A+E Networks and Lifetime says it's open about the fact that the upcomingOscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer made-for-TV movie has not been endorsed by the families of either Oscar Pistorius or Reeva Steenkamp and that it's anticipated to "elicit mixed reactions in South Africa".
Oscar
Pistorius' brother Carl Pistorius said earlier this week the Pistorius family will "take legal action" against the film in which Oscar Pistorius is portrayed by actor Andreas
Damn with Toni Garrn playing Reeva Steenkamp who was tragically
gunned down.
Oscar
Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer will
debut on 11 November on Lifetime in the United States, with no date available
yet for Lifetime (DStv 131) in South Africa and Africa on MultiChoice's DStv
satellite pay-TV platform.
Oscar
Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer was
written by Amber Benson and produced by Eric Tomosunas and Swirl Films for Thinkfactory
Media.
"A+E
Networks Africa, which includes Lifetime Africa in its channel portfolio, would
like to be transparent about the fact that the movie has not been seen or
endorsed by the families of either Reeva Steenkamp or Oscar Pistorius," says
the distributor of the Lifetime channel in a statement.
A+E
Networks Africa says Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer "is based on a true
story and public records. It looks at events leading up to Reeva’s killing as
well as the courtroom trials that followed".
A+E
Networks says it "has noted the families' statements in the media reports. We
have not yet received any correspondence from either family’s lawyers".
"It is anticipated that the movie will elicit mixed reactions in South Africa due to the sensitive nature of the high profile court case which was widely followed".
In his statement earlier this week, Carl Pistorius said that the Pistorius family is distancing themselves from the Lifetime film, "produced by A+E Networks, a joint venture between the Disney-ABC Television Group".
Carl Pistorius didn't realise and know that Disney and ABC are the same company and that A+E Networks is not a joint venture between Disney-ABC, but between Disney-ABC Television and Hearst Communications.
"It is anticipated that the movie will elicit mixed reactions in South Africa due to the sensitive nature of the high profile court case which was widely followed".
In his statement earlier this week, Carl Pistorius said that the Pistorius family is distancing themselves from the Lifetime film, "produced by A+E Networks, a joint venture between the Disney-ABC Television Group".
Carl Pistorius didn't realise and know that Disney and ABC are the same company and that A+E Networks is not a joint venture between Disney-ABC, but between Disney-ABC Television and Hearst Communications.
By threatening "legal action", Carl Pistorius also goes up against freedom of speech in South Africa, and
worldwide – something that protects filmmakers and writers who are allowed to
interpret and re-interpret anything they want – and how they want to. It's
called artistic creative licence.
Just like OJ Simpson, Michael Jackson,
Whitney Houston, Nelson Mandela and other high-profile people who've had
several biopics and biographical films about their lives made, no one owns the
story of their own life.
It is legal for people to write
unauthorized biographies, make documentaries or dramas about someone without
needing their permission. You do not need permission to portray a real person
in a work of art such as a book or movie.
By saying the family will take legal
action, the Pistorius family is giving Lifetime's upcoming Oscar
Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer a huge international
publicity and attention boost with earned media coverage that normal
made-for-TV movie marketing budgets can't buy.
