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John Alan Simon
As writer and producer, John Alan Simon works on both independent and
studio films. Radio Free Albemuth based on the novel by Philip K. Dick
is his directorial debut. He produced The Getaway, directed by
Roger Donaldson, starring Alec Baldwin, Kim Bassinger and
Philip Seymour Hoffman. Simon’s adaptation of Dick's Flow My Tears,
the Policeman Said, developed with Rosenbloom Entainment,
has been optioned by The Halcyon Company (Terminator Salvation).
Simon and Rosenbloom will produce along with Halcyon and Electric Shepard,
the producing arm of the Philip K. Dick Trust.
As president of Discovery Productions, Simon has been involved with the production, financing, sales, and marketing of many successful independent features including The Wicker Man (starring Edward Woodward), The Haunting of Julia (with Mia Farrow and Tom Conti), Basket Case and Out of the Blue (starring and directed by Dennis Hopper). Out of the Blue was screened in fall 2009 at the Cinematheque Francaise as the opening night gala film in a month-long Hopper retrospective.
Prior to his entry in the film business, Simon was a journalist and film critic for the New Orleans Times Picayune and editor of New Orleans magazine. He graduated with honors from Harvard College and received his master's degree from the Writer's Workshop program at the University of Illinois - Chicago Circle. He was elected recently to serve on the board of directors of the British Academy of Film & Television Arts, Los Angeles.
Programming for John Alan Simon
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| Sat | 22:00 | (Tuscany Ballroom) | 115 min |
Radio Free Albemuth (PG-13)
POST HUGO SPECIAL FEATURE: This Phillip K. Dick story takes place in an alternate reality of the USA, where a Nixon-like President burned the Watergate tapes and three terms later is still in office. http://www.radiofreealbemuth.com |
| Sun | 10:00 | (A03) | 1 hr |
"I Liked the Book Better" - The Pleasures and Perils of Adapting Philip K. Dick's Works for the Big Screen
John Alan Simon, screenwriter, director and producer of the new film Radio Free Albemuth and Renovation Guest of Honor Tim Powers will discuss adapting one of science fiction’s cult novels for the cinema. Along the way they will answer questions and attempt to cover the process of writing an adaptation vs. original screenplay, the author-screenwriter relationship and strategies to employ for successfully translating a novel or short story to the screen. Variety on Radio Free Albemuth: "Engrossing adaptation"...."the narrative delivers satisfying intrigue and suspense"......."Should connect strongly with Philip K. Dick's fanbase and attract upscale auds seeking sci-fi with political and philosophical substance." Simon's credits as a producer also include The Getaway, directed by Roger Donaldson, starring Alec Baldwin, Kim Bassinger and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Simon’s script for Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said was optioned last year by Halcyon Entertainment (Terminator Salvation) for a 2012 start date on which Simon will also be a producer. |