One of the now public films is the war film “Hell’s Angels” (about fighter pilots, not bikers). It’s directed by Howard Hughes, odd because he was an airplane designer, not a director. The more I read the more Hughes’ project sounded like a parallel to dumb shit Elon is doing, buying a social media outlet… okay, making a major morning picture… sure, firing a third of the company and running it into the ground… predictable, getting several people killed during filming and never recouping the cost of production… wow.

Hughes has a reputation as an eccentric reclusive genius, he designed some great aircraft, he made a lot of money, but he was problematic whenever he stepped out of his lane. We’re probably lucky he never got into politics.

Here’s the thing, I’ll quote from the Wikipedia page.

When Paul Mantz, the principal stunt pilot, informed Hughes that a stunt in the final scene was too dangerous, Hughes piloted the aircraft himself, but crashed; he suffered a skull fracture and had to undergo facial surgery as well. Three stunt pilots and a mechanic died in accidents during filming.

I’m not sure if Hughes really “learned his lesson” from that, but I’m willing to bet that coming that close to death would affect anyone. How do we get Elon to do anything that would actually give him pause? How do we get him a life altering experience (not necessarily a near death experience, but I’m not oppressed to that either)?