Beaconsfield telemovie: close but no deal
The 2006 rescue of Todd Russell and Brant Webb is a perfect plot for a telemovie, as long as the media is as much a part of the tale.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News
Beaconsfield Mine disaster survivor Todd Russell has denied media reports that he had signed a deal to do a telemovie about the ordeal, but confirmed it was being negotiated.
Southern Star Endemol is said to be pursuing the 2006 tragedy as a project with some media reports throwing names such as Eric Bana and Shane Jacobsen (he would be perfect) into the ring.
The rescue of Russell and Brant Webb had the nation on a knife’s edge for fourteen days and triggered a media circus as everyone raced for the story of the year. Miner Larry Knight died in the tragedy. It was a story that was also enveloped in brawling news teams, stories about Naomi Robson, David Koch, Eddie McGuire and the death of Richard Carleton.
Some reports indicate media may be approached to participate.
True life telemovies are frequently structured around big events, including the rescue of Stuart Diver or the Granville Train disaster. Beaconsfield is ripe for the genre if they get it right.
If producers don’t approach Dan Ilic and co for the musical score, they will have to buy the rights to Kenny Roger’s “The Gambler” -the song they sang to keep up their spirits.
Source: Examiner
5 Responses
I was over the coverage when it happened i wont be watching a poxy movie about it!! It was the slowest news week ever.
With these things you can usually tell which network gets the rights when it’s tied in with ‘real’ people, so if Koch gets the gig then it’s of to 7.
Shane Jacobsen is perfect the other one should be Dave O’neil.
Just shows have vacant film makers / funders are in thinking of interesting projects. One dead guy and two singing the same song for weeks = major media event for 2010
Imagine if a networked counter programmed with a Sitcom Based on the Media Coverage of the event? Hey Tim Worner…. email me…