Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

RevModemac · Mar 28, 2010

Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

I penned the suckiest movie ever - sorry! - NYPOST.com

Random guy · Mar 28, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

RevModemac;1207840 said:

I penned the suckiest movie ever - sorry! - NYPOST.com

Great story!

Anonymous · Mar 28, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

Great article.

I think they should make a movie about his story.

This summer .... coming to a screen near you .... the story of a lone man, suckered into the CC by promises of booty, now faces the ultimate challenge; turning LRH text into something decent.

Many will stand in his way, many notes will be sent from the studios and much hardship will be felt. Can he overcome diversity and the insanity of so many Scientologists to finally get his freak on and make a decent movie?

Based on a true story, the must see film of the year: "Sex Tech"

RightOn · Mar 28, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

On the contrary....
I think we owe him a thank you note for writing it! lol

AnonyVix · Mar 28, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

This is superb!

BLiP · Mar 28, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

heh - classic

In the end, did Scientology get me laid? What do you think? No way do you get any action by boldly going up to a woman and proclaiming, "I wrote Battlefield Earth!" If anything, I'm trying to figure out a way to bottle it and use it as birth control. I'll make a mint!

the_cloak · Mar 28, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

This is hilarious! I love how the guy trolled the scilons and they had to grit their teeth and take it because they were desperate to get this movie made.

whoever · Mar 28, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

Anonymous;1207854 said:

Great article.

I think they should make a movie about his story.

This summer .... coming to a screen near you .... the story of a lone man, suckered into the CC by promises of booty, now faces the ultimate challenge; turning LRH text into something decent.

Many will stand in his way, many notes will be sent from the studios and much hardship will be felt. Can he overcome diversity and the insanity of so many Scientologists to finally get his freak on and make a decent movie?

Based on a true story, the must see film of the year: "Sex Tech"

I would SO go to see this movie!

webkilla · Mar 28, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

I love this part in the article:

I researched Scientology before signing on to the movie, to make sure I wasn't making anything that would indoctrinate people. I took a few courses, including the Purification Rundown, or Purif. You go to CC every day, take vitamins and go in and out of a sauna so toxins are released from your body. You're supposed to reach an "End Point." I never did, but I was bored so I told them I had a vision of L. Ron. They said, "What did he say?" "Pull my finger," was my response. They said I was done.

goes on my next sign: "LRH said to pull my finger"

or...

As far as I know, I am the only non-Scientologist to ever be on their cruise ship, the Freewind. I was a bit of an oddity, walking around in a robe, sandals, smoking Cuban cigars and drinking fine scotch (Scientologists are not allowed to drink while taking courses). I also got one of the best massages ever. My friends asked if I got a "happy ending." I said, "Yes, I got off the ship."

also its nice to know that it indeed was the scilons that screwed up the movie

Major Boyle · Mar 28, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

I actually bought and read the book before they made it into a movie. As far as I could see, the only major plot difference between the crappy story and the crappy book was that in the book, the human rebels seized Psychlo gunships and used them to overthrow the badguys, whereas in the book, they managed to find a bunch of Harriers underneath Fort Hood. (Note: Even if there were Marines stationed at Fort Hood, which there aren't, the planes would have been unserviceable after hundreds of years in storage).

Other than that, it was pretty much the same.

OTBT · Mar 28, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

Major Boyle;1207884 said:

I actually bought and read the book before they made it into a movie. As far as I could see, the only major plot difference between the crappy story and the crappy book was that in the book, the human rebels seized Psychlo gunships and used them to overthrow the badguys, whereas in the book, they managed to find a bunch of Harriers underneath Fort Hood. (Note: Even if there were Marines stationed at Fort Hood, which there aren't, the planes would have been unserviceable after hundreds of years in storage).

Other than that, it was pretty much the same.

I read the book, twice, when it came out. Didn't see the movie until years later, after I had left scientology. The movie is a fairly accurate summary of the book.

Yeah, I'm an idiot, but I was a long time sci-fi book fan, and a Hubbard drone when the book was released.

In the movie version, John Travolta's version of Terl is pretty faithful to Hubbard's screed.

Craic n Smack · Mar 28, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

And, thus, no one ever need fear that an L. Ron Hubbard novel is made into a movie ever again.

Thank you, John, for mucking with the original script!

Major Boyle · Mar 28, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

It's funny how some people mention the Psychlos are supposed to be psychiatrists but their behavior is really Scientology. Look at how they're looking for leverage over people.

I don't see how a screen writer could have made Battlefield Earth a good movie without changing the plot. The fact that the cult turned it into a campy C movie is lulzy.

FWIW, they filmed part of the movie in Montreal. One scene with all the rubble was filmed in Ville St Pierre (now part of Lachine) at the former Consumers glass plant, which had burnt to the ground.

ScudMuffin · Mar 28, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

RevModemac;1207840 said:

I penned the suckiest movie ever - sorry! - NYPOST.com

Mission to Mars?

Sorry, nothing is worse than Mission to Mars, that film got painful.

subgenius · Mar 28, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

Very well written (the article) and funny:
" It wasn't as I intended -- promise. No one sets out to make a train wreck. Actually, comparing it to a train wreck isn't really fair to train wrecks, because people actually want to watch those."

PimpXenu · Mar 28, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

I tried reading the book when i was a kid, and i could only get about halfway through it before i threw it away. Keep in mind, i did NOT have good taste in books when i was a kid, i thought forgotten realms and star wars novels were freaking Shakespeare. Yet i found BE to be unreadable garbage.

It blew my mind when they made a movie of that, all i could think was "Who the hell would possibly think this is a good idea?" The book sucked, of course the movie would suck and bomb.

it wasnt until years later that i even learned of scientology, and that they were the ones who thought it would be a great idea. Sometimes the best answers are the ones that take years to come.

DeathHamster · Mar 28, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

Major Boyle;1207902 said:

FWIW, they filmed part of the movie in Montreal. One scene with all the rubble was filmed in Ville St Pierre (now part of Lachine) at the former Consumers glass plant, which had burnt to the ground.

And, as usual, they ignored wog rules like using union performers.

Dang! NOW Magazine clipped their archives before 2000 and they're blocking Wayback. Oh well...

Battlefield Travolta August 5, 1999, Enzo Di Matteo, NOW Magazine

Battlefield Travolta
Scientology's biggest star comes to Canada to make a movie that will bring church's values and villains to a theatre near you

By ENZO Di MATTEO

Members of the Church of Scientology were in Yorkville this past holiday weekend, questionnaires in hand, to collect opinions about the church from passersby.

It's been a difficult couple of years for Scientology, which is trying to polish its fringe image as it awaits word from Revenue Canada about its application for charitable status. [Denied!]

But positive PR may be coming to a theatre near you. Screen star John Travolta, Scientology's most famous promoter, has embarked on a film adaptation of Battlefield Earth, the doomsday sci-fi thriller penned by the church's messianic founder, L. Ron Hubbard.

Travolta's name (he's starring and producing) is sure to bring box-office success and raise the profile of Scientology, not to mention boost the sale of Hubbard's books. He's recently been voted the number-one box-office attraction in the world.

It'll be a much-needed publicity boon for a church under siege both here and abroad for the cult-like hold it's been accused of exerting on its followers and for harassing those who publicly criticize Scientology. In Germany, for example, Scientology is banned, and critics market condoms labelled "99 per cent Scientology-proof."

For his part, Travolta has downplayed the religious aspect of his latest megabucks film project. It's just a movie, he told a press conference during shooting in and around Montreal last week. He says there's no connection between Battlefield the sci-fi novel and the controversial self-improvement religion. [Ha ha!]

Not surprisingly, that's not how critics, among them longtime former members of the church who have read the book, see it.

To them, Battlefield -- and indeed, every part of Scientology -- is steeped in Hubbard's otherworldly notions of humans as an endangered species occupying a planet on the precipice of doom.

Recurring theme

"It's a recurring theme telling you that only L. Ron Hubbard and the teachings of Scientology can save you," says one former disciple.

A reading of Battlefield, a 1,000-page epic written by Hubbard in 1980, uncovers the threads of Scientology's teachings.

"Giant, gas-breathing" invaders known as Psychlos (code for psychologists and psychiatrists) have taken over Earth, and Hubbard lays blame for the decay of western civilization squarely on their shoulders.

In Battlefield, Jonnie Goodboy Tyler -- Hubbard's alter ego -- enlists the aid of a band of tough Scots "in a final, daring challenge to the invisible Psychlo power." At stake is the future of humankind.

Hubbard's fascination with science fiction and fantasy didn't confine itself to the telling of apocalyptic tales. It extended to the roots of the church's otherworldly teaching, most unusually in Scientology's legend of Xenu, a tyrant who is supposed to have ruled the world some 75 million years ago.

It was Xenu, the legend goes, who unleashed the evil spirits that attached themselves to humans and haunt us to this day.

"Every religion has a cosmology, a creation mythology," says Al Buttnor of Scientology in Toronto. "In Christianity, you have 'God created the world in seven days.' In Scientology, it's clear where Mr. Hubbard stands. Unquestionably, there have been other societies before us and other societies in the universe. I don't think we're alone."

Amid the other hoopla surrounding Battlefield, Author Services, Inc. (ASI), the Hollywood, California-based arm of the church that owns the rights to all Hubbard's works, has just launched ASI Magazine, a tabloid-size periodical devoted to promoting Hubbard's non-fiction works. ASI sold the rights to to Battlefield to Franchise Pictures.

Franchise publicist Pamela Godfrey isn't saying how much the company paid for the rights or whether any royalties from this latest Travolta venture will go to the church. "It's something that generally is not put down for public information," she says.

ASI, too, is coy about whether film royalties will go to the church.

A fax response sent to NOW from ASI director of public affairs Hugh Wilhere avoids any mention of royalties. But the fax goes on to state that ASI "is donating its share of the profits from the film to charitable organizations that direct drug education and drug rehabilitation programs around the world."

Scientology itself runs drug rehab clinics, the best known of which is Narconon.

However, ASI boasts in its magazine -- which was released at about the time Travolta began shooting Battlefield -- that its production divisions embrace "every function from (the) supervision of foreign publishing, fiction publishing and non-fiction publishing to audiovisual and even big-screen movies" of Hubbard's work.

The church has shown itself to be very protective of its intellectual property and copyrights, so much so that in the U.S. it has quickly launched multimillion-dollar lawsuits against those who've posted even the church's own materials on the Internet without permission.

The strong feelings that surround Scientology even extend to the Battlefield set in Montreal, where non-unionized actors are being employed as extras even though the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists' (ACTRA) collective agreement says the first 15 actors on any shoot must be union members.

Grotesque actors

Robin Chetwynd, a chief administrative officer with ACTRA in Toronto, can't understand why that would be. "The collective agreement is quite clear on the number of background performers required each day of filming," he says.

But it seems they play by a different set of rules in Montreal.

Raymond Guardia, ACTRA's rep there, says members in Montreal have been more reluctant to take on work as extras. "That has changed, I believe, and we have now reached a point where, frankly, we intend to aggressively catch up."

Don Carmody, the film's executive producer, first denies the use of non-union talent. He then explains that it's been hard to find very tall, "grotesque-looking" actors to play the evil Psychlos, or thespians who look like "malnourished" humanoids, as required by the script.

"There may not be that many ACTRA members who are interested in working as extras who are either seven feet tall, gruesome-looking or look like they're partially starved."

Publicist Godfrey, meanwhile, promises a fast-paced action adventure, a veritable screen spectacle.

"It's going to be very exciting. The director and the special effects people are producing some very new and visionary things."

Tilting the camera isn't much of a special effect...

TypingChimp · Mar 28, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

ScudMuffin;1207914 said:

Mission to Mars?

Sorry, nothing is worse than Mission to Mars, that film got painful.

I LOVED Mission to Mars. I also loved Solaris and rank it in my list of the top 10 science fiction movies of all time. And we can't forget about Ghost of Mars, because John Carpenter fucking kicks ass. But if you want a science fiction film that is truly painful to watch, yet compelling in the scope and breadth of its awfulness, Guyver is what you want. It has JJ from Good Times doing some excruciatingly bad rapping while in a BAD foam alien outfit and Mark Hamill in a bit role. Of course, Vivian Wu is always hot, which makes the sheer awfulness of this film even more tragic. There's a reason Screaming Mad George, the other director, and the writer don't do much of those things, and George is back doing makeup.

Still, Battlefield Earth was even worse.

anonamus · Mar 28, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

And then she said as a Sea Org member, you can't have sex unless you're married. I asked her if she was married. She said yes. So I said, "Great! That means we can have sex!"

LOL!

Great article! And nice find, OP.

PodPeople · Mar 28, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

Hilarious article. J.D. shouldn't feel too bad. The book it was based on had been worked over & over going back at least to 1978-1979 trying to make it into screenplay for a movie that far back. Only scilons were used for manuscript. Michael (Robert) Lewis, so called screenwriter (see The Story of Book One), and Divona Lewis. Were old OT 8's, not sure about now, but Divona went on to FSM, Michael auditing groups, since they couldn't make it in the industry.

As usual, ElRon was trying to cash in and mimic the huge money maker Star Trek. In 1978, specifically, Battlestar Galactica came out. Protaganists: Cylons. The writer, Glen Larson, was a Mormon, and inserted many of the Church of Latter Day saints philosophies and morals in Galactica. Original movie didn't fare so well, but then I believe 1979 there began the Galactica series, which initially made impressive $$.

Hence we get the Psychlos with Scientology philosophies and morals, Battlefield Earth. Obviously, the plan to "make it happen" to catch the Galactica tail wind didn't happen then since no real professionals were working on it. And even if pro's would have been hired, well, J.D's story says it all.

If Divona ever wakes up (not too likely, since she's been around forever), I'm sure she'd have an interesting storyline about what happened after this "fail". It would probably make a better movie, lol.

http://74.125.93.132/search?q=cache:0ljcCWs9YacJ:www.truthaboutscientology.com/stats/by-name/d/divona-lewis.html+divona+lewis+%22scientologist%22&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
Divona Lewis

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0507549/
Michael Lewis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_A._Larson
Glen Larson

PodPeople (RainwoMan) "I'm an excellent typist" There were several typists working on it because it was being done on electric typewriters and whiteout.

Paroxetine Samurai · Mar 28, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

ScudMuffin;1207914 said:

Mission to Mars?

Sorry, nothing is worse than Mission to Mars, that film got painful.

Sorry... I'd rather watch Mission to Mars 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 times than watch Battlefield Earth once.

Belladonna · Mar 28, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

Battlefield Earth Screenwriter Apologizes for 'Suckiest Movie Ever' - battlefield earth - Gawker

Triumph · Mar 28, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

Defamer
Battlefield Earth Screenwriter Apologizes For ‘Suckiest Movie Ever’
Battlefield Earth Screenwriter Apologizes For ‘Suckiest Movie Ever’ | Defamer Australia
Gawker
Battlefield Earth Screenwriter Apologizes For ‘Suckiest Movie Ever’
http://gawker.com/5503834/battlefield-earth-screenwriter-apologizes-for-suckiest-movie-ever?skyline=true&s=i

If you are lucky enough to have forgotten L. Ron Hubbard adaptation Battlefield Earth, here is an awful clip that stands as a helpful reminder of the fact that Xenu does not exist, and if he does, he does not love you:

Roger Ebert:about the movie: everything looks like it has a fungus growing on it!

Belladonna · Mar 28, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

'Battlefield Earth' Screenwriter Writes Hilarious Open Apology - Huffington Post

'Battlefield Earth' screenwriter spills Scientology secrets - The Dish Rag - Zap2it

FreakE420 · Mar 28, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

Anonymous · Mar 28, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

Triumph;1207987 said:

YouTube- Roger Ebert - Battlefield Earth (2000)

Bless your heart for posting that.

Roger Ebert can't eat, drink, or speak anymore, and doesn't afraid of anything.

Twitter / Roger Ebert: "I penned the suckiest mov ...

121K followers

Anonymous · Mar 28, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

Paroxetine Samurai;1207971 said:

Sorry... I'd rather watch Mission to Mars 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 times than watch Battlefield Earth once.

I prefer Red Planet.

dwest · Mar 28, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

This article is a great way to share why Scientology sucks to the uneducated masses. I've already shared with my friends on all my social networking sites. I'll be RT Ebert now as well.

CowBell · Mar 29, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

Didn't an Ex on here post how Battlefield earth came about from the Scilon's perspective?

Tofuman666 · Mar 29, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

This made the movie watchable:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d4DyBsEcIE"]YouTube- Best of Rifftrax - Battlefield Earth[/ame]

Anonymous · Mar 29, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

Hahaha zing!

Screenwriter apologizes for 'Battlefield Earth' – The Marquee Blog - CNN.com Blogs

CNN Entertainment (CNNshowbiz) on Twitter

It seems the Scientology embargo has lifted over at CNN.

Belladonna · Mar 29, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

Hey Triumph, that Ebert review clip is showing up in people's articles now. Nicely done, you.

'Battlefield Earth' Screenwriter Is Sorry About That | PopEater.com

'Battlefield Earth' writer asks our forgiveness; What are the best pop culture apologies? | EW.com - Entertainment Weekly

Screenwriters’ Revenge - BlackBook

Shapiro Apologizes for 'Battlefield Earth' - Inside Movies - Moviefone

Screenwriter for Battlefield Earth Apologizes: 'I Was Just Trying to Get Laid' - mediabistro.com: FishbowlLA

Screenwriter blames Travolta for 'Battlefield Earth' | Movies | Entertainment | Toronto Sun

"Battlefield Earth" writer apologizes. It's about time. | jacksonville.com Florida Times Union

'Battlefield Earth' Writer Says He's Sorry - Cinematical

Ann O'Nymous · Mar 29, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

Funny.

Triumph · Mar 29, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

cele/bitchy
Battlefield Earth screenwriter sorry, explains Scientology connection

The screenwriter responsible for that turkey of a scifi film, Battlefield Earth, has penned a humorous essay for the NY Post explaining how the film came about and how it turned into the Razzie’s “Worst Movie of The Decade.” Writer J.D. Shapiro is candid and funny in his explanation of how Battlefield Earth came to suck so thoroughly. The film is based on a novel by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, and Shapiro got involved with Scientology hoping that it would help him score chicks. It didn’t, (Peaches Geldof wasn’t of age yet) and he ended up writing what he admits was the “suckiest” movie of all time.

with Roger Ebert review video
Cele|bitchy Blog Archive Battlefield Earth screenwriter sorry, explains Scientology connection

eddieVroom · Mar 29, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

webkilla;1207878 said:

I love this part in the article:

goes on my next sign: "LRH said to pull my finger"

Anonymous · Mar 29, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

This story is Front Page Digg. Digg it here: 'Battlefield Earth' Screenwriter: "Sorry About That!"

AIN · Mar 31, 2010

Battlefield Earth Writer "I apologize for writing the worst movie ever!"

Battlefield: Earth writer says sorry to all of Planet Earth

"Let me start by apologizing to anyone who went to see Battlefield Earth."

Screenwriter apologizes for "Battlefield: Earth" | Gather

Screenwriter J.D. Shapiro (Robin Hood: Men in tights) has finally stepped up and apologized the film that was created based on the work by L. Ron Hubbard. Shapiro, comments that although he wishes to shoulder the majority of the blame, he is not the primary reason behind why the film turned out as bad as it did. He says that his original draft of the script detailed a much darker and grittier than what originally made it to film. He goes on to say that many of the changes that were made in the film came from film star, John Travolta. It was his eventual decision not to stop with the alterations that kept being requested that caused him to let go of the project in the first place. This resulted in the film makers bringing in writer Corey Mandell to finish up the drafts.

This is not the first time that Shapiro has taken the heat from the film. In 2001, Shapiro appeared in person at the Razzie Awards (an award ceremony set up to award the “Worse” that Hollywood has to offer) to receive the Worst Screenplay of the year award. The film went on to receive 6 more Razzies during that very award ceremony.

Anonymous · Mar 31, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth Writer "I apologize for writing the worst movie ever!"

also this thread

http://forums.whyweprotest.net/15-m...iter-issues-public-apology-64597/#post1207840

Holl Anon · Mar 31, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth Writer "I apologize for writing the worst movie ever!"

The apology is unwarranted because Shapiro admits what he wrote was not how it was played out on film.

Travolta assured that numerous changes were made to the original script to meet his (and, obviously, DM's) approval.

Belladonna · Mar 31, 2010

Re: Battlefield Earth screenwriter issues a public apology

The National, United Arab Emirates

Motherhood: a box-office flaw - The National Newspaper

We couldn’t present a fitting list of the biggest flops of all time without giving this John Travolta nightmare a nod.

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