Farrah Fawcett update: Exec producer says NBC documentary wasn't what Farrah wanted.Now we know why "Farrah's Story" left out what it should have said about cancer. It wasn't Farrah's fault. Executive producer Craig Nevius — who is suing over loss of creative control of the documentary — says the show that aired on NBC was not the story Farrah Fawcett wanted to tell.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, the producer says NBC told Farrah, "This is your story. We'll tell it your way, in your words." He emphasizes:
She was adamant about one thing: She wanted this edited like a movie using her diary for narration. She didn't want the talking-head format with its abrupt interruptions."
But talking heads is what she got. Lots of them.
Her diary was used only as punctuation in a narrative that was dominated by Ryan O'Neal and Alana Stewart speaking for her, plus some ratings-worthy spots with "Charlie's Angels" pals Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith. Nevius says most of that footage was added after Ryan grabbed creative control of the film six weeks ago by claiming Farrah was too ill to continue and wanted him to make the decisions.
The worst part is that Farrah's message didn't get out. She didn't want a tribute to herself. She wanted to make a difference by emphasizing the apalling lack of effective, affordable cancer treatment in this country. Nevius says:
"Farrah wants to know why chemotherapy sensitivity tests are done in Germany and elsewhere, but not here in America. ... Why do some medicines cost 10 times more in the United States than they do in Germany? Aren't we limiting cancer treatment to the rich? 'Why aren't we encouraging mad-scientist thinking?' she likes to ask. Farrah wanted this TV special to have an impact. She wanted this to affect change in the medical world."
Shame on these squabbling producers for taking away the last chance Farrah may ever have at making a real difference. Shame on them for taking away what may have had a powerful impact for all cancer patients. And shame on them for turning what might have been an important film into a sentimental, prime time tribute video. Shame. Shame. Shame.
In case you missed it, you can watch "Farrah's Story" on YouTube. It's in 11 segments.
Original Source : http://www.examiner.com/x-264-Celebrity-News-Examiner~y2009m5d17-Farrah-Fawcett-update-Exec-producer-says-NBC-documentary-wasnt-what-Farrah-wanted
