Alongside Night (film)

Lore & Background

Alongside Night was adapted from J. Neil Schulman's 1979 novel and was written, produced, directed, and edited by Schulman himself. The film stars Kevin Sorbo as Martin Vreeland, Christian Kramme as Elliot, Reid Cox as Lorimer, Sam Sorbo as Cathryn, and Jake Busey as The President. Several members of the science fiction and libertarian community appear, including Star Trek actors Tim Russ, Garrett Wang, and Gary Graham, author Brad Linaweaver, and activist Adam Kokesh.

The film was independently produced by prominent libertarians including Austin Petersen. It was shot entirely in Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada, with principal photography lasting two years. Some scenes were shot at area libertarian and sci-fi conventions. Production completed in 2013.

The film premiered July 14, 2014 at the Lumiere Music Hall in Beverly Hills, California. It played in limited theatrical release via Tugg.com, was released for streaming on iTunes in 2014, and was released July 8, 2015 as a Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack. It was also released in 2015 for streaming on Amazon Video and Amazon Prime.

Reader's Guide

Alongside Night is significant as a film adaptation of J. Neil Schulman's novel that explicitly promotes Agorism, a libertarian and anarcho-capitalist ideology. Its production by prominent libertarians and its casting of figures from both the libertarian and science fiction communities underscore its role as a cultural artifact within those movements. The film's independent production, shot over two years in Nevada and at conventions, and its multi-platform release strategy (theatrical, streaming, and physical media) illustrate a modern approach to distributing niche political cinema. Its legacy lies in its fusion of political philosophy with science fiction, and its status as a touchstone for libertarian filmmaking.

Did You Know?

• The film was written, produced, directed, and edited by J. Neil Schulman, based on his 1979 novel.
• It stars Kevin Sorbo, Christian Kramme, Reid Cox, Jake Busey, Tim Russ, Garrett Wang, and Gary Graham.
• The film was shot entirely in Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada, with principal photography lasting two years.
• It premiered July 14, 2014 at the Lumiere Music Hall in Beverly Hills, California.