Thirty-six years ago, Martin Schmidt’s teenage parents put him up for adoption. A month ago, he officiated their wedding — after reuniting the former high school sweethearts.
In our latest “Shoot This Now” podcast, we argue that the story should be a movie. And Schmidt says Hollywood is starting to come around to our way of thinking. You can listen to the podcast on Apple or right here.
“We have had a few calls, mostly Lifetime or Hallmark-type films,” Schmidt told TheWrap. “We have not committed to anything yet. … We are shopping for representation as well but have not signed onto anyone yet. We really had no idea this story would create such a buzz.”
On the “Shoot This Now” podcast, though, Matt Donnelly and I talk about why this is a true love story made for the big screen. It’s a love story in every sense, full of romantic love, the love between parents and children — and the love we should all have for adoptees, parents who love their children enough to put them up for adoption, and parents who adopt.
Even before Schmidt reunited his birth parents, he felt loved and protected by the couple who adopted him, William and Cynthia Schmidt.
“They absolutely loved me like I was biologically born,” Schmidt told The New York Times. “I have a great family.”
Oh — and there’s a “Big Lebowski” connection. The reason Martin Schmidt was able to unite his parents in holy matrimony was because he is ordained, years ago, by the Church of the Latter Day Dude. The religion is inspired by “The Big Lebowski,” an abiding Coen Brothers film starring Jeff Bridges as Jeff “The Dude” Leboswki, a zen master of slacking at its best who becomes caught in a tale of intrigue and — you’ve seen it, right? If you haven’t seen it please skip out silly podcast and go see it.