Hi,
Looking for a little help - as most of you probably know next year, if Errol Flynn was still with us, he would be celebrating his 100th birthday (100 years old with the body of a 250 year old). Anyway, I approached the production company that I freelance with - they said they would pitch/develop my documentary on Errol - if and it was a big IF - if I could get a name attached to the project - well I approached Steve Kenis, Peter O'Toole's agent - but Mr O'Toole is tied up through 2008/2009. I then approached Orlando Blooms London agent - unfortunately my Scottish charm didn't work - she didn't come back - even though I promised her that my ears look like George Clooney's.
Anyway - cutting to the chase - my producer friend would love to pitch but I ain't got a name attached. So I'm gonna ask you guys if you can help out - below is a brief synopsis of the format based on Peter O'Toole's involvement.
Do you guys know anyone that would be interested in starring in the documentary (or starring/financing/ co-producing?) I know I am clutching at straws but I think it would be a fitting tribute to Errol and the golden age of film.
So, any help would be appreciated - hell based on the 6 degrees of separation - some of you guys are 2 steps away from George Clooney - and I've got his ears!
B
"PETER FOLLOWS ERROL'S WICKED, WICKED WAYS"
PITCH
2009 - On the 50th anniversary of Mr Errol Flynn's death and the year, if he had lived, of his 100th birthday, the legend that is Mr Peter O'Toole follows the footsteps and analyses the life of Flynn - the legendary Hollywood swashbuckler - a life that started in Tasmania, continued through to Papua New Guinea onto England, Hollywood, the Spanish Civil War, new Hollywood, Castro's revolution in Cuba and then to a sad end in Vancouver Canada. An insight of a star hooked on drink, drugs and sex and seemingly hell-bent on self destruction more than half a century ago - but the parallels to our modern stars (Spears, Lohan and Hasselhoff) are plain to see - as are the parallels Mr. O'Toole's former life. A poignant trip maybe - but Peter O'Toole's view on Flynn and the current crop of Hollywood stars and the future are an irresistible treat to the viewer.
ERROL FLYNN
The real life story of movie superstar Errol Flynn was more dramatic and incredible than even the wildest of his many Hollywood-starring roles. Flynn reflected the 'Hamlet principle' - that if certain figures are sufficiently adored by the public, their foibles will be forgiven according - and Flynn's were - including a sensational accusation of rape in 1943.
PETER O'TOOLE
He lived the life of Flynn and survived. He drank, he partied, he fought, he drank and did it again - but he lives to tell the tale. He is the legend that is Mr. Peter O'Toole. And the parallels to Flynn are uncanny - women, sex, drink and then some more. A superb actor and legend. The man who acted and drank and hell-raised with Richard Burton and Richard Harris can still hack it. He still has that effortless elegance, charm, and aristocratic manner - the same traits that Flynn had half a century ago.We have the real life living acting legend and legendary hell-raiser and his thoughts and his reminisces on the world, Hollywood and Errol Flynn.
GENRE
Documentary
EPISODES - 6 x 1 hour Episodes
Episode 1 - EARLY DAYS -TASMANIA/NEW SOUTH WALES AND THE PAPUA NEW GUINEA ADVENTURE
Tasmania/New South Wales
Errol Flynn was born in Hobart, Tasmania, where his father, Theodore Thomson Flynn was lecturer and professor in biology, at the University of Tasmania. Peter O'Toole is chauffeured around in comfort and visits the places of interest to all Errol Flynn fans. See where Flynn lived, learnt to swim and went to school - be informed about Errol's young life in Tasmania - following the steps of Tasmania's most famous son.
Peter O'Toole also meets Steve and Genene Randell who have established the "Errol Flynn Society of Tasmania" - they are not only huge Errol Flynn fans but a couple who have found solace in losing 2 babies to Sudden Infant Syndrome (SIDS) in watching Errol Flynn in "Captain Blood".
Peter then visits Sydney, New South Wales, where Flynn as a child attended the Sydney Church of England Grammar School from which he was expelled for fighting and, allegedly, having sex with the daughter of the school laundress. Errol moves onto Papua New Guinea.
Papua New Guinea
Peter O'Toole visits the island- famous because of Flynn's "My Wicked, Wicked Ways." reminisces. It's as if he never died, and his name has been immortalized. His book remains a bestseller to this day and, in places like Salamaua or Wau people still talk about him - especially where Flynn went drinking or gold mining. Peter investigates the "myth" that is "Flynn".
Episode 2 - "NORTH WEST TO NORTHAMPTON"
In 1933, when Peter O'Toole is the grand age of one, Flynn stars in the Australian-made film In the Wake of the Bounty then leaves for Britain and, in 1934, gets an acting job with Northampton Repertory Company, where he worked for six months. Peter O'Toole tries to interject an air of romance and excitement into Northampton - not only trying to excite and "resuscitate" the living repertory members of 1934 but Peter tries to enlighten and excite the modern day citizens of the town to the celebrity that is ""Flynn" - if any one in Northampton is interested or bothered that is.
Episode 3- "HOLLYWOOD BOUND AND BOUNTY"
Discovered by a Warner Bros Executive in England, Flynn is signed to a contract and shipped to America as a contract where he met and married his 1st wife Lili Damita - a well known lesbian (who was to become his first wife). Peter enlightens the audience to Flynn's early film career and discovers that Flynn only got the part in his first hit "Captain Blood" because of pure luck and his lesbian wife's Hollywood connections - the original star of the movie, English actor Robert Donat was not available to star and Errol's wife slept with Hollywood hierarchy (men and women) to get him the role. Peter follows the well documented Hollywood life of Flynn - drink, drugs and women. He meets Flynn's remaining relatives/co-stars and asks present day Hollywood experts Flynn would have survived in the modern day Hollywood climate of "rehab clinics". Peter also raises the question - have things really changed in 60 years with reckless, drugs/drink fuel celebrities parading the famous streets of Hollywood? And would Peter himself, in his hell-raising heyday, ever contemplate entering a rehab clinic? Peter visits a modern day "rehab" clinic and meets the staff and patients and gives his opinion.
Episode 4 - "IN LIKE FLYNN."
Every time you use the expression "In like Flynn" you are recalling the real-life role of the great Hollywood film star. We know what a charmer he was but at no time was his charm more needed than when he was tried for raping two underage girls. Flynn was known as a womanizer but this time the whole world knew about it. His trial was a sensation. Flynn hired the lawyer Jerry Geisler to defend him and the all-female jury acquitted Flynn and, unlike other celebrities whose careers have suffered from such public accusations, Errol became more popular than ever.
Peter looks at the parallels between the Flynn case, the cases of OJ Simpson, Michael Jackson and the recent Phil Spector case. Peter also locates and speaks to the remaining members who were involved in the case - including the family members of Jerry Geisler.
Episode 5- "FLYNN'S FLYING "F*CKERS"
While Flynn's pictures continued to score at the box office, the actor, himself, was declining, both mentally and physically. His drinking and carousing increased, and, although he remained a loyal and good friend to his cronies, the actor's overall behavior became erratic. While following Flynn's decline Peter O'Toole Brand asks the question is Mel Gibson following the same route? Peter O'Toole also gives his views/reminisces on his own hell-raising exploits
Episode 6 - "CUBA AND "CANADA DRY"
By 1958, Errol was desperate, drunk and in Cuba. Peter is down in Cuba trying to meet the rebels that starred in Cuban Rebel Girls, which would prove to be Flynn's last film. Flynn had actually been a Batista supporter (and even a Fascist sympathizer for a while before WWII) but found that supporting Castro would be advantageous to him and this documentary. So Errol supported Fidel just long enough to get the documentary made. But then as Fidel's fighters began to pillage and plunder Havana, Flynn escaped - leaving behind his new 16 year-old girlfriend Beverly Aadland (34 years his junior) who had to find another way out of the country.
All safe, in 1959 Errol and Beverly went to Vancouver to discuss a new movie project. There Flynn died of a massive heart attack (amongst other things mentioned in the autopsy - myocardial infarction, coronary thrombosis, coronary atherosclerosis, liver degeneration, liver sclerosis and diverticulosis of the colon to name a few).
Peter then looks back at the rise and fall of Errol Flynn and also meets up with the modern day Errol Flynn of Vancouver - a real estate man whose name has helped him transfer over $125 Million dollars worth of property. Peter O'Toole finally gives his opinion on life, Hollywood and the legend that was Errol Flynn.
All contents of this document are Copyright 2008 William Lawson. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise without the prior permission of William Lawson.
