EP07: Igniting a Lifelong Love for Reading: A Chat with Filmmaker Adam Rifkin

In our latest episode of the Future Focused Learning Podcast, we had the pleasure of hosting Adam Rifkin, a celebrated filmmaker and actor, known for his unique storytelling and impactful films. Adam recently completed his latest project, "Last Train to Fortune," a film that masterfully intertwines the importance of literacy and the thrill of adventure in a post-Civil War American Southwest setting.

During the podcast, our founder, Kyla Bolden, had the opportunity to sit down with Adam and delve into the often-overlooked importance of literacy in today’s tech-focused education. While STEM subjects are crucial, fostering a love for reading and literature is equally vital. Literacy scores in North America highlight the need to encourage reading as a foundational skill. Adam’s film aims to inspire audiences to embrace literature, not as a school requirement, but as a lifelong journey of discovery and personal growth.

Listen to the Podcast Episode on Apple Podcast and Spotify:  EP07: Igniting a Lifelong Love for Reading: A Chat with Filmmaker Adam Rifkin

Adam shared his fascinating journey into the world of filmmaking. Growing up in Chicago with a passion for movies, he started making small films with his friends using his dad’s Super 8 camera. This early hands-on experience taught him the fundamentals of movie-making through trial and error. At just 17, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dreams, quickly learning that securing funding was the key to bringing his visions to life. His perseverance paid off, leading to his first film at the age of 20.

"Last Train to Fortune" follows the story of Cecil Peachtree, an educated British schoolteacher, and Dooley, an illiterate outlaw. Their journey to the town of Fortune is filled with gunfights, jailbreaks, and unexpected friendships. The film highlights how education and a love for literature can transform lives, a theme inspired by Adam’s mother, a lifelong teacher and the script’s original author.

Adam’s deep connection to the story is evident. He shared how his mother’s passion for education and books influenced both the film and his own upbringing. Her screenplay, written in 1986 for a PBS competition, beautifully melds her love for teaching and Westerns.

"Last Train to Fortune" is set to release later this year with a unique old-fashioned roadshow approach, featuring events at libraries, schools, and museums. Adam’s hope is that the film will entertain and inspire viewers to value education and the transformative power of books.

As a special feature, we encourage everyone to explore the "Last Train to Fortune" Book List, curated by Adam Rifkin, to further immerse in the world of literature:

LAST TRAIN TO FORTUNE Book List

• Walden by Henry David Thoreau

• The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas

• The Odyssey by Homer

• The Complete Poems of John Keats

• Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

• Moby Dick by Herman Melville

• Pippa Passes by Robert Browning

• Gulliver’s Travels

3 Books by Charles Dickens

• Oliver Twist

• Great Expectations

• David Copperfield

3 Books by the Brontë Sisters:

• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

• Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

• Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë

3 Plays by William Shakespeare:

• The Tragedy of Macbeth

• Romeo & Juliet

• Hamlet