Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
(1) Describe this aspect in the movie (what happens, with whom, why is it entrepreneurship/entrepreneurial).
The movie is about an electrician and rodeo bull rider, Ron Woodroof, who dedicates his life to cheat and to consume various substances and also loves casual sex. His strong attitude and mindset can be noted from the beginning since he is a very racist and homophobic person. One day, he was taken to the hospital because of an accident that happened while working. When he was in the hospital, he found out that he had AIDS and that it was a miracle that he was still alive. Nevertheless, the doctors told him that he only had 30 days of expected life. He gets mad and denies it, stating that AIDS is a disease only for “Faggots” as he yelled in the movie. He goes back home and continues his normal life, but he doesn’t last long until he realizes that the diagnostic might be true, because of some symptoms he was experiencing and with some research he did himself.
Ron found out that the AZT drug helps people with the AIDS disease to offset the symptoms but since it is not approved by the FDA, he had to get it illegally. Then, the person who was providing the drug to Ron couldn’t provide it anymore but told Ron that he could be able to find more in Mexico. This is when Ron realizes about a possible market niche opportunity for a business, and he starts his entrepreneur journey along with an improvement in his health.
(2) Discuss why it is interesting.
Ron’s story is very interesting because in a very extreme situation, he was able to find a business opportunity. He managed to find a market gap within the health system in the US. What makes it much more interesting is that most of his target audience for his business were the people he hated and mistreated the most, homosexuals. Therefore, he wasn’t successful at first to find customers because the way he was treating them. So, it was very important for him to find a business partner to help him in this part of the business and so he did, he found Rayon who more than a business partner she became his best friend.
(3) Elaborate on the interaction/relationship between entrepreneurship and society from the perspective of the movie.
The story of Ron Woodroof is the perfect example of the broken regulatory system that some organizations in the US have. As we can see from the movie, which was based on a true story, how hospitals and pharmaceutical companies work together to generate a profit that will benefit both companies but not the patients nor doctors. This is the case when Ron asks for a more effective treatment for AIDS. He mentions in the movie that other countries were using other drugs to fight the disease more effectively but not the US, because none of these drugs were approved by the FDA, so they weren’t allowed to use them. Additionally, Ron finds out that the people who were in charge of the clinical studies for AIDS, were wanting to only work with a certain drug, the AZT. He knew that this drug was killing the patients, but they were very interested in using this drug because they were going to be the ones to commercialize the drug with their pharmaceutical company.
Although Ron fought against the system and was able to even establish his business providing medicine that actually works to people with the AIDS disease. His business didn’t last much because bigger companies alerted the regulatory authorities, so they would shut Ron’s business down. It is incredible how after all Ron had been through was able to find an opportunity to launch his business. Although he needed some help after he started, he managed to grow his business and to help plenty of people all over the US. I believe Ron’s vision and business generated a big positive impact in the health system in the US, creating an awareness for individuals in high positions in the medical industry, that many people suffer and die because of these regulations that only benefit certain sectors of the population.