Smart Family Fields Book, Movie Offers (Isn't that Special!)

Yahoo News ^ | 3/17/03

[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."

[mtbopfuyn]

If they are to start reviewing production offers they better hurry up because this war business is pre-empting Ed's face time.

The smell is getting ever stronger.

[Afronaut]

You should give this whole Smart thing a long rest. You are way over the top with your "Interest" in this situation. Do you think about anything else during the day? This is not healthy.

[sharktrager]

"as conservatives, shouldn't we respect the right of someone who decides to tell his or her story, whether we think it's distasteful or not"

Respect the right; yes. Respect actually doing it; no way.

If they do this, I will lose a lot of respect for the parents.

[Utah Girl]

None of your business. Go see how many articles I've posted today (two) and my answers.

[RecentConvert]

But in this case I can safely say that Lois hired this man purely out of a want to help him. She was reaching out to help.

And she did. May the god Lord bless Lois and the rest of the Smart family a thousand folds.

[freedox]

When Lois Smart found her tongue and was able to start speaking before the cameras, she said some pretty strange things to Elizabeth. In retrospect, some of Lois' cryptic messages to her daughter seem eerily appropriate to the precise circumstances that Elizabeth was in.

In a June 19 press conference, Lois Smart told Elizabeth to remember the words to the song, "If the Savior Stood Beside Me." The lyrics to this song include such phrases as "If the Savior stood beside me, would I do the things I do?.....would I think of His commandments and try harder to be true?.....would I live more righteously?.....would I say the things I say?.....would I speak more reverently?" IMO, these are very strange lyrics to offer to someone who is being held against her will. They seem to be more of an admonition to an errant child.

In another media appearance, Lois asked Elizabeth to remember Betsy Ross.....Betsy Ross? As it turns out, Betsy Ross suffered great hardships in her life when she decided to run away and marry a man of a different faith. As a result of her decision, Betsy was excommunicated from her family, her church and her community. (I could find nothing else in Betsy Ross' history that might be even remotely applicable to Elizabeth's circumstances.)

Lois also made references to family stories......one where Elizabeth had fallen from her horse (her "high horse"?) and had knelt to pray. Another story involved a grandmother who had been bitten by a poisonous snake and how the grandmother struggled to overcome the effects of the snake's venom.

Of course, none of these cryptic messages are proof of anything. However, looking at them now, they seem to me to be strangely appropriate for a daughter who has turned her back on her faith and become "poisoned" by another ideology. I have to wonder what Lois knew and when she knew it.

(BTW, I've brought all of these things up before and I've already heard all of the tortured "explanations" for why Lois might have made these references. I didn't buy them then and I don't buy them now. I have no intention of entering into this fray again.....I'm just restating these things for those newcomers who might find them interesting.)

[SoDak]

What you said. I seem to disagree with you alot, but your post makes the most sense of any out here on this thread today.

[SerpentDove]

This story has about as much cultural significance as "Jackass."

[RecentConvert]

Oh, please. You know exactly what the story has been the entire time.

I asked for a source indicating Elizabeth contradicted herself in saying first the perp had a gun and later on that he had a knife. That is what you said. Prove it.

[FreeTally]

Thanks for the info!

Mary Katherine Smart, who shares a bed with her sister, saw a soft-spoken man in a white shirt, tan pants and tan golf hat.

I don't remember the sketch that was drawn from MK's supposed "recollection" being of a guy with a hat. It has a hair line and all. It would have been dark as well. That's way too detailed of a sketch for her to have rememberd him from either a five hour job, several months earlier, or for a girl who was "pretending to be asleep"(her claim), scared silly, half asleep in a dark room that night.

I'd hate to be in the family's shoes come trial. Like it has been said, the defense will have one heck of field day with this and other descrepencies.

[lady lawyer]

Just answer one question. Why are so many people anxious to believe the worst about people they have never met. People who have no impact on the lives of anyone but themselves and their families. This is not like Clinton, where we had proof that he was dishonest, and he had power over our lives. There, it was normal to see a conspiracy or an ulterior motive in every move.

But to behave that way toward people who have never done anything to anyone else, and who cannot impact your life one way or another makes no sense at all. It is just wierd.

[george wythe]

What do you think about the old cliché that when given lemons, some people make lemonade?

What if the Smarts decided that, since their story was going to be in the media for a while, it is the best course to make money selling their rights to movies, books, etc?

What if all the proceeds from movies, books, etc, are donated to a charity that helps kidnapped or runaway teens?

[FreeTally]

I NEVER said Elizabeth Smart contradicted herself. My original statement that you read something completely wrong into was:

So, a young girl who mistook a gun for a knife, miraculously remembers several months later a very good description of the man?

How in the heck could you even think I am talking about Elizabeth here?

[Frapster]

Mary Katherine Smart, who shares a bed with her sister, saw a soft-spoken man in a white shirt, tan pants and tan golf hat. He had a gun and he threatened to hurt Elizabeth if she made any noise. He told her to grab a pair of shoes.

You know what struck me as odd? The drawing didn't include a beard and the beard that the 'perp' is sporting now looks like more than 9 months worth of growth. I could be wrong.

[mountaineer]

Read carefully. Mary Katherine told police the intruder had a gun. Once Elizabeth returned, the story became "he had a knife."

[Utah Girl]

The whole sketch saga is a mystery. The police and the Smarts would never say if a sketch had been done. It was always "no comment" and "The police have asked us not to comment."

MK remembered who she thought the perp was, it was "Emmanual.", which occurred in October. As I understand it, it was a composite drawing, which means Ed and Lois and possibly others, helped with the sketch with a police forensic artist.

[bonfire]

"I'm really hoping the Smarts do not do this"

You and me both. This would end the speculation that they are naive and trusting.

[FreeTally]

Very interesting. I had never been on these threads until she was found. I would have never known about that if you hadn't posted it again. Thanks.

[RecentConvert]

afronaut, with all due respect to you, I suggest you read a past and recent sample of Utah Girl's posts on this topic before making accusations.

If you haven't done so, please do. Thanks.

[RecentConvert]

god = good