HIDDEN FIGURES - SCRIPT TO SCREEN

 The University of California at Santa Barbara's Film and Media Studies department has for some time hosted a great series, "Script to Screen," presenting discussions with script writers and others for a public audience.  Last week the session included a screening of America's number one movie, Hidden Figures. 

The Writer guest this time was Theodore Melfi, the writer/producer/director of the film, who passed up another Spider Man project because he so wanted to make this film. Melfi was accompanied on stage by Elizabeth Gabler, President of Fox 2000 Pictures, and a graduate of UCSB, and then there was this actor fella who grew up not far from here, one Costner by name. The only thing that could have made the night even better would have been the presence of the remarkable women at the heart of this project. (Is there nothing Janelle Monae can't do?)

After introductions, the audience settled in to watch the film, and it was easy to feel in that audience how the moment needed exactly this kind of feel good story of triumph.  There are small quiblles with the film, and it pretty much follows the arc of all such movies, but this is a great one of its genre and is really well written.

My favorite line comes near the end: "I know you believe that."

I won't spoil things by telling you the context.  See the film!