THE HAMILTON EFFECT
THE MUSICAL CREATED GREAT INTEREST IN HIS STORY
WE INTEND TO EXPAND UPON IT
George Washington on the Cutting Room Floor
In 1775, at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, George Washington was forty-three years old.
At over six feet tall, he was a relative giant among his peers. He was a man of immense physical and emotional strength, and was considered the finest horseman in Virginia. He led America to victory in a war of epic historical significance.
For an industry enamored with super heroes, he certainly sounds like a Hollywood leading man. Yet for as long as Hollywood has been making movies, George Washington has been completely overlooked as a main character in a feature film. That’s shocking.
Washington, Now Through Hamilton's Eyes
The phenomenal aspects of Hamilton on Broadway are simply too numerous to list. By one estimate, over 7 million people attended a live performance in theaters large and small. An equal number of people are estimated to have watched a televised version.
In our view, the greatest achievement of the Musical is that it created a desire in countless people, both young and old, to know more about the Founding Era generally and Alexander Hamilton (and his wife Eliza) specifically. It creates an unprecedented opportunity to continue this education of the American public by providing them new stories of this era.
Aegis for Dreams is told largely from the perspective of Alexander Hamilton. It is partly a coming-of-age story, but it is primarily a relationship story between Hamilton and Washington. For all of the reasons we’ve provided to make and then see Aegis for Dreams, the fact is that for many people, this movie about “history” will be must-see viewing because of the Musical. Must-see history. That too is revolutionary.
A Universal Story
With all of its historical significance, Aegis for Dreams is, at its heart, a universal story focused on complex emotions that exist in any family. Famed American playwright Arthur Miller once said:
“The parent is always a mythological figure. It’s the basis of all mythology, after all. What’s Zeus? He’s the father. He’s the guy that throws thunderbolts — kills you. Or raises you up into glory.”
Washington was many things to Hamilton: his General, his impediment to military glory, his protector, his antagonist. HIs example. As Hamilton later said near the end of their lives, he was his aegis. It is a story of a surrogate father and a reluctant, prodigal son that, we trust, will stay with audiences long after the viewing. And along with it, the history.
Confronting Our Knowledge Deficit
It’s beyond dispute that there is a serious – and dangerous – deficit in the American public’s knowledge of its own history.
There is a large chorus of people (and institutions) speaking in the public square on this topic. It has been characterized as an existential crisis for America. As with any problem of this magnitude, there is no silver bullet. It will take a broad and varied effort to solve it. One suggestion is that American universities should require a course in American History in order to graduate.
The making of Aegis for Dreams will advance America’s aspiration of this critical educational issue. We have set out a long list of reasons why the philanthropic community should support this film project. Together, we must seize this opportunity.