I'm seeking feedback and/or ideas. There doesn't seem to be a lot of produced films about the Stoics (eg. Seneca, Marcus Aurelius) and I'm intrigued about writing a film based on a modern-day Stoic or a take on that scenario (What if someone like Bill Gates was a Stoic? What if one rose to power as they did in ancient Rome?) I'm curious if anyone could point me to scripts based on or involving Stoicism or offer an idea as to why not much is made of them?
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Interesting. Sadly, I can't point to any scripts that come to mind but Stoicism seems to be on the cultural rise of late. Now certainly seems like a good time to be talking about it.
Here's an interesting Reddit thread on the topic; https://www.reddit.com/r/Stoicism/comments/28qoqv/best_stoic_movies/
CJ, I agree. I hear about it more and I'm certainly intrigued by their method of thinking and their approach to life. It seems abstract to say but, I wonder if by their very nature, they're not cinematic because they gravitate away from drama and conflict -- two essentials of a good film. Still, a unique twist and a compelling character are what draw us in, so I'm hopeful others might have some insights -- Has anyone else been compelled to learn about Stoics? Know any films about them or their lives? Anyone able to name anyone close to being a modern-day Stoic?
You make a good point, Rick. Looking at lists like the one in the Reddit thread, it seems something more aligned to a supporting character, usually a wise advisor. It might be different in other cultures. Looking forward to hearing people's thoughts.
Indeed, Stoicism is like an antithesis to today's hedonistic culture. There's a degree of libertarianism to it which is probably why we see a lot of it in twentieth century American cinema.