The opportunity to hear one of the truly great creative people of the Twentieth Century was indeed worthwhile. I am always fascinated by meeting accomplished people; what makes them great? What makes them tick? Oliver Stone (who spoke at the Boston Center for Adult Education on March 19) is on one hand a genius, and on the other, a very genuine person; nothing pretentious about him. His message to anyone in any creative endeavor is to find your own unique voice; what do you want to say and how do you want to say it? In Oliver Stone’s case, he focuses on issues that are current and in the heart of our American culture, yet contain aspects of truth that may be concealed. Furthermore, he encourages everyone to think as an individual and form his own conclusions based upon this truth.

Oliver Stone grew up in the 1950’s and 60’s in an environment he referred to as "one filled with angst". There was an undercurrent of fear that at any moment nuclear holocaust could occur, which, because indeed possible, had a profound effect on the way people thought and behaved. But there were also illusions. There was the illusion of what the media portrayed as an "American Life". Some of the illusions promulgated by the popular media included that Russia and China, and indeed all Communist countries were not just united, but united against America. Later, we found out that they were as likely to war with one another as they were to fight us. Furthermore, there was a "Domino Theory", whereby countries would fall one-by-one to Communism unless the United States stopped them. And of course there is the illusion that John F. Kennedy was assassinated by a "lone nut gunman".

Yet underneath it all, Stone felt that there was something missing. He wanted to experience life on a deeper level; to have a "truly human" experience; one that transcended the day-to-day existence of most people trying to pursue the "American Dream". He went to Vietnam in the 1960’s to, as he termed it, "See the bottom of the barrel," and to see if he could survive it; not just physically, but spiritually and emotionally as well. If he did not, he felt that dying was better than having a non-life; one filled with the illusion of how the popular media told us we should live and what the important focuses of life should be. As an artist, Oliver Stone believes that it is of paramount importance to find a focus and style that is truly one’s own; one that defines who one is. Stone believes in a law of cause and effect–that whatever one does will come back to you in some way. In his films, he wants to take the human experience to its extreme. One example of this is in HEAVEN AND EARTH, where a woman is wounded by a number of people on many levels. A lesser artist would have her learn forgiveness, but in this film, she learns not just to forgive the people who hurt her, but to actually see them as benefactors in that they helped her to learn critical lessons of life.

As a continuation of his search for exposing the truth, Stone talked about current issues facing America today containing aspects that may be deceptive. Some of these included the following: A continuation of the idea that certain foreign governments are deleterious to the United States and should therefore be toppled; The way that current news media is becoming a tabloid "News for Sale" show designed to maximize profits without concern for the well being of the public overall; The way small businesses are swallowed up by larger corporations in a quest for power and greater profits; The coming of Artificial Intelligence and the effects it will have on our way of life. Also, what could happen if, like the computer, Hal, in 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, such "AI" becomes self-aware. Perhaps the topic that most fascinates Stone is the means by which governmental power structures work to preserve and protect their power. Many of his movies show the effects of such tactics on individual citizens. He is especially passionate about his movie JFK, and believes that it is close to the truth about what actually happened. He is fascinated but not surprised that when facts emerge supporting the truth about this assassination, they are given little media attention.

In the next segment of his lecture, Stone spoke about his movies, stating that "Each is like a child. You love each one equally, but in a different way". Stone does not take critics too seriously, but does listen for anything that can help him to grow as both an artist and human being. He believes that there is a tendency for people who speak clearly and loudly to be criticized the most; and there is always someone who will disagree. "It is OK to be hated, as long as it is by the right people." He knows that the world is an unfair place, and believes that one should see this unfairness as an opportunity to learn and grow. Stone sees himself as a Dramatist, that is, as someone who makes a point dramatically. Although such a point is perhaps not exactly accurate, it is nevertheless truthful. Stone believes in portraying this truthfulness in many layers, which give his films their depth and substance, those levels being mirrored in the "action scenes".

Stone closed by reminding the audience that there will always be a need for good stories; a trait that goes way back in human history. He likened the movie industry to cave people sitting around a fire; the storyteller who tells the best story gets the attention of the group. He gave the advice to anyone interested in a career in film to be persistent, and went so far as to say that too much success too early can be hurtful. He believes that life is an excellent teacher if one allows it to be. Adversity and rejection are effective teachers, and one should become a wise student. He told listeners that in order to be successful, he had to push himself beyond his natural limitations, and he encourages people who genuinely want to succeed in any endeavor to do the same. Any event that happens to him causes him to ask, "Is this a real human experience or just an illusion?" Any storyteller who can portray such an experience in both a dramatic and truthful way will always get the attention of others. Stone finished his lecture by posing both a question and challenge to the audience: "Do you want to live as a slave, or become Spartacus? Do you want to be hated for the truth and what you are, or loved for what you are not?"

Steve Gianino is co-director, with Scott Anderson, of Harvard Square Scriptwriters. Steve is a periodontist in the Boston area, and currently has several writing projects underway.