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 7:43 pm
1106
Garth Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
1101
……………….
theres still time to defect garthy
January 9th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
1084
RedRooster Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
1078
wtf Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
………………………………
i think hes just pissed off cause he wasn’t invited to the meeting tonight…he only lives up the road as well
***
Is there any law against conference calls? Of course he’ll be there!
January 9th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
1104
RedRooster Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
——————————————-
I know you speak from the heart really
…….. bloody shame poor sod. But what you need to do is retrieve your head from your arsehole and then you will see a lot more clearly. Just a suggestion. Now lets stop with the personal attacks and talk nicely……..waddayasay chicken legs? 
January 9th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
1067
RedRooster Says:
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
***
and don’t forget the three year old who can have the best day of her life and then lovingly be bathed and have her hair done before drifting off into perfect sleep. A perfect day in PDL.
have a flashback to the lovely chart with sparkling stars Madeleine earned for staying in her own bed.
and the twins who can sleep like the dead.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
1101
wtf Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
1089 garth
………………..
you can but try….unfortunately i feel it in vein as garthy may just be a lost cause…
January 9th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
http://www.unav.es/digilab/proyectosenl/2002/miserio_bakersfield/images/rottweiler.jpg
Gerry ’s response after Grandpa Baker did not put his pension in an envelope and sent it to their 600000 McMansion…
January 9th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
958 Tony Bennett Says: January 9th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
PETER O’S POST 271 REVISITED
Just to clear up what Peter O said - yes, he was talking about Clarence Mitcehll, and yes, he used the word ‘briliant’ to descrie his achievements in the case so far.
Here it is again:
PETER O QUOTE:
I think the person we see “on camera” [Clarence Mitchell], is not very effective, either because he isn’t, or because he wants to avoid appearing like your usual “slick, you can’t believe anything I say persona”. I my opinion it is the latter in that doing an Alistair Campbell on the public given the sensitivities of this case would not be very well received.
I also think that his [Clarence Mitchell’s] “on camera persona” is something entirely different as to how he operates away from the camera where I suspect he’s very well “connected” and is pulling lots of strings in the background, in my opinion.
The whole “let’s make a movie” charade has been a brilliant smokescreen to deflect attention away from less desirable news like fund resignations and media speculation about interviews and/or possible charges.
END PETER O QUOTE
++++++++++++++
Have you taken complete leave of your senses?
Nowhere does that post say Clarence is “brilliant”.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
1101
wtf Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
——————————————–
You dont know what you’re talking about! Have you not heard the report by Cm correcting the daft tabloid reports? Obviously bleedin not. You need to wake up and clean your lug holes out!
January 9th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
1089
Garth Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
1073
……………………………..
do you really think if you keep telling yourself this crap that it will one day be fact….get off before the ship goes down Garthy
you know you want to…swallow your pride garth, its a little girl life we’re talking about, its not about point scoring garth. Blimey garth cant you see there no honour amongst theives 
January 9th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
1029 - Julie1
++++++++++++++++++
I can confirm that Julie was not kept in Spammer for anything she said.
Despite the trying circumstances in which she found herself, not once did she verbally abuse the Moderators or cast aspersions about our parentage.
(A very well-mannered, well brought up young lady, indeed. A credit to her parents!)
She took her captivity in the Spammer with good spirit (perhaps helped by the two bottles of Champers she snuck in with her) - although she may have been released from the Spammer earlier if she had thought to share some of that Champers with the Mods?)
January 9th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
945 Tony Bennett Says: January 9th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
927 chenier says (January 9th, 2008 at 6:04 pm):
Edit…
I think if memory serves he said something like Clarence Mitcehll was dong a ‘brilliant job’ or ‘had done’ a brilliant job. Something like that.
If I’ve misquoted someone, I’ll admit it. But ‘briliant’ is the word Peter O used to tell us about his opinion of Clarence
+++++++++++++
Please stop misquoting Tony.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
1005
chenier,
OMIGOD just checked it, I’ve got the sign
January 9th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
1089 garth
the mccs employ cm to contact press, he released the info about the film, all the press stories in this country bow down to the mccs, all press in this country is down to them, they are scum, they lost their daughter not the pj. it would be simpler imo for the pj if they had nothing on them to let this case go and agree with the mccs re the abduction theory, but why suggest the pj are stupid. you beleive everything that is written about the mccs, it is you who are gullable and nieve. wake up
January 9th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
692
Ian Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
662 Logic
_____________
Ian, if you don’t mind - I use to come to work solely because I support the family but NOW I also come to work to get away from two smart-mouthed argumentative teens! Now Anorak is turning into a site for argumentative young ones - will I never escape smart mouths!! I can’t believe you are past say - 12?, well okay I’ll give you 19 but….did you ever hear of stopping while you are ahead? Mutter to yourself if you must, call them all type of names to yourself if you must but please play their game and be good! All you have to do is play the game - I’m sure you played the game with your parents to get what you wanted or even to let them think they won?
January 9th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
1043 Karen
Clarence’s words were referring to the imagining the casting of actors for the movie.
The exact quote is:
Mr Mitchell said: “While it may be hugely entertaining and a bit of fun to think of cast lists, we are a million miles away from that sort of thing.”
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3154222.ece
January 9th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
http://messageboards.sky.com/ThreadView.aspx?ThreadId=8838&page=1
The McSuckers are howling and snarling like bloodhounds behind their letterbox right now.
Send in envelopes with cash to Rothley NOW and don’t forget your kids milk money!
January 9th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
919 Tony Bennett Says: January 9th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
904 coolandcalm says (January 9th, 2008 at 5:55 pm): “TB…880 I am missing your point…”
Edit….
But perhaps, like PeterO, you think Mitchells’ ‘hugely entertaining and fun’ remarks yesterday were ‘brilliant’
+++++++++++++
Tony, stop misquoting.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
well sledge her reaction is not that of a woman or man who believe their child in the hands of a sick individual.it is the nature of every parent human or even animal to protect their young from preditors as they claim.This i know first hand.and if the law fails to protect your child is it not a futher failure not to take matters futher
January 9th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
1082
Abraham Zapruder
I paid attention.
1028
Annie_M Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
9.1.08
A challenge to be remembered
FIND THE BODY AND PROVE WE KILLED HER
That’s why ” A challenge to be remembered” stood out to me.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
1086
wtf Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
…………………..
you’re right, its amazing how money can influence peoples behaviour
it might explain why the fund is so depleted… 
How much do you get paid Garthy and Sludgyhimer
January 9th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
908 Tony Bennett Says: January 9th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Edit….
And this is the man whom ‘coolandcalm’ worships and ‘would love to have working for her’ - and whom PeterO (and I quote) thinks is ‘brilliant’
+++++++++++++++
Tony, please don’t misquote.
I did not say Clarence was brilliant. I said that the movie nonsense was a brilliant smokescreen.
January 9th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
#
1083
wtf Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
1081 julie
do you think hes paid by the wind up?
(He’s already been through the one month waiting period), and passed with flying colours! TOP OF THE CLASS!
***********************
Paid per word, positive responses, and the more wound up people get, the more his bonus increases! And IMHO this site’s made him a fair packet already! He’s probably a team leader by now - so the incentive increases and so does his vocabulary!!!! IMHO of course!!!!! C’mon Garthy does the money mean that much to you?
______________
Mods and Admin
Welcome back Julie, now shall we hit bills board?
January 9th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
1065
Gloria Smudd Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
——————————————————
Just taunting me for my inadequacies, aren’t you.
It’s almost impossible to type when I’m leaning sideways…
January 9th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
983 Matt.
959…Totje
As they have been keeping in touch with their friends….not much suspicion
there really.
May be, may be not. We don’t know what’s going on behind closed doors, do we?
Allthough I must be fair, it looks like they’ve got no suspicions regarding friends.
And turning the reasoning around, it looks like the friends haven’t any suspicions regarding them.
It’s really impossible for me to believe ALL friends could be involved in a cover up. In fact I can’t believe even ONE of them is. Would you risk losing your carreer, wife, child for a friend who killed his daughter or for helping him to hide the accidentally killed daughter?
I think the so- called “Pact of Silence” must be either not to disclose anything that could endanger Madeleine, or not to disclose the real facts about the “child checking” arrangements.
The meeting was in november, way before Christmas if I’m correct. And because of the speculations about the pj re-interviewing them, I’m not surprised the lawyers wanted a meeting. They allways want to prepare their clients when they can.
Which leads me to the more interesting thought [imo, because the above is speculating and this could be examined and then speculated of course
] :
WHO are the lawyers, and WHICH lawyer is working for whom? And who pays them?
January 9th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
1073
wtf Says:
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
—————————————
The only version of events we have heard to date from the McCanns is what has been spoken on Panorama. Yesterdays and todays reports in respected papers about the McCanns making a ‘b lockbuster’ film are typical of how misinformed we are. The trouble is people believe these reports . This forum is typical of so many suckers who choose to take everything as fact. Yesterday the halfwits posters spent half the day suggesting names for characaters. My opinion……..what wankers! But the truth behind the tabloids crap is that the McCanns (or at least cm) has had brief talks with a company who want to do a documentary about this case. And ask yourself this - why would the McCanns even consider this if they were guity of the crimes the PJ wrongly think they commited? What have the McCanns to gain? The truth is that the McCanns are running out of money. They wouldnt do it would they if the PJ were right! The gtruth is they need finances to continue their search for their daughter. Unfortunately the PJ have done a good job in convincing a lot of people that the McCanns are guilty. And what has that done for the McCanns campaign? Nothing but bloody hinder it. The PJ in my opinion are scum!
January 9th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
1053
Julie Says:
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!
yes we must not ever forget that they began to use the fund to pay their mortgage until it was leaked to the press at which point it was denied by the spokesman and then later confirmed .
we were then told the couple didn’t realise they were doing wrong and would not make anymore mortgage payments from the fund.
seems to me they wait to see how the public react and the proposed film is yet one more instance .
public outcry = denial by team McCann
January 9th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
1054
Totje Says:
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?
———————————————————
Er, I’m not quite sure how to break the news to you, but a not-for-profit center in the US does not constitute the fount of all wisdom on the subject of missing children world wide.
I’m sure that they are wonderful people doing a wonderful job, but by definition they are comitted to publicity because publicity is what they do.
The claims made on their website are not founded on published research, and the Justice Department in the US takes issue with a number of their more ludicrous claims.
I should also point out that there is rather a large distinction between publishing an artist’s impression of a corpse, and publishing a photograph of a child who one hopes may still be alive. The ideal is to ensure the child stays alive…
As for the argument that they were simply doing their best, we need to bear in mind that they lied from the very outset.
The claims about no-one helping them were straight forward lies.
Do you really think that any police force in the world would view them as injured innocents after that?
Or, for that matter, the Control Risks Group? Fake kidnappings for ransom are not exactly unheard of, and parents abusing their children are two a penny…
January 9th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
1084 redrooster
LOL
surely nobody in their right mind, unless on a wage, would beleive the mccs any more?
January 9th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
1082
Abraham Zapruder Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
**************************
Now you got my attention. Where? When????
January 9th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
1078
wtf Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
………………………………
i think hes just pissed off cause he wasn’t invited to the meeting tonight…he only lives up the road as well