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
January 9th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
1162 - totje
” And parents (the mccanns) who failed to protect her from the evil.”
her parents didn’t protect their child from evil because, it appears, that her parents were (and are) evil
January 9th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
1170
wtf Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
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Fraudulent fund for what?
January 9th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
chenier 1140
Old Smuddy’s on the phone at the moment so I’m sneaking back on here. He thinks I’m a nutty old dear to be so keen on Anorak, and I think he’s a batty old loon for the time/money he spends on Ebay - so it’s either musical chairs or enemy-occupation on our computer station night after night. He wins now though so, here’s hoping for some interesting developments in the case we all love to hate.
January 9th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Clarries job is to put the McCanns in the best light possible.
He releases conflicting stories about the film simultaneously, and he has plenty to hash over with the work-a-day reporters. There is much much speculation about a film.
Meanwhile dark news need not be addressed: rats sky diving from tower McCann. Blood matching from …. sports towels? Tennis anyone?
January 9th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
1145
Julie Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
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Were you there? No………nuff said me thinks
January 9th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
garth
they are trying to con the general public, they need money for their fraudulant fund! for gods sake! its all pr and spin!
January 9th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
1163
Stevo
Sorry , i was waiting the news , but not big story
January 9th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
1160
wtf Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
1158 chenier
its £346,000 more than any other parent of a missing child has. Parents whos children have gone missing in circumstances beyond their control, unlike the mccs who neglected!
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It gets worse, keep reading…
January 9th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
1141
Jolie Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
1136 Garth
“Are you here in the uk?”
No, in the US.
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I thought as much. You have not had access to what CM has said. Back tracking it is not.
Anyway thanks for your reply, however, it was meant for Redrooster. Not to worry. I’ll catch the booger and ring its neck at some point
With regard to diversion - thats pathetic! Who are they trying to divert - the PJ? Afterall, its them who are trying to build a case against the McCanns. So what goods that going to do?
January 9th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
RR
No pockets unturned
January 9th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
And yet more hysteria from the Telegraph:
‘The McCanns have agreed to a piece with the magazine Vanity Fair, which has also interviewed Robert Murat, to be published shortly, in an attempt, Mr Mitchell said, to widen awareness of Madeleine’s case in America.
The fund’s managers have a regular monthly meeting and are due to have one more meeting before Metodo 3’s contract runs out, when they will decide whether to renew its contract.’
January 9th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
1124
can’t say no,
nah, I didn’t bite you. kiss kiss?
January 9th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
214 can’t say no Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Stevo , i’ve some juicy news for you
__________________
which is?
January 9th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
1121
val,
It will be interesting to see all this unravel don”t you think?
Yes, although I must admit I hate to think about some people chearing when it was proven the parents are innocent or guilty. It’s not about who’s guessing right or wrong, it’s about a poor little girl that couldn’t defend herself against the evil. And parents who failed to protect her from the evil.
January 9th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
More hysteria from the Telegraph:
‘In September they hired the Spanish agency Metodo 3 on a six month contract.
The agency will seek to have that renewed next month, but even if the fund directors agree it is likely to be a shorter term contract because of the financial uncertainty surrounding the fund. ‘
This would be the firm that Clarrie’s been briefing against, now rehabilitated?
January 9th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
1158 chenier
its £346,000 more than any other parent of a missing child has. Parents whos children have gone missing in circumstances beyond their control, unlike the mccs who neglected!
January 9th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
1144
chenier Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
……………………….
thanks for not ruffling my feathers too much
January 9th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Telegraph
‘By the end of March its directors expect it to have dwindled to £346,000 and they are aware that unless there is an injection of cash it will run dry by the summer.
‘They recently spent £80,000 on a poster campaign in Spain and still owe Hanover International, a public relations company, money for work they did until November, when their involvement ended.’
January 9th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
have eaten, and have glass of wine, come on garthy if you think your hard enough!
January 9th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
1149
RedRooster
January 9th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
1150
can’t say no Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
………………..
i think we leave no stone unturned to find out what happened to it. What do you think???
January 9th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
1145
Anon
mccoins mist ?
January 9th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
1133
Garth Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
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well garth who knows, but i starting to sound like its for the money and dont forget they love the celebrity status - maybe their hoping to get a bloody oscar as well
January 9th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
The Fund’s Missing £1 million, Gone But Not Forgotten.
January 9th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
1146 Anonymous Says: January 9th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
The Fund’s Missing £1 million, Gone But Not Forgotten.
Edit…
So where has it too, disappeared? Into a Scotch mist?
++++++++++++++++
Or perhaps a “Scouse Scam”?
January 9th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
9.1.08
Fund used to meet McCann “living costs”
“The exact figures for what the donations are spent on will not be disclosed until the end of the financial year when the accounts are made public, said director Esther McVey. But the board did reveal that nearly a third of the money collected has been used. With hospital consultant Mr McCann, the family’s main earner, on unpaid leave, part of the Fund has been used to meet their living costs.” - September 27
Posted by Paulo Reis at 18:59:00
January 9th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
1082
Abraham Zapruder
I catch ,the news already ,in the midle , and don’t know more.
Only someone ,buried a little child ,in that Cemetery
A empty grave ,and put the remains in coffin
January 9th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
The Fund’s Missing £1 million, Gone But Not Forgotten.
This is not the banks’ money, or guvmunt money, or brannedy money.
This is ordinary, living, working, struggling people’s money.
Important money: pocket-money, housekeeping money, hard-earned savings money, pension money.
So where has it too, disappeared? Into a Scotch mist?
January 9th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
1133
Garth Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
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Whilst I wouldn’t dispute RR’s possession of the dancefloor, I would like to remind Garth that I’m still waiting for his comments on the FBI.
After all, he claimed that they should be have been consulted, notwithstanding their total lack of jurisdiction, and the fact that the FBI’s own publications suggest that the McCanns were likely to be responsible for their daughter’s disappearance.
So why is he claiming otherwise?
January 9th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
1141
Tony does seem to have a burr under his saddle today, more so than usual. I think he, like so many of the rest of us, is getting tired and cranky at the laboriously long (for us) trek it’s been so far to find out the truth. We’d all like it to come to an end–soon!