"It was wonderful to see how, after only a few turns, the colors became mixed, apparently in random fashion. It was tremendously satisfying to watch this color parade. Like after a nice walk when you have seen many lovely sights you decide to go home, after a while I decided it was time to go home, let us put the cubes back in order. And it was at that moment that I came face to face with the Big Challenge: What is the way home?"

-Erno Rubik

First came the idea to make Rubik the Amazing Cube into a movie. The story would be simple: a lovable, magical Rubik's Cube discovers the good in himself by helping his friends. Then I got interested in the Cube in general all over again and wanted to know more about Erno Rubik. I've known his name since I was a kid, but I didn't really know anything about him except that he's smart and Hungarian.

In my reseach I found a rare TV appearance Mr. Rubik did on the UK morning show The big Breakfast See the video. It was a nice long segment where Erno was asked a variety of questions about how hard it was to get cubes manufactured in the 70s and whether he had ever considered settling in the West. Erno Rubik was charming. The more my movie story developed the more I thought about him. "I want him in this story," I kept thinking.

Of course Erno Rubik in Rubik's Movie is based heavily on his real-life counterpart: a curious architect/designer/engineer who enjoys puzzles. As in life, he is the creator of Rubik's Cube. His inspiration is his friendship with a magic cube which he rescues and teaches about friendship, kindness, and loyalty. This is the fairy tale Erno Rubik, who has a wonderful secret. He eventually has to hide his secret among its millions of duplicates in order to keep it safe. But he never loses hope that he and his cube will meet again.

Though Erno Rubik's overall role in Rubik's Movie is fairly small, it is significant, pivotal, emotional, and necessary to the story. I have made great efforts to portray Mr. Rubik in a manner that reflects my very positive experience of getting to see him in that short video clip - kind, humorous, stern but gentle, and ever-passionate about his Cube. It is my deepest desire in telling Erno Rubik's fairy tale to be thoughtful and respectful to him in real life.

I also believe there is a wonderful opportunity here to make a distinction between the fictional person and the real one and to inspire more people to find out the true story of the creation of Rubik's Cube.

FADE IN:

EXT. BUDAPEST, HUNGARY 1974 - OLD SIDE STREET - TOY SHOP FRONT - DAY


ERNO RUBIK - age 29 - trying his best to look neat in shabby clothing, strolls along the street with its ancient shops on a sunny spring afternoon. The toy shop catches his attention, so he stops on the cobbled sidewalk to read the sign on the door - TOYS PUZZLES MAGIC.

Erno peers curiously into the dirty windows. He can barely see in. He doubles back a few steps to the shop door and pushes it open.

He leans into the doorway, straining to hear. The SOUND of a SMALL FRIGHTENED VOICE comes from the back of the shop.