Visual Preview Visual Preview with Spiritual with Spiritual ConnectionsConnections

ZODIACZODIAC

by david bruceby david bruce

hhollywoodollywoodjjesus.comesus.com

The rampage of a madman who has never been caught; the The rampage of a madman who has never been caught; the elusive cipher slayer who gripped the nation in fear, elusive cipher slayer who gripped the nation in fear, America’s very own Jack the Ripper. He publicly claimed 13 America’s very own Jack the Ripper. He publicly claimed 13 victims, then more, two dozen more. Police pinned him with victims, then more, two dozen more. Police pinned him with seven, five dead. The true body count may never be known. seven, five dead. The true body count may never be known. One thing is certain: That count includes the living. One thing is certain: That count includes the living.

It is the u

ltimate co

ld case.

It is the u

ltimate co

ld case.

SH

OR

T S

YN

OPS

IS

David Fincher decided to use the digital David Fincher decided to use the digital Thomson Viper to shoot the film. This Thomson Viper to shoot the film. This will be the first time the camera has will be the first time the camera has been used to shoot an entire film. been used to shoot an entire film.

Michael Mann's Miami Vice, as well as Michael Mann's Miami Vice, as well as his previous effort, Collateral (a co-his previous effort, Collateral (a co-production of Paramount and its production of Paramount and its current sister studio DreamWorks, and current sister studio DreamWorks, and which also starred Mark Ruffalo), were which also starred Mark Ruffalo), were also shot with the camera but mixed in also shot with the camera but mixed in other formats. other formats.

Once shot on Viper cam the files were Once shot on Viper cam the files were converted to DVCPro HD 1080i and converted to DVCPro HD 1080i and edited in Final Cut Pro. edited in Final Cut Pro.

Other digital productions like Superman Other digital productions like Superman Returns or Apocalypto recorded to the Returns or Apocalypto recorded to the mildly compressing HDCAM tape mildly compressing HDCAM tape format.format.

DID

YO

U K

NO

W?

Zodiac is the first Zodiac is the first major Hollywood movie major Hollywood movie that was created that was created without the use of without the use of either film or video either film or video tape. tape.

Robert Graysmith Robert Graysmith JAKE GYLLENHAALJAKE GYLLENHAAL Paul Avery Paul Avery

ROBERT DOWNEY JR.ROBERT DOWNEY JR. Dave ToschiDave ToschiMARK RUFFALOMARK RUFFALO

CAST

DAVID FINCHER (Director) made his feature film made his feature film debut in 1992 with debut in 1992 with “Alien 3.” In 1995, he “Alien 3.” In 1995, he directed “Se7en,” also directed “Se7en,” also about tracking down about tracking down a serial killer.a serial killer.

DAVID SHIRE DAVID SHIRE (Composer)(Composer)winner of an Academy winner of an Academy Award, a Grammy, Award, a Grammy, multiple Emmy and Tony multiple Emmy and Tony nominations, is one of nominations, is one of the most prolific and the most prolific and honored composers of honored composers of film, television, theater film, television, theater and recordings.and recordings.

JAMES VANDERBILT JAMES VANDERBILT (Screenwriter/ Producer) (Screenwriter/ Producer)

optioned the rights to optioned the rights to Robert Graysmith’s Robert Graysmith’s Zodiac and wrote the Zodiac and wrote the screenplay adaptation screenplay adaptation on spec – a gamble that on spec – a gamble that paid off with only three paid off with only three produced scripts to his produced scripts to his credit.credit.

CREW

CHLOË SEVIGNY CHLOË SEVIGNY (Melanie)(Melanie)

CHLOË SEVIGNY CHLOË SEVIGNY (Melanie)(Melanie)

Known in the mid to late nineties for her Known in the mid to late nineties for her status as a fashion impresario and "it girl," status as a fashion impresario and "it girl," with over a dozen art house films to her with over a dozen art house films to her credit, Chloe Sevigny also stands out as credit, Chloe Sevigny also stands out as one of the most prominent queens of one of the most prominent queens of contemporary independent cinema. contemporary independent cinema. Originally hailing from Darien, Originally hailing from Darien, Connecticut, Sevigny attributes weekend Connecticut, Sevigny attributes weekend trips into nearby New York City in her trips into nearby New York City in her teens as an important early saving grace teens as an important early saving grace from her super rich and stuffy hometown. from her super rich and stuffy hometown. It was on one such trip at the age of It was on one such trip at the age of eighteen, that Sevigny was spotted on the eighteen, that Sevigny was spotted on the street by a fashion editor for Sassy street by a fashion editor for Sassy magazine. And so began her career…magazine. And so began her career…

Gyllenhaal's first notable film Gyllenhaal's first notable film appearances was in 2001's cult hit appearances was in 2001's cult hit Donnie Darko, in which he played a Donnie Darko, in which he played a troubled teenager. In the 2004 troubled teenager. In the 2004 blockbuster The Day After Tomorrow, he blockbuster The Day After Tomorrow, he portrayed a student caught in a portrayed a student caught in a cataclysmic global cooling event. He cataclysmic global cooling event. He played against type as an angry Marine played against type as an angry Marine in Jarhead (2005) and, that same year, he in Jarhead (2005) and, that same year, he won critical acclaim as a "gay cowboy" won critical acclaim as a "gay cowboy" in the controversial, but highly lauded, in the controversial, but highly lauded, film Brokeback Mountain.film Brokeback Mountain.

Gyllenhaal has taken an activist role in Gyllenhaal has taken an activist role in supporting political and social causes, supporting political and social causes, promoting environmental causes and the promoting environmental causes and the American Civil Liberties Union.American Civil Liberties Union.

Gyllenhaal's first notable film Gyllenhaal's first notable film appearances was in 2001's cult hit appearances was in 2001's cult hit Donnie Darko, in which he played a Donnie Darko, in which he played a troubled teenager. In the 2004 troubled teenager. In the 2004 blockbuster The Day After Tomorrow, he blockbuster The Day After Tomorrow, he portrayed a student caught in a portrayed a student caught in a cataclysmic global cooling event. He cataclysmic global cooling event. He played against type as an angry Marine played against type as an angry Marine in Jarhead (2005) and, that same year, he in Jarhead (2005) and, that same year, he won critical acclaim as a "gay cowboy" won critical acclaim as a "gay cowboy" in the controversial, but highly lauded, in the controversial, but highly lauded, film Brokeback Mountain.film Brokeback Mountain.

Gyllenhaal has taken an activist role in Gyllenhaal has taken an activist role in supporting political and social causes, supporting political and social causes, promoting environmental causes and the promoting environmental causes and the American Civil Liberties Union.American Civil Liberties Union.

JAKE GYLLENHAAL JAKE GYLLENHAAL (Robert Graysmith)(Robert Graysmith)

Inspired by the film, Butch Cassidy and the Inspired by the film, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, he began making movies at Sundance Kid, he began making movies at the age of eight with an 8 mm camera. the age of eight with an 8 mm camera. Filmmaking seemed the perfect outlet for a Filmmaking seemed the perfect outlet for a kid who could spend all day drawing and kid who could spend all day drawing and loved to make sculptures, take pictures and loved to make sculptures, take pictures and tape-record. Fincher eschewed the film tape-record. Fincher eschewed the film school route, getting a job loading cameras school route, getting a job loading cameras and doing other hands-on work for John and doing other hands-on work for John Korty's Korty Films. He next got a job at Korty's Korty Films. He next got a job at Industrial Light and Magic in 1980 with his Industrial Light and Magic in 1980 with his first screen credit being for Return of the first screen credit being for Return of the Jedi, and stayed until 1984. Jedi, and stayed until 1984.

Fincher directed big-budget music videos Fincher directed big-budget music videos for artists such as Madonna, Jody Watley, for artists such as Madonna, Jody Watley, Rick Springfield, Steve Winwood, George Rick Springfield, Steve Winwood, George Michael, Aerosmith, Paula Abdul, the Michael, Aerosmith, Paula Abdul, the Rolling Stones, Nine Inch Nails, etc. Like a Rolling Stones, Nine Inch Nails, etc. Like a number of other music video directors, he number of other music video directors, he then moved into film.then moved into film.

DAVID FINCHERDAVID FINCHER (Director) (Director)

Based on the true story of a serial killer who terrified the San Based on the true story of a serial killer who terrified the San Francisco Bay Area and taunted authorities in four Francisco Bay Area and taunted authorities in four jurisdictions with his ciphers and letters for decades. Hunting jurisdictions with his ciphers and letters for decades. Hunting down the hunter would become an obsession for four men, an down the hunter would become an obsession for four men, an obsession that would turn them into ghosts of their former obsession that would turn them into ghosts of their former selves, their lives built and destroyed by the killer’s endless selves, their lives built and destroyed by the killer’s endless trail of clues.trail of clues.

EX

TEN

DED

SYN

OPSIS

Of the four, Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal) was the wild Of the four, Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal) was the wild card. A shy editorial cartoonist, Graysmith didn’t have the card. A shy editorial cartoonist, Graysmith didn’t have the cache and expertise of his seasoned and cynical colleague cache and expertise of his seasoned and cynical colleague Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.), the San Francisco Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.), the San Francisco Chronicle’s star crime reporter. He didn’t have Avery’s Chronicle’s star crime reporter. He didn’t have Avery’s connections with San Francisco Police Department’s connections with San Francisco Police Department’s celebrated and ambitious Homicide Inspector Dave Toschi celebrated and ambitious Homicide Inspector Dave Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) and his low-key, meticulous partner Inspector (Mark Ruffalo) and his low-key, meticulous partner Inspector William Armstrong (Anthony Edwards). What he did have William Armstrong (Anthony Edwards). What he did have was a crucial insight no one anticipated. It first appeared was a crucial insight no one anticipated. It first appeared Aug. 1, 1969. Aug. 1, 1969.

EX

TEN

DED

SYN

OPSIS

Paul AveryPaul Avery(Downey Jr.)(Downey Jr.)

Inspector Dave Toschi (Ruffalo) Inspector Dave Toschi (Ruffalo) meets with newspaper cartoonist meets with newspaper cartoonist

Robert Graysmith (Gyllenhaal)Robert Graysmith (Gyllenhaal)

A crudely written Letter to the Editor arrived in the day’s pile A crudely written Letter to the Editor arrived in the day’s pile of mail. One of three penned to the Chronicle, the San of mail. One of three penned to the Chronicle, the San Francisco Examiner and the Vallejo Times-Herald, its contents Francisco Examiner and the Vallejo Times-Herald, its contents brought the newsrooms to a standstill. “Dear Editor, This is brought the newsrooms to a standstill. “Dear Editor, This is the murderer…” of David Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen, and the murderer…” of David Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen, and of Darlene Ferrin and the attempted murder of Mike Mageau. of Darlene Ferrin and the attempted murder of Mike Mageau. He didn’t call them by name, but he gave a laundry list of He didn’t call them by name, but he gave a laundry list of details only the police could know. details only the police could know.

EX

TEN

DED

SYN

OPSIS

Zodiac inadvertently had turned detectives Toschi and Zodiac inadvertently had turned detectives Toschi and Armstrong and reporter Avery into overnight celebrities. Armstrong and reporter Avery into overnight celebrities. Characters based on Toschi would prove pivotal roles Characters based on Toschi would prove pivotal roles launching three movie stars’ careers. Graysmith remained launching three movie stars’ careers. Graysmith remained committed to his armchair sleuthing from the sidelines, committed to his armchair sleuthing from the sidelines, injecting his input when Avery would allow. Zodiac was always injecting his input when Avery would allow. Zodiac was always one step ahead, covering his tracks, peppering his lettered one step ahead, covering his tracks, peppering his lettered taunts with more threats. And then they became personal. taunts with more threats. And then they became personal.

EX

TEN

DED

SYN

OPSIS

Infamy would eclipse fame as Toschi fell from grace; Armstrong, Infamy would eclipse fame as Toschi fell from grace; Armstrong, frustrated moved on; Avery left the paper, crippled by his frustrated moved on; Avery left the paper, crippled by his addictions. Zodiac would no longer reveal his targets. Copycats addictions. Zodiac would no longer reveal his targets. Copycats sprang up coast to coast. The key suspect was still out there. sprang up coast to coast. The key suspect was still out there. Graysmith’s moment had come. That moment would change Graysmith’s moment had come. That moment would change their lives forever. their lives forever.

EX

TEN

DED

SYN

OPSIS

ZODIAC:Spiritual

Connections by David Bruce

Jake Gyllenhaal observes, “I think what is most Jake Gyllenhaal observes, “I think what is most interesting about this story is that when something interesting about this story is that when something like this happens there’s mass hysteria. And then like this happens there’s mass hysteria. And then it’s given to the experts. And sometimes it’s given to the experts. And sometimes the the experts don’t have the same heartexperts don’t have the same heart that just a kind of that just a kind of a regular guy like Robert Graysmith would have. a regular guy like Robert Graysmith would have. They also have so much red tape to go through, all They also have so much red tape to go through, all the jurisdiction. Robert, a sort of the jurisdiction. Robert, a sort of regular person regular person off off the street, doesn’t have to get a warrant for this, or the street, doesn’t have to get a warrant for this, or permission for that.” permission for that.”

Even though I can appreciate experts, Even though I can appreciate experts, professionals and, yes, huge organization. The professionals and, yes, huge organization. The truth is, however, that it is the outsider –the regular truth is, however, that it is the outsider –the regular person, like Robert Graysmith - who gives us our person, like Robert Graysmith - who gives us our best innovations. To often we give to the so-called best innovations. To often we give to the so-called “experts” more than we should. Organized “experts” more than we should. Organized business is never as innovative as the independent business is never as innovative as the independent entrepreneur. The system did not trust Graysmith entrepreneur. The system did not trust Graysmith as it should and everyone lost. Bottom line: Give as it should and everyone lost. Bottom line: Give place to the innovator, to the regular person, to place to the innovator, to the regular person, to yourself, and never give your soul away. yourself, and never give your soul away.

He was the ultimate bogey man. He was the ultimate bogey man.

““If you grew up there, at that time, If you grew up there, at that time, you had this you had this childhood fear childhood fear that that you kind of insinuated yourself you kind of insinuated yourself into it. What if it was our bus? into it. What if it was our bus? What if he showed up in our What if he showed up in our neighborhood? You create even neighborhood? You create even more drama about it when you’re a more drama about it when you’re a kid because that is what kids do. I kid because that is what kids do. I grew up in Marin and now I know grew up in Marin and now I know the geography of where the crimes the geography of where the crimes took place, but when you’re in took place, but when you’re in grade school, children don’t think grade school, children don’t think about that. They think, `He’s going about that. They think, `He’s going to show up at our school.’”to show up at our school.’”- Director David Fincher- Director David Fincher

““Fear is a question: Fear is a question: What are you afraid of, and What are you afraid of, and why?Just as the seed of health why?Just as the seed of health is in illness, because illness is in illness, because illness contains information, your contains information, your fears are a treasure house of fears are a treasure house of self-knowledge if you explore self-knowledge if you explore them.” --Marilyn Fergusonthem.” --Marilyn Ferguson

THE IMPORTANCE OF FEARTHE IMPORTANCE OF FEAR

ZODIAC:Spiritual

Connections by David Bruce

““Remember that Remember that fear fear always lurks always lurks behind perfectionism. Confronting your behind perfectionism. Confronting your fears and allowing yourself the right to fears and allowing yourself the right to be human can, paradoxically, make you a be human can, paradoxically, make you a far happier and more productive far happier and more productive person.” person.” --Dr. David M. Burns --Dr. David M. Burns

““InnovationInnovation has nothing to do with how has nothing to do with how many R&D dollars you have. When Apple many R&D dollars you have. When Apple came up with the Mac, IBM was spending came up with the Mac, IBM was spending at least 100 times more on R&D. It's not at least 100 times more on R&D. It's not about money. It's about the people you about money. It's about the people you have, how you're led, and how much you have, how you're led, and how much you get it.” --Steve Jobs get it.” --Steve Jobs

““Human salvation Human salvation lies in the hands of the lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted.” --Martin Luther creatively maladjusted.” --Martin Luther King Jr.King Jr.

ZODIAC:Spiritual

Connections by David Bruce