More People Should Know about JCM

James Clerk Maxwell is one of my heroes.

It seems to me that more people should know about his amazing contributions to physics and see him as a true hero.

This is why I’m writing a screenplay about his life. It’s why I hope to make a movie about his extraordinary accomplishments.

I’m in the process of improving the outline for this screenplay.

Making a movie about any historical figure is tricky. First, you have to include all of the factual moments of his or her life that may be interesting. Then you need to adapt the material in a way that is relevant for today’s audience.

This is no small task.

I should probably pay more attention to the “Best Adapted Screenplay” Academy Awards category!

After doing a lot of research, I’m including many factual moments that matter. I’m also extrapolating ideas that are consistent with his life. While the fictional scenes may not be “true”, they are definitely possible, within the context of what we know about James Clerk Maxwell.

Here’s a quick summary.

• JCM is fascinated by nature as a kid.
• His mother dies when he’s only eight years old.
• He struggles with a bad tutor until he can take classes in Edinburgh.
• He is recognized both by his friends and adults for his scientific aptitude.
• He meets Faraday and provides a mathematical model for Faraday’s “lines of force”.
• His father dies.
• He discovers the true nature of Saturn’s Rings.
• He marries Katherine Dewar, after getting to know her in Aberdeen.
• He does physics at Glenlair and then teaches at King’s College.
• He unravels the mysteries of electricity and magnetism!
• He becomes a professor at Cambridge.
• He creates the Cavendish Laboratory!
• Extraordinary physics results follow.

While this may not sound like blockbuster material, it is significant.

It represents one of the greatest moments in the history of physics!