Posted by M. Williamson on October 05, 19103 at 03:04:36:
In Reply to: Re: Hello posted by Craig on October 04, 19103 at 19:37:51:
: Im sorry, you have me a touch confused with your last statement. You will not have anything to do with previous explorations to the wreck, but I am sure you will want to include some footage of her, so are you in fact planning your own photographic journeys to the sight? If so, just out of curiosity, with what equipment/sub?
: So, it will be kind of a "hollywood quality documentary" in which the facts will be kept as factual as possible, and fictional "love storys" whose only purpose is to spice up the movie to others, will be left out?
: if that is the case, that brings me to another question, why not mention the other explorations? They have become a part of the Fitzers history, how can you leave them out?
: Thanks
: Craig
Craig:
First of all, thank you for your interest in our project. The questions that you raise are valid ones, so I will do my best to answer them.
In regards to including footage of the wreck acquired by prior expeditions, I would like to point out that the decision to EXCLUDE such material from our film was never really ours to make. To put it another way, the respective owners of such footage have been generally uncooperative... many are resolutely OPPOSED to the idea of a FITZGERALD movie. In my opinion, pursuing these individuals in an attempt to “win them over” is an unnecessary expenditure of both time and money.
Another reason to exclude previous footage is more technical: the various video formats such work has been originated on would not only have to be transferred to 35mm film (which can cost about $1,000 per screen minute) but the lower resolution images would have to be enhanced so they don’t look like blobs when projected onto a theater screen. Not to sound callous, but the quality of the footage I’ve seen from the previous expeditions do not justify the added expense of including them in the film.
As for diving the wreck and shooting our own footage for the movie, my unwavering response is an absolute NO. Mounting such an expedition is much too costly and probably even redundant: at this point in time, there is nothing new to be gained by surveying the wreck site again.
Now, regarding your question as to why we have chosen to exclude any references to the previous expeditions and the individuals involved with them, my immediate answer involves the arc of the screenplay itself: the period portrayed spans some 20 years, culminating in the sinking in 1975. To include the expeditions which follow would make for a very long movie! I MUST SAY, however, that the CURV III surveys (in the early attempts to positively identify the wreck) WILL BE included.
- M. Williamson