october sky
The Ambassador’s Son, a sequel to The Keeper’s Son, has been optioned by Daybreak Productions headed by Chuck Gordon who also produced October Sky. [1]
October Sky is a 1999 film produced by Charles Gordon, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper and Laura Dern. [2]
Too small to earn a football scholarship, Homer has no way out of his predetermined life — until the soviet satellite Sputnik flies over the October sky and changes everything. [3]
“October Sky” is a charming tale and the boys’ success is inspiring. [...] Despite his father’s initial opposition, Homer and his “outsider” friends persist and succeed. [4]
In 1950’s mining town called Coalwood, Homer Hickam is a kid with only one future in sight, to work in the local coalmine like his father. [5]
Based on a true story, the award-winning movie October Sky was adapted from Homer Hickam’s #1 New York Times bestselling memoir Rocket Boys. [1]
It is based on the true story of Homer Hickam, a coal miner ’s son who was inspired by the first Sputnik launch to take up rocketry against his father’s wishes, and eventually became a NASA scientist. [2]
The movie is taken from an autobiography (with certain modifications for purposes of clarification) originally entitled Rocket Boys by Homer H. Hickam. [4]
Although there has been a lot of Hollywood interest in all of Homer’s books, options are available on Torpedo Junction, The Keeper’s Son, Back to the Moon, and the Coalwood series (except Rocket Boys). [1]
Homer Hickam stated that in research done by Universal Pictures, women over 30 would not go to see a movie titled “Rocket Boys”, so Universal Pictures changed the title to be more inviting to a wider audience. [2]
Though his father is mine superintendent and has no greater wish than to see his sons follow in his footsteps, Homer embarks on a mission to build and launch his, own, homemade rockets with the help of his loyal band of friends. [3]
But Homer had his eye on the sky and a love for flying rockets… to the dismay of his mine-foreman father, and the consternation of the townsfolk generally. [5]
Sons Matt and Jonathan give this film two thumbs up! [3]
Inspired by the dawn of the space age and the historic launching of the Soviet satellite Sputnik, Homer enlists his two best buddies as well as the school’s resident math geek to help him design and launch space rockets. [6]
Sources:
[1] Homer Hickam official Web site - October Sky/Rocket Boys, The Keeper’s Son. (www.homerhickam.com/movies)
[2] October Sky - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_Sky)
[3] October Sky. A Hollywood Jesus Movie Review (www.hollywoodjesus.com/
[4] October Sky - Topics: Space Exploration; U.S./1945-1991 (www.teachwithmovies.org/samples/
[5] October Sky (1999) - Plot summary (www.imdb.com/title/tt0132477/
[6] October Sky (1999) - Movie Info - Yahoo! Movies (movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&cf=info&