Ford - A Screenplay

LOGLINE

Driven by a relentless ambition to revolutionize the automobile industry, Henry Ford's quest for increased productivity leads to unprecedented success but also unleashes a reign of terror on his employees. As he grapples with his son's contrasting ideals and his own antisemitic tendencies, Ford's legacy becomes a complex tapestry of innovation, controversy, and wealth preservation.

BIO

The son of a Detroit school teacher and auto engineer with patents, Leif Peterson started attending high school summer school courses on engine mechanics in the 7th grade, and then rebuilt his mother's car engine in the 8th grade. He was a fighter pilot, has a masters degree in radiological (x-ray) physics, doctoral degree on Hiroshima & Nagasaki atomic bomb survivors, and has been a professor for more than 25 years. He published 2 scientific books and more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific papers. He was a grease-monkey growing up and is an auto enthusiast who maintains his own '68 Porsche. He is currently a lecturer in statistics at Rice University.

SYNOPSIS

Henry Ford's underlying goal in life is to create a better automobile for the masses.   After becoming overwhelmingly successful, Ford faces the challenge of manufacturing more cars, but with the same labor force.   The moving assembly line is then implemented to increase manufacturing. But it creates boredom, which elevates worker turnover and dampens profits. He then incentivizes work by doubling the daily wage and shortening the workweek. At a time when Ford Motor Company only supports "paternalistic" welfare capitalism, i.e., company unions and not trade unions, he learns that labor expansion demands additional structure in the workplace. Ford then spawns a Service Department comprised of 2,000 pugilistic roughnecks to maintain order and proliferate productivity. His conspiratorial beliefs facilitate creation of the Sociological Department that introduces compulsory after-hours English courses to "Americanize" workers, since he equates lower productivity with foreign languages. The department also inspects workers' homes to identify signs of boarding laborers, employed spouses, gambling and drinking, and not having a savings plan.   Ruling by fear, he attains the greater productivity needed for his own enrichment and resists trade unions, but at the cost of reigning terror on his own employees. Meanwhile, the tectonic rift between Henry and his jazz-loving Gatsby-esque son Edsel deepens with the growth of popular music, which is a "Jewish monopoly." After losing a US senate race and throwing in the towel on a presidential bid after learning he'd get few votes from New York and other Midwest states, he purchases the Dearborn Independent newspaper and publishes weekly antisemitic rants and his tome "The International Jew." The book is translated into several languages and becomes an inspirational read among Hitler youth. Ford then receives the Grand Cross of the German Eagle, which is Nazi Germany's highest decoration for foreigners. The newspaper is distributed to hundreds of Ford dealers throughout the US, hoping that customers will open a subscription. As a pacifist, Henry offers his "entire fortune" to European nations to cease fighting in WW1, and rebuffs more than $700m in government contracts, while Edsel establishes manufacturing ties with the war effort during WW2. In the end, the family's ultimatums prove advantageous for wealth preservation.

PRODUCER PITCH

"FORD" is a screenplay script for a biopic of the American industrialist Henry Ford and his life as president of Ford Motor Company (FMC).   The genre of the script is similar to that of other biopics such as "Oppenheimer," "Ford vs. Ferrari," and "Flash of Genius."

The majority of scenes are factual and therefore required a significant amount of historical research based on information from newspaper articles, books, media, and library records.   The remainder of the scenes are fictional.

An idea for potential filming would be to start with Scene 30 "EXT. LAKE ST. CLAIR 30 (FROZEN) - DAY" on page 34, in which Henry Ford sets a new world speed record on frozen lake St. Clair in Michigan, January 12, 1904 - which was a true story.

Because Henry Ford was very antisemitic, I chose the last scenes to take place in Israel whereby the fictional CEO of FMC attends ribbon-cutting ceremonies at new plant openings in the 1960's - another true story. l also wrote the closing scene to be a brief statement by the current-day, real-world CEO of FMC about technological advancements, workplace diversity/equity/inclusion, philanthropy, and support for the environment and community.

LIST OF SCENES

ACT 1
INT. FORD FARMHOUSE, DINING ROOM - DAY
EXT. FORD FARMHOUSE - DAY
EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - DAY
INT. FORD FARMHOUSE, HENRY'S BEDROOM - DAY
INT. RURAL WATCH REPAIR SHOP - DAY
INT. HENRY'S BEDROOM, FARMHOUSE - DAY
INT. RURAL WATCH REPAIR SHOP - DAY
EXT. FORD FARM - DAY
EXT. CITY RAILCAR, DETROIT - DAY
EXT. CITY STREET, DETROIT - CONTINUOUS
INT. INFIRMARY, DETROIT DRYDOCK COMPANY - CONTINUOUS
EXT. FARM - DAY
EXT. FORD FARM - DAY
INT. RURAL CHURCH, PULPIT - CONTINUOUS
INT. RURAL CHURCH, POST-SERVICE COFFEE - CONTINUOUS
INT. ENGINE SHOP ON FARM - DAY
INT. BOARD ROOM, EDISON ELECTRIC COMPANY - DAY
INT. ROSE TERRACE I - DAY
EXT. ROSE TERRACE I, CIRCLE DRIVE - EVENING (CONTINUOUS)
INT. FORD HOME - EVENING
EXT. FRONT DOOR, SMALL FACTORY - DAY
INT. SMALL FACTORY - CONTINUOUS
EXT. "DELPHINE" DODGE YACHT, DETROIT RIVER - DAY
INT. SMALL FACTORY - DAY
INT. SMALL FACTORY - NIGHT
INT. SMALL FACTORY - DAY
INT. SMALL FACTORY OFFICE - DAY

ACT 2
INT. SMALL FACTORY OFFICE - DAY
INT. SMALL FACTORY OFFICE - DAY
EXT. LAKE ST. CLAIR (FROZEN) - DAY
INT. OFFICE, DETROIT - CONTINUOUS
INT. FORD'S OFFICE - DAY
INT. INTENSIVE CARE UNIT - DAY
INT. BOARD ROOM, GERMAN-AMERICAN SAVINGS BANK - DAY
EXT. DETROIT STREET - CONTINUOUS
INT. BOARD ROOM - CONTINUOUS
INT. SMALL FACTORY OFFICE - DAY
INT. SMALL FACTORY OFFICE - DAY
INT. SMALL FACTORY OFFICE - DAY
INT. SMALL FACTORY OFFICE - NIGHT
INT. BOARD ROOM, FORD MOTOR COMPANY - DAY
INT. APPELLATE COURTROOM - DAY
INT. DETROIT AUTO SHOW - DAY
INT. BOARD ROOM, FORD MOTOR COMPANY - DAY
EXT. HOME INSPECTION - DAY
INT. ENGLISH COURSE AT FMC - NIGHT
INT. PEACE CRUSADE PLANNING, FAIR LANE - DAY
INT. WHITE HOUSE - DAY
INT. OSCAR II, LINER - DAY
INT. OSLO, NORWAY - DAY
EXT. ATLANTIC OCEAN - DAY
INT. FORD'S OFFICE - DAY
EXT. DETROIT RIVER BOAT RACE - DAY
INT. RACING BOATHOUSE, DETROIT RIVER - DAY
INT. LIBERTY V-12 AIRCRAFT ENGINE PLANT, DETROIT - DAY
INT. GENTLEMEN'S PARLOR, DETROIT BOAT CLUB - DAY
INT. FORD'S SECRET TUNNELS - DAY
INT. WASHINGTON, WAR DEPARTMENT - DAY
INT. EDSEL FORD'S DESIGN ROOM, FORD MOTOR COMPANY - DAY
EXT. HUNGER MARCH RALLY, DETROIT - DAY
INT. MAYORAL MEETING, DEARBORN - CONTINUOUS
EXT. HUNGER MARCH - DAY
EXT. FERRY HALL, DETROIT - DAY
EXT. FUNERAL PROCESSION - CONTINUOUS
INT. FORD HOSPITAL - DAY
INT. FORD'S SECRET TUNNELS - DAY
INT. STAMPING PLANT - DAY
INT. FORD'S OFFICE - DAY
INT. MORTGAGE DEPARTMENT, BANK - DAY
EXT. BOATHOUSE, GAUKLER POINT - DAY
EXT. DINING ROOM, GAUKLER POINT - CONTINUOUS
EXT. BATTLE OF OVERPASS - DAY
INT. PARLOR, FAIR LANE - DAY
EXT. 100-YEAR RIVER FLOOD - DAY
INT. DEARBORN INDEPENDENT - DAY
INT. NUREMBERG TRIALS, TESTIMONY - DAY
INT. GRAND CROSS DECORATION - DAY
EXT. FORD AUTO DEALER, BRONX - DAY
INT. B-24 COCKPIT AT WILLOW RUN AIRPORT - DAY
INT. PARLOR, FAIR LANE - DAY
INT. BOARD ROOM, FMC - DAY

ACT 3
INT. UAW BOARD ROOM - DAY
EXT. FISHING AT FAIR LANE - DAY
INT. EXECUTIVE EXAM ROOM, FORD HOSPITAL, DETROIT - DAY
EXT. ALLISON V-12 ENGINE TEST, DETROIT RIVER - DAY
INT. EXECUTIVE PATIENT WAITING ROOM, UNIV MICHIGAN - DAY
INT. PARLOR, FAIR LANE - DAY
EXT. FORD CEMETERY, DETROIT - DAY
INT. FORD ASSEMBLY PLANT, NAZARETH - DAY
INT. FORD RESEARCH CENTER, TEL AVIV - DAY
INT. EPILOGUE - DAY

(C) 2022-2023, L.E. Peterson

LOGLINE

Driven by a relentless ambition to revolutionize the automobile industry, Henry Ford's quest for increased productivity leads to unprecedented success but also unleashes a reign of terror on his employees. As he grapples with his son's contrasting ideals and his own antisemitic tendencies, Ford's legacy becomes a complex mosaic of innovation, controversy, and wealth preservation.

BIO

The son of a Detroit school teacher and auto engineer with patents, Leif Peterson started attending high school summer school courses on engine mechanics in the 7th grade, and then rebuilt his mother's car engine in the 8th grade. He was a fighter pilot, has a masters degree in radiological (x-ray) physics, doctoral degree on Hiroshima & Nagasaki atomic bomb survivors, and has been a professor for more than 25 years. He published 2 scientific books and more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific papers. He was a grease-monkey growing up and is an auto enthusiast who maintains his own '68 Porsche. He is currently a lecturer in statistics at Rice University.

SYNOPSIS

Henry Ford's underlying goal in life is to create a better automobile for the masses.   After becoming overwhelmingly successful, Ford faces the challenge of manufacturing more cars, but with the same labor force.   The moving assembly line is then implemented to increase manufacturing. But it creates boredom, which elevates worker turnover and dampens profits. He then incentivizes work by doubling the daily wage and shortening the workweek. At a time when Ford Motor Company only supports "paternalistic" welfare capitalism, i.e., company unions and not trade unions, he learns that labor expansion demands additional structure in the workplace. Ford then spawns a Service Department comprised of 2,000 pugilistic roughnecks to maintain order and proliferate productivity. His conspiratorial beliefs facilitate creation of the Sociological Department that introduces compulsory after-hours English courses to "Americanize" workers, since he equates lower productivity with foreign languages. The department also inspects workers' homes to identify signs of boarding laborers, employed spouses, gambling and drinking, and not having a savings plan.   Ruling by fear, he attains the greater productivity needed for his own enrichment and resists trade unions, but at the cost of reigning terror on his own employees. Meanwhile, the tectonic rift between Henry and his jazz-loving Gatsby-esque son Edsel deepens with the growth of popular music, which is a "Jewish monopoly." After losing a US senate race and throwing in the towel on a presidential bid after learning he'd get few votes from New York and other Midwest states, he purchases the Dearborn Independent newspaper and publishes weekly antisemitic rants and his tome "The International Jew." The book is translated into several languages and becomes an inspirational read among Hitler youth. Ford then receives the Grand Cross of the German Eagle, which is Nazi Germany's highest decoration for foreigners. The newspaper is distributed to hundreds of Ford dealers throughout the US, hoping that customers will open a subscription. As a pacifist, Henry offers his "entire fortune" to European nations to cease fighting in WW1, and rebuffs more than $700m in government contracts, while Edsel establishes manufacturing ties with the war effort during WW2. In the end, the family's ultimatums prove advantageous for wealth preservation.

PRODUCER PITCH

"FORD" is a screenplay script for a biopic of the American industrialist Henry Ford and his life as president of Ford Motor Company (FMC).   The genre of the script is similar to that of other biopics such as "Oppenheimer," "Ford vs. Ferrari," and "Flash of Genius."

The majority of scenes are factual and therefore required a significant amount of historical research based on information from newspaper articles, books, media, and library records.   The remainder of the scenes are fictional.

An idea for potential filming would be to start with Scene 30 "EXT. LAKE ST. CLAIR 30 (FROZEN) - DAY" on page 34, in which Henry Ford sets a new world speed record on frozen lake St. Clair in Michigan, January 12, 1904 - which was a true story.

Because Henry Ford was very antisemitic, I chose the last scenes to take place in Israel whereby the fictional CEO of FMC attends ribbon-cutting ceremonies at new plant openings in the 1960's - another true story. l also wrote the closing scene to be a brief statement by the current-day, real-world CEO of FMC about technological advancements, workplace diversity/equity/inclusion, philanthropy, and support for the environment and community.

LIST OF SCENES

ACT 1
INT. FORD FARMHOUSE, DINING ROOM - DAY
EXT. FORD FARMHOUSE - DAY
EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - DAY
INT. FORD FARMHOUSE, HENRY'S BEDROOM - DAY
INT. RURAL WATCH REPAIR SHOP - DAY
INT. HENRY'S BEDROOM, FARMHOUSE - DAY
INT. RURAL WATCH REPAIR SHOP - DAY
EXT. FORD FARM - DAY
EXT. CITY RAILCAR, DETROIT - DAY
EXT. CITY STREET, DETROIT - CONTINUOUS
INT. INFIRMARY, DETROIT DRYDOCK COMPANY - CONTINUOUS
EXT. FARM - DAY
EXT. FORD FARM - DAY
INT. RURAL CHURCH, PULPIT - CONTINUOUS
INT. RURAL CHURCH, POST-SERVICE COFFEE - CONTINUOUS
INT. ENGINE SHOP ON FARM - DAY
INT. BOARD ROOM, EDISON ELECTRIC COMPANY - DAY
INT. ROSE TERRACE I - DAY
EXT. ROSE TERRACE I, CIRCLE DRIVE - EVENING (CONTINUOUS)
INT. FORD HOME - EVENING
EXT. FRONT DOOR, SMALL FACTORY - DAY
INT. SMALL FACTORY - CONTINUOUS
EXT. "DELPHINE" DODGE YACHT, DETROIT RIVER - DAY
INT. SMALL FACTORY - DAY
INT. SMALL FACTORY - NIGHT
INT. SMALL FACTORY - DAY
INT. SMALL FACTORY OFFICE - DAY

ACT 2
INT. SMALL FACTORY OFFICE - DAY
INT. SMALL FACTORY OFFICE - DAY
EXT. LAKE ST. CLAIR (FROZEN) - DAY
INT. OFFICE, DETROIT - CONTINUOUS
INT. FORD'S OFFICE - DAY
INT. INTENSIVE CARE UNIT - DAY
INT. BOARD ROOM, GERMAN-AMERICAN SAVINGS BANK - DAY
EXT. DETROIT STREET - CONTINUOUS
INT. BOARD ROOM - CONTINUOUS
INT. SMALL FACTORY OFFICE - DAY
INT. SMALL FACTORY OFFICE - DAY
INT. SMALL FACTORY OFFICE - DAY
INT. SMALL FACTORY OFFICE - NIGHT
INT. BOARD ROOM, FORD MOTOR COMPANY - DAY
INT. APPELLATE COURTROOM - DAY
INT. DETROIT AUTO SHOW - DAY
INT. BOARD ROOM, FORD MOTOR COMPANY - DAY
EXT. HOME INSPECTION - DAY
INT. ENGLISH COURSE AT FMC - NIGHT
INT. PEACE CRUSADE PLANNING, FAIR LANE - DAY
INT. WHITE HOUSE - DAY
INT. OSCAR II, LINER - DAY
INT. OSLO, NORWAY - DAY
EXT. ATLANTIC OCEAN - DAY
INT. FORD'S OFFICE - DAY
EXT. DETROIT RIVER BOAT RACE - DAY
INT. RACING BOATHOUSE, DETROIT RIVER - DAY
INT. LIBERTY V-12 AIRCRAFT ENGINE PLANT, DETROIT - DAY
INT. GENTLEMEN'S PARLOR, DETROIT BOAT CLUB - DAY
INT. FORD'S SECRET TUNNELS - DAY
INT. WASHINGTON, WAR DEPARTMENT - DAY
INT. EDSEL FORD'S DESIGN ROOM, FORD MOTOR COMPANY - DAY
EXT. HUNGER MARCH RALLY, DETROIT - DAY
INT. MAYORAL MEETING, DEARBORN - CONTINUOUS
EXT. HUNGER MARCH - DAY
EXT. FERRY HALL, DETROIT - DAY
EXT. FUNERAL PROCESSION - CONTINUOUS
INT. FORD HOSPITAL - DAY
INT. FORD'S SECRET TUNNELS - DAY
INT. STAMPING PLANT - DAY
INT. FORD'S OFFICE - DAY
INT. MORTGAGE DEPARTMENT, BANK - DAY
EXT. BOATHOUSE, GAUKLER POINT - DAY
EXT. DINING ROOM, GAUKLER POINT - CONTINUOUS
EXT. BATTLE OF OVERPASS - DAY
INT. PARLOR, FAIR LANE - DAY
EXT. 100-YEAR RIVER FLOOD - DAY
INT. DEARBORN INDEPENDENT - DAY
INT. NUREMBERG TRIALS, TESTIMONY - DAY
INT. GRAND CROSS DECORATION - DAY
EXT. FORD AUTO DEALER, BRONX - DAY
INT. B-24 COCKPIT AT WILLOW RUN AIRPORT - DAY
INT. PARLOR, FAIR LANE - DAY
INT. BOARD ROOM, FMC - DAY

ACT 3
INT. UAW BOARD ROOM - DAY
EXT. FISHING AT FAIR LANE - DAY
INT. EXECUTIVE EXAM ROOM, FORD HOSPITAL, DETROIT - DAY
EXT. ALLISON V-12 ENGINE TEST, DETROIT RIVER - DAY
INT. EXECUTIVE PATIENT WAITING ROOM, UNIV MICHIGAN - DAY
INT. PARLOR, FAIR LANE - DAY
EXT. FORD CEMETERY, DETROIT - DAY
INT. FORD ASSEMBLY PLANT, NAZARETH - DAY
INT. FORD RESEARCH CENTER, TEL AVIV - DAY
INT. EPILOGUE - DAY

(C) 2022-2023, L.E. Peterson