Posted on 03/17/2003 9:21:09 AM PST by areafiftyone
SALT LAKE CITY - Hollywood loves a gripping saga, especially one with a happy — and astonishing — ending like the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping. So it's no surprise that in the five days since the kidnapped teen returned home, the family's spokesman has fielded more than 3,000 media calls and received nearly 100 film, book or made-for-TV-movie proposals.
The potential audience for a real-life drama is enormous, if hits to the Smart family Web site are any indication. In the first hours after Elizabeth was found alive and returned home Wednesday, more than 3 million people had visited the site.
Her story, outlined by investigators, is a screenwriter's dream: Kidnapped at knifepoint — allegedly by homeless drifter Brian David Mitchell — Elizabeth lived with the self-proclaimed prophet and his wife Wanda Barzee for nine months.
Family members say she was so brainwashed she didn't try to escape, even when she had the chance.
Sharp-eyed witnesses recognized Mitchell and called police Wednesday. The suspects were arrested, Elizabeth was returned home, and people across the country rejoiced.
Mitchell and Barzee remained in jail Sunday awaiting charges, which could come as early as Monday.
Chris Thomas, a spokesman for parents Ed and Lois Smart, said they will begin to review production offers in the next few weeks.
"It's something that they're going to deal with soon. They're trying to figure this all out — it comes down to let someone else tell the story, or tell it themselves," Thomas said.
USA, ABC, NBC, CBS and Lifetime are all reportedly interested in obtaining rights to the story.
"It really covers the broad spectrum. I haven't looked at all of them, and I don't want to disclose specific names and studios or other entities, but we've been contacted by some really big names," said Thomas.
Rumors that John Walsh, host of the television show "America's Most Wanted," has been pushing Ed Smart for a production deal are false, said Thomas. Walsh has interviewed the father for his show and the two became close after Elizabeth's disappearance.
"It came up in a discussion between Ed and John, when Ed was asking John for advice on a number of things. John said, 'I'm not even going to go there. I've read rumors that I've got the inside source on this. I do have a production company and if you're interested you can talk to me, but I'm not pitching you. That would be a really tacky thing to do in my capacity,'" Thomas said.
Thomas said the family has not begun to consider a price, because they haven't decided yet whether to go along with any production, movie or book.
"Right now, their main focus is on Elizabeth and books and movies and exterior things are secondary," he said. "The family is being very calculated in every action, and weighing the pros and cons of everything with the predominant priority being Elizabeth's well-being."
As others have stated, I respectfully kept quiet about my observations, but they have invited some criticism now, IMO. Don't confuse that criticism with excusing the perps or not having compassion for the Smarts.
However, if they turn the ordeal of their daughter into a money-making venture, all questions of character and priority will have been answered, won't they have? If they want to help Elizabeth heal, I doubt that a continuation of the saga at the hands of her parents is wise or thoughtful.
Absolutely. There is no other conclusion, at least at this stage, for a clear-thinking person!
The day Elizabeth returned was the first time I heard about the knife instead of a gun.
IIRC, the father was the one who "corrected the record."
Didn't Ed say just a few months back that he knew for sure the screen was cut from the outside(although it appears from all accounts that this is not known and the window was too small for someone to go through)? How does a guy with a gun cut a screen?
No they're not.
They disagree with you, and you label them because you've got an emotional investment in your point of view.
Me, I'm glad she's home, but I couldn't care less whether she was abducted or ran away from a very strange environment. Either is plausible, at this point.
What is interesting (and will continue to be) is the way this whole thing plays out at Free Republic.
True to every other "reality" situation, people are already at each other's throats over being right.
We will see otherwise normal posters on this site questioning the humanity of other posters, and, before it's over, one or two will get themselves banned.
All over something they have absolutely no control over.
Jim Robinson ought to figure out a way to charge for this kind of entertainment!
"Now close your eyes and tap your heels together three times. And say to yourself, 'There's no place like home'."
"There`s no place like home-There`s no place like home-There`s no place like home..."
"Home! And this is my room - and you are all here! And I'm not going to leave here ever again, because I love you all! And-Oh, Auntie Em - there's no place like home!"
Your cry-baby name calling tactics concerning anyone who doesn't kiss the feet of the Smarts is getting old.
I will stick to my convictions, and you can stick to yours.
If you want to believe these people are all peaches and cream, then by all means, do so...but shut up with the name calling already.
It's not becoming of a Lawyer, and degrades the debate.
sw
So, a young girl who mistook a gun for a knife, miraculously remembers several months later a very good description of the man? A girl who, based upon the official claims of the Smarts, may never have even seen him other than the few hours he was at the home months before Elizabeth went missing. Things don't add up.
I appreciate your point of view and the rational way you said it. My POV is that I saw a loving father, who used the media to help get his daughter back. I can live with him "hogging" the camera for nine months, for playing every angle, and sticking with it. I'm also willing to cut him some slack for his appearances since Elizabeth was found, I'm waiting to see what occurs this week in the media realm, and who will appear.
Red
Very good and logical question NOT.
Likewise we could have asked ourselves: How does a guy with a pen in his shirt pocket, a ring on his finger and a hat cut a screen? Now I get it.
If you are wearing a wig, the best and securest method of keeping your own hair out of the way is to braid it. Get a grip. According to this thread, I think the only "smell" test she could have passed would be to be found dead. Good grief!
My great-nephew was abducted and it took my niece almost three years to find him. No police help, no judges, and many clues. She tried to get in touch with John Walsh or anyone who would publicize the case...and for the same reasons as the Smarts: the police were no help. She found him herself...on the other side of the planet.
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