At the press conference for “The People Speak,” a dramatic reading of parts of two of Howard Zinn’s books at the Cutler Theatre last week, Viggo Mortensen bristled slightly. I had asked if there was any trepidation participating in a “radical” version of American history. “Not radical,” he said. “I’d say ‘the truth.’’’
    Zinn, B.U. professor emeritus, calls it “history that’s different from the history books people had in school. The point of view was of people who’d gotten into trouble and had to fight back, dissidents and troublemakers of all kinds – the people who have given us the freedom of democracy we have.” He’s referring to both "A People’s History of the United States,’’ which sold its millionth copy five years ago, and its offshoot “Voices of A People’s History of the United States.” The latter uses letters, poems, songs and the like from both the famous (Ali, MLK, Thoreau, Twain) and obscure (union organizers, workers, soldiers). At the Cutler, producer Chris Moore filmed Mortensen, David Strathairn, Danny Glover, Marisa Tomei, Josh Brolin and many more taking taking on those roles. Brolin read a particularly wrenching passage from Dalton Trumbo’s “Johnny Got His Gun.” Mortensen sang Dylan’s "Masters of War,” a capella, and John Legend performed Nina Simone’s “Mississippi Goddamn” and Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Goin’ On.”

The readings and music will be integrated into what will likely be a mini-series that will run before the election. But Moore admits potential deals with Fox and HBO fell through, so he’s not sure exactly where and when it will show up. (There are plans to return to Boston in April to shoot more musical segments, and isolated, smaller readings will happen around the country, later.)
      The project was hatched ten years ago by Zinn pals Matt Damon and Ben Affleck with Chris Moore (of “American Pie” fame). They met when Moore co-produced “Good Will Hunting.” This, Moores said, was them “trying to bring this to a bigger audience, ‘cause we’re the Hollywood guys.”