FORCADE
A sweeping biopic about Thomas Forcade, visionary leader of the Underground Press Syndicate, drug smuggler, and later founder of High Times magazine.
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PETER P CLARKWriter
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Project Type:Screenplay
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Genres:Biopic, Drama
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Number of Pages:120
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Language:English
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First-time Screenwriter:No
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Student Project:No
Peter P Clark (née Krcmar) is a Czech-American filmmaker and entrepreneur. He is an accomplished writer-director who typically divides his time between New York, Prague and Miami, Florida. His films often explore themes of consciousness, perception and altered states of being, including those induced by psychedelic drugs. Peter began his career in acting and music having achieved numerous accolades as a stage performer both on and off-Broadway and then later transitioning into film. He first gained recognition with his TV anthology series DOSE, which he wrote and directed, premiering at Orlando Film Festival and screened at both Catalyst Content and SeriesFest 9, and having garnered several awards at numerous other festivals and competitions, including being named a semi-finalist for the 27th Annual Fade In Awards TV Pilot/Web Series Competition and receiving a Silver Telly award for Best TV Drama. In addition to writing and directing Clark co-founded ATTIC STUDIOS, a prominent production services company and studio rental complex serving the New York market. He sometimes composes music for his projects as well having earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from The University of Nevada Las Vegas, a top music program in the US. The only child of an Eastern European refugee and single parent, he has been pursuing socially conscious filmmaking from an early age.
Tom Forcade was a highly complicated person. An Iconoclast and an unsung, unlikely hero he failed at many endeavors. He died and then fell somewhat quickly into obscurity. In fact, the New York Times did not publish his obituary although he was arguably the most successful publisher of the 70s aside from Larry Flynt and Hugh Hefner. TF was a weirdo and a genius. A sexually ambiguous megalomaniac who pierced both of his nipples before piercing was a thing. Both a gentleman and a menace. A bundle of walking contradictions. He absolutely hated authority, something he learned from his dad whose ancestors were pioneers. When everyone zigged, Tom zagged. When his father died at an early age, he rebelled from just about everything and probably never recovered from the loss. He valued personal freedom above all and hated when anyone tried to impose laws or rules on him. He saw government as the enemy and fought against social injustice. He chose decriminalization of illegal drugs and free speech as his way to fight oppression. He was never outwardly high or “fucked up” although he did suffer from sometimes public bouts of mania and depression. He worked very fast and got things done. He spoke eloquently, was extremely articulate and smart as hell. He knew business and had tested a genius as a child. Tom ran with the ball that was started with the avant-gardist of the 1920s (defying convention), the beat poets of the 50s (defying mores of the time) and then the free speech and freedom advocates of the 1960s and 70s (defying everything). Although he supported many causes, he ultimately thought they were all ineffective and valued anarchy as a more effective means of “waking up” the people. In the months before his death, he followed the Sex Pistols on their ill-fate (and only) tour of the US, attempting to make an unauthorized documentary film. People feared Tom and were jealous of him at the same time. He was intense and very smart and didn’t let people off the hook easily. He later became a self-made millionaire (although he gave most of his money away) and somewhat influential, although he never achieved the kind of acceptance he desperately desired. He could be very kind, but few saw this side of him, aside from his circle of lovers, women and perhaps one special man, his best friend Jack Combs; an ace pilot, and his most loyal confidante. After many years of FBI surveillance and facing federal charges for a massive drug bust, Tom died by self-inflicted gunshot wound at age 33. The script is currently being developed with Groundswell Productions (Michael London, Shannon Gaulding producing), cooperation from High Times, and the full support of the Forcade family estate.