.
LINCOLN (CONT’D)
As my untimely end of office drew near, using the incredible wealth that the Civil War bought them with the blood of our soldiers, corporations hired what were called “borers.” A term also used for rats chewing their way through one’s home. A term which has since been replaced by the more genteel “Lobbyist.” The Borers mission was to chew away at the laws that protected Americans from the abuse of power by corporations. Only one year after my death, through a clerks error in the case of “Santa Clara County versus Southern Pacific Railroad,” a case where there was not even a ruling, the misleading notes of said clerk came into use to establish corporations as a “natural person.” Corporations. There is nothing natural about -- I, I am sorry... I feel myself leaving you. I hope one day soon we can continue our...
Lincoln’s voice echoes as he vanishes before the White House.
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