Madeleine McCann: Not A Film, A Book And The McCanns Making Money
MADDYWATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann
DAILY EXPRESS front page: “Madeleine’s parents planning Hollywood blockbuster movie”
“Kate and Gerry sparked outrage after it was revealed they have held negotiations with leading producers over the movie rights. The couple – who are prime suspects in the case – are also considering book and TV deals in a package worth an estimated £10million”
A book? Like the Daily Express book? That sick..?
Kate McCann: Michelle Pfeiffer
Gerry McCann: James Caan
Madeleine McCann: Macaulay Culkin
And what of this £10million, and the money earned from any film? “The windfall would help finance the search for Madeleine after concerns were raised that a special fund set up by the family was in crisis”
Page 5: The Find Madeleine fund is down to its last £400,000. More money is needed. So why the “outrage”?
Says the McCanns’ spokesman Clarence Mitchell: “We need money to search for Madeleine and that is the most important thing. Nothing has been decided yet. A film would be made on a percentage basis, with part of the profits going to the fund. None of the money would go to Kate and Gerry. They are not trying in any way to profit out of her name’’
And how many films ever make a profit? It would be a film, perhaps, like that about 15-year-old Amy Smart, abducted in the US and found eight months later. “Several movies were made about her while she was missing including The Amy Smart Story”
The “WORLD’S GREATEST NEWSPAPER” does not say if the Amy Smart story made any money. But it does trawl the web and see blog comments like:
“Angry” Pamela Blears, from Oldham, posts: “From the day little Madeleine disappeared I have felt sympathy and compassion for the McCanns but this beggers belief. How can they think about making a film out of the tragedy when the poor child hasn’t even been found yet? How low can you get?”
The Daily Express costs “ONLY 40p”
“McCANNS FEAR CHARGES SOON” – “A source close to the family” tells us: “Kate and Gerry insist they are innocent but they fear they will be charged. Naturally Kate and Gerry are concerned that if this line of inquiry continues to its natural conclusion, charges are always a possibility and they know that’s entirely wrong”
He added: “The Portuguese police seem to be blinkered in their approach and it feels like they want to find the McCanns guilty regardless.”
DAILY STAR front page: “MADDIE: THE £10M MOVIE – Skint parent to sell film rights”
Skint? The Find Madeleine Fund is dwindling, down to its last “£200,000”. But Gerry McCann is going back to work. He is, as the tabloids never tire to telling us, “a heart consultant”. She is a “GP”
Says the Star: “The couple – who are prime suspects – are in negotiations with the world’s biggest talent and entertainment agency IMG”
IMG – International Management Group– has produced the films Touching the Void, Assault on Waco, Seconds from Disaster, I Shouldn’t be Alive and Kevin and Perry Go Large. Naomi Campbell is on the books
Any film would be an “observational documentary following the on-going search for Madeleine,” says IMG
Pages 4 and5: “Thousands blast ‘sick’ plan”
A poll: “WOULD YOU GO AND WATCH MADDIE: THE MOVIE?” Yes? No? Or I’ve already seen tonight With Trevor McDonald, thanks?
“Ester out in crisis” – TV presenter Esther McVey has resigned her post as a director of the Find Madeleine fund
DAILY MAIL front page: “MADDIE’S PARENTS PLAN £2M FILM DEAL”
“Kate and Gerry McCann could make £2million from a film deal over the story of their daughter’s disappearance, it has been claimed”
Not £10m? Such are the perils of showbiz?
Says the paper: “So far the McCanns, both 39, have turned down offers from big-name chat shows and television dramas as they were anxious to avoid being seen as celebrities”
But we watching the parents. So why not make profit, if it will help?
“Disgraced banker Nick Leeson earned a reported £450,000 when he sold the rights to his autobiography, Rogue Trader. Offers to Austrian kidnap victim Natascha Kampusch were said to have topped £1million”
And: “But Gerry McCann was quick to deny the story”
COMMENT: “Maddie the movie: One step too far – Ever since their daughter Madeleine disappeared, Kate and Gerry McCann have ridden a wave of public sympathy. True, there are some (including the Portuguese police) who have aired deeply hurtful suspicions about the couple since that terrible evening in May. But the overwhelming public mood - particularly among parents of young children - has been one of compassion. Today, however, the McCanns risk losing much of that goodwill. Incredibly, it emerges that they are discussing a possible multi-million pound deal to turn Madeleine’s disappearance into a film. To be blunt, isn’t this pushing the boundaries of taste too far?”
But it is already the subject of a media circus. So why not a DVD – we’ve had the T-shirt, the song, the billboards and the trailers..?
ALISON PEARSON writes in her column: “What CAN Kate and Gerry be thinking? Critics who have never forgiven Gerry and Kate for leaving their kids alone in their holiday apartment will be confirmed in their view that the couple have truly terrible judgment. They will be accused of bad taste; of lacking respect for Madeleine’s memory. Kate will be charged with wanting to swan down the red carpet, even though in this case it is sorrow, not vanity, that has reduced her to a Hollywood Size Zero”
How did it become a story about Kate McCann’s looks?
DAILY MIRROR front page: “Maddy THE Movie”
The McCanns also met with ITV about making a documentary. Maddy A Movie…
THE SUN front page: “Maddie hunt ‘to be film’”
Page 9: “ They pary that movie will help find Maddie”
Gerry McCann is a “cardiac specialist”. The McCanns are “doctors”
“IS THIS THE RIGHT DECISION?”
“YES,” says Lorraine Kelly, GMTV presenter.
“NO,” says the Sun’s Jon ‘Guanty’ Gaunt - “I guess the title of the McCann’s proposed film has to be Home Alone”. Or not…
THE GUARDIAN: “McCanns deny reports of Madeleine film”
Writes Gerry McCann on his blog: “We can categorically deny that we are considering a movie about Madeleine’s disappearance. This is simply untrue. We are approached by a huge number of media outlets regarding a myriad of projects, only a tiny proportion of which we agree to. Each proposal is considered on whether it is likely to have a positive effect, either directly or indirectly, on the search for Madeleine”
ON the Guardian website: “Madeleine’s parents consider film - The parents of Madeleine McCann are considering giving the go-ahead to a film about their missing daughter following an approach by a major entertainment firm”
THE TIMES page 3: “Parents may turn Madeleine McCann story into a Hollywood movie”
“On-screen child horror stories:
A Cry In The Dark
Gone Baby Gone
Honour Thy Father And Mother: the True story of the Menendez Brothers
Menenedez: A Killing in Beverly Hills, 1994
The Amityville Horror series
Everybody’s Baby: The Rescue of Jessica McClure”
Says Clarence Mitchell: The media are making money out of the situation themselves and we feel it is only fair and right that some aspect of that should come to the fund to help find Madeleine”
DAILY TELGRAPH: “McCanns in talks to make a film about AMdldine’s disappearance”
“Do you think a Madeleine film should be made”
Well, we;’ve had the sop opera, and who wants to watch EastEnders: The Movie?
THE SCOTSMAN: “McCanns eye Madeleine film”
BOSTON HERALD: “Missing Madeleine story could become feature film”
The speculation, media hype and sensation so far
Posted: 9th, January 2008 | In: Madeleine McCann Comments (1,585) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
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January 9th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
1081 julie
do you think hes paid by the wind up?
January 9th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
How come I’m the only one interested in CSN’s post about a child’s coffin being found in a place where it shouldn’t have been (a grave, no less.)
Have I missed something? Maybe CSN is winding us up, or it’s to do with a different case, otherwise it would be pretty darn interesting!!
January 9th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Garthy wants his bonus at the end of the month …. give him a break … maybe he needs it
January 9th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
1070
Garth Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
1063
……………………………………
and what is it you’re taken in by garthy???
one day you’re gonna look back and realise what a complete and utter pratt you have been for the last few months. Its not too late to abandon ship garthy..the grass is much greener on the other side garthy 
oh and garthy what are you getting all angry about..??? why is there smoke coming out of your ears garth 
January 9th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Garth
No, the problem is that elements within the PJ made the wrong call in the early stages, with the result that a lot of evidence was lost that should have been preserved. The investigation changed direction in the middle of July about the time Russell O’Brien, Fiona Payne and Rachel Oldfield had their face-to-face confrontation with Murat. The PJ have been backpeddling ever since, and maybe you’re right to the extent that there’s not enough evidence that would stand up against the McCanns in Court.
But I don’t believe there was a stranger abduction so we’ll just have to agree to differ.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
1077 redrooster
January 9th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
1061
Garth Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
1056
wtf Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
1052 garth
based on naff all! are you having a laugh! Blood, smell of death, misssing tennis bag, lies, no grief, where is the evidence of abduction, nowhere to be found. Get real Gerry!
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I take it you believe all the crap bleeted by the PJ?
What blood? Of whom. Its bollox
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were you there Garthy???? no , well how come you’re so convinced then OMG maybe you are gerry.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
#
1066
Judith C Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
563
Ian Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Anyone else noticed anything since the Anorak servers entered the UK?
************************
Yes.
***************************************************
Please explain Judith C???????
January 9th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
1068 Fair
I’d love to use a ‘pukey’!
January 9th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
764
Ian Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
717 Mods and Admin
Another one, please can you ask this person to not call me a liar. Its clearly a personal attack and not allowed (I cannot respond for fear of being accused of bullying or attacking posters).
****************
Ian, what are you on? You seem to have rapidly degenerated from being a fairly logical, if confrontational poster, into a complete moron! Don’t ask M & A to delete this as I, like several others, am only trying to warn you that you are losing all credibility - not a good thing for a law student, I would have thought.
Please return to being the more astute poster you were, and stop being a victim as it’s very tedious. Using humour is a more effective way of retaliating if, for any reason, you feel under attack.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
1061 garth
i cant argue re cuddlecat, but you are choosing to beleive the mccs version of events. tell me wehre on earth is evidence of an abduction? Where do you get your information to make you so firmly believe in them? You are earning your money tonight cos i have bitten
January 9th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Nor did that. I shall leave the tutorials to others and bold only when necessary
January 9th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
1063
RedRooster
Paid? IMO all….
or just a wind up
January 9th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
1063
RedRooster Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
I think its bloody amazing how the likes of garthy and sludgehimer are still defending the mccannsin the light of the latest news….fuckin amazing are they sick or what ???
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“In light of the latest news”?…………..typically you’re taken in by the bleedin tabloids. No fucking wonder your heads up your arse!
January 9th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Oops, that didn’t go quite according to plan as a demonstration.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
1048 Gloria
Oh yes please! I did enquire the other night. I think it was Yampster that is working on it.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
1062
Tinsel Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
058
RedRooster Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
1051
Annie_M Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
RR
“The spokesman would not speculate on whether Gerry and Kate would play themselves in any movie or whether their roles would be played by celebrity actors.”
………………………………………………
well one things for sure kate and gerry acting skills aren’t up to much
* * *
What they need is a thin woman who can do silent scream and a prat face that can do bellowing bull.
…………………………….
and dont forget the crying without tears or emotion
January 9th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
1050 chenier
for bold type before and after the words you want in bold,
for italics type before and after the words you want to lean gently to one side.
xx
January 9th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
sledge ;is that a nickname you piked up because of the size of your hands.are you really 6ft 4.if so your wifes first name starts with a d just say yes if i have it right
January 9th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
I think its bloody amazing how the likes of garthy and sludgehimer are still defending the mccannsin the light of the latest news….fuckin amazing are they sick or what ???
January 9th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
058
RedRooster Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
1051
Annie_M Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
RR
“The spokesman would not speculate on whether Gerry and Kate would play themselves in any movie or whether their roles would be played by celebrity actors.”
………………………………………………
well one things for sure kate and gerry acting skills aren’t up to much
* * *
What they need is a thin woman who can do silent scream and a prat face that can do bellowing bull.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
1056
wtf Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
1052 garth
based on naff all! are you having a laugh! Blood, smell of death, misssing tennis bag, lies, no grief, where is the evidence of abduction, nowhere to be found. Get real Gerry!
————————————————————————
I take it you believe all the crap bleeted by the PJ?
What blood? Of whom. Its bollox
——————————————–
Evidence of abduction? hmm now theres a thought!
—————————————————-
Apart from the McCanns continuing campaign to search for their daughter, you believe the PJ’s claim that they killed her, hid her for 20 odd days and then transported her car in a hire vehicle? I think you need to get real.
Mindyou, the PJ arent daft are they. Cuddlecat? Kate McCann claimed that it had been moved and placed on a shelt or whatever. So what do you think the PJ should do with it really? Maybe take it away for forensics? No, they let her keep it and then decide some weeks later to take it away for examination. That is just the beginning……….
January 9th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
1043
Karen Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
The watcher
Did Clarence really say that? That it would be entertaining and a bit of fun?
Public Image disaster.
yes he said it and instantly destroyed his own and the couples credibility.
most people were outraged at the thought of them selling the film rights but to describe having fun thinking up a cast list was beyond bad taste.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Garth, you have to be very strong now
, because of this:
When Mr. Rebelo and his colleagues went to apartment 5a and looked at the shutters, opened the window, walked to Mr. Murat’s house, then to the church and checked, how the abduction could have happened etc., they only made a show for the press (or for the McCanns, maybe), imho. They already knew what had happened at that point.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
1051
Annie_M Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
RR
“The spokesman would not speculate on whether Gerry and Kate would play themselves in any movie or whether their roles would be played by celebrity actors.”
………………………………………………
well one things for sure kate and gerry acting skills aren’t up to much
January 9th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
1046…RedRooster
I think Clarrie has morphed into our Ade.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
1052 garth
based on naff all! are you having a laugh! Blood, smell of death, misssing tennis bag, lies, no grief, where is the evidence of abduction, nowhere to be found. Get real Gerry!
January 9th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
TB 1014
I cannot understand why some people think you have misrepresented PeterO. I have been watching with interest. The word “brilliant” was used in connection to CM, an inappropriate adjective, in my opinion, for such a character. I did not think that your use of the word constituted any misrepresentation.
Hope I haven’t offended anyone - it’s just my opinion.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
935 chenier,
[..] “The explaining the likely sequence of events would probably include pointing out to K&G that, sadly, smearing Madeleine over the media would almost certainly resulted in any alleged abductor killing her immediately…”
May be, may be not. I don’t know if they advised that and when. It’s possible.
However, “the advice of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is that high visibility of a missing child through posters, car stickers etc increases the chances of finding that child”.
In the USA they’ve got milkcartons printed with appeals for finding missing children. If they wouldn’t have printed the drawing of how BG might have looked like, I think they still would be searching for her parents and the killer. And we wouldn’t know her real name is Riley Ann.
So two different advices, dilemma? Wrong choice? Trying to control a situation that is out of control? Especially because the police refused to publish asap a “description of the abductor” or what she was wearing when she disappeared. Althoug we could also questiong that [the pyamas].
Simple or suspicious?
January 9th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
This entire case so far has revolved around …… money making ….. as much as is possible …. without actually using it for the purpose that it has been gathered into the folds of the McCann Clan! It’s disgusting, and totally disrespectful to the memory of a small child for them to be carrying on the way they are! And this was their daughter! How can anyone have respect, pity or wish to help these people anymore? The truth will out one day, and then justice will be served …. appropriately! IMHO of course.