As children most of us allow ourselves to dream
of accomplishing great feats or becoming something that adults often dismiss
as being born of fantasy and would consider to be unrealistic. Earlier this
year the Farmer Astronaut will open at theatres around the country and the
award-winning twins Michael (director/writer) and Mark Polish (writer) (Twin
Falls Idaho) seek to rekindle in us the desire to chase after our dreams as
we live vicariously through the central character Charles Farmer.
Recently the two brothers took time to speak to Phantom Tollbooth about the film. “I believe it (the film) is both (fantasy and rekindling) to several different types of audiences but what seems to be fantasy to some is reality to us. What I mean by that is putting your dreams in front of you and being tenacious enough to fulfill those dreams that (at times) look fantastical to others. You may not want to put your family in financial strife and (ask yourself) would you do that. When you are going after your dream you might not have a choice in those matters,” says Michael Polish.
Charles Farmer portrayed by actor Billy Bob Thornton had a lifelong dream of becoming an astronaut and was well on his way to achieving that goal when a family situation cut short his aspirations. Not to be denied Farmer spends the better part of a decade and every cent he has to build a rocket on his farm in Story, Texas. He hopes one day to launch his rocket into space with him aboard.
Thornton brings authenticity to the role born out of his own personal convictions, “Once you get something stuck in your craw, you gotta do it. What else can you do? Do you sacrifice everything to achieve that dream or do you crawl in a hole and give up? One way or another, the people who try are the ones we care about.”
Farmer encounters, as you would expect interference from several governmental and law enforcement agencies but will not be deterred realizing that this is his chance not only to realize a dream but to instil in his children the courage to pursue their own ideals.
In listening to Michael Polish describe why Billy Bob Thornton was chosen for the role of Charles Farmer it is reminiscent of the demeanour he brought to the screen in the person of Davy Crocket in the movie The Alamo. “He brings a nice silent quality to this role,” he says and adds, “Billy is a guy that we knew could carry both facets of Charles Farmer, he could be a rancher and he could also be an astronaut. He had the plausibility to do both and when we spoke to him he had the intellect of really trying to figure out what this guy is all about.”
Their own father inspired the Polish brothers and much of the character of Charles Farmer draws upon that inspiration. “My father led by example, was very active with us and he always incorporated us into what he was doing. He taught us what to do in every situation. He was a pilot by trade so he made sure we were incorporated in how to fly and what it took to be in aeronautics,” says Michael.
Interview by Joe Montague
