Author Rick Robinson Transforms His ‘1968’ Into A Film Documentary
By Bruce Haring
Rick Robinson is a prolific author who has written several award-winning novels. A true Renaissance man, he also performs in an Irish punk band and has spent four decades in law and politics.
His nonfiction book, 1968 – A Primer for Understanding Baby Boomers, was the winner of the 2024 Hollywood Book Festival, and is now being transformed into a film documentary. The trailer has just been released (see above).
Robinson answered a few questions on the project.
HOLLYWOOD BOOK FESTIVAL: Was it always your intent to turn the book into a film documentary? Or did it occur down the road?
RICK ROBINSON: Nothing about the book or the movie was intended. I was working on a thriller and one day ended up at the local library researching one tiny fact. While there, I got caught up in the old newspaper files and read a week’s worth of papers from 1968. It was a lightbulb moment. I would read one month’s worth of local newspapers and then work to interview someone involved in that month’s worth of stories. The book seemed to write itself. The book got a huge positive reception from readers. All the while I had the idea of a documentary in mind. When someone offered seed funding for a movie, we just set off on the journey.
HBF: Who are the people speaking in the trailer?
RR: In the trailer, we interview Mickey Foellger, a retired judge who was a drummer in ’68, artist Tom Gaither, lawyer Margo Grubbs and Bob McCray, a retired police officer. I watched a lot of documentaries in preparation. Most of them were interviews with historians and known public figures. I wanted this documentary to go in a complete opposite direction and we interviewed regular folks who lived through 1968. We have another eight interviews scheduled to complete the project. The final product will be divided into four parts: music, politics, social change and Vietnam.
HBF: How did you put together a film crew?
RR: For years, I called local sporting events with Jason Dudas in my ear. As we knew each other already, choosing him to direct was easy. For the past five years, I have worked with AJ Satterfield in my day job. He has the eye you look for in a videographer. Former news broadcaster Clyde Gray has the best set of pipes you’ll ever hear. So, he’ll be the narrator. Finally, my son Zachary is a very talented actor, playwright and stage director and he’ll be producing. My publisher at Headline Books is Cathy Teets and she was onboard from the beginning. I am the Executive Director.
HBF: Was it hard to get the synch rights for the music?
RR:Music was such an important part of 1968, we had to get it right. I’ve played in a trio with a very talented group of musicians. The front man for the group, Phil Tatro, wrote the intro tune, “I can hear you looking at me.” I have one or two originals that may show up in the final. The drummer in the trailer had a national hit in the 60’s titled “That Girl.” And then when we get the final film together, a great piano player, Steve Mason, is going to write a score. I did reach out to one musician for a well-known song — crickets.
HBF: Where were you in 1968?
RR: That is the genesis of the book and the movie. In 1968, I was a young kid growing up in Ludlow, Kentucky. The initial library research started because I wanted to see if my childhood memories matched the actual history.
HBF: Are you going for a theatrical release on this, or straight to streaming?
RR: We have a plan to take a multi-level approach that includes: pay-per, streaming, public television and indie movie film festivals. Our nonprofit partner, All Aboard Books, connects students with authors/filmmakers and students. I’m really excited to bring this story to a young audience in particular. I was inspired, in part, by Billy Bob Thornton who went out and made Slingblade on his own. Hey Billy Bob, call me!
The website for the movie will be live soon. There is also a GoFundMe page and a Facebook page.