Help! TV company has contacted me

Hey all,

I've been contacted by a TV company. They have emailed me a bunch of questions about the madeleine mccann case and about what it's like to be a web sleuth, how I communicate with others online who follow the case etc. They also want me to recommend other people to speak to.

What should I do?

Sorry, I put this in the members lounge also but now realise that may have been the wrong place for this message, so admins, feel free to delete that one.

Thanks.

Constablekid wrote:Hey all,

I've been contacted by a TV company. They have emailed me a bunch of questions about the madeleine mccann case and about what it's like to be a web sleuth, how I communicate with others online who follow the case etc. They also want me to recommend other people to speak to.

What should I do?

Sorry, I put this in the members lounge also but now realise that may have been the wrong place for this message, so admins, feel free to delete that one.

Thanks.

Which TV company is it?

I recommend a short reply briefly stating what your interest in the case is, and giving an honest answer as to what it's like being a web sleuth - absorbing/fascinating/frustrating/whatever.  

You are entitled to ask them what the purpose of their interest is, but be prepared for journalists to lie so as to extract as much as they can from you.  

There is no problem about recommending others that you think the TV might talk to, but be sure first that the person is willing or likely to be willing to be contacted

Thanks very much Tony, that's very helpful. I'll probably reply to them tomorrow.

It's October Films. Here is what they emailed me:

There are some questions below. Feel free to write as much as you want. Also, if you happen to know of anyone else who knows a lot about this case (or any other unsolved mystery) who might be worth getting in touch with, please let me know. The more people I talk to, the better.

Questions:

1 You’ve done a lot of research on the Madeleine McCann case - why this case? What is it about the case that’s got you so interested?

2 How long have you been researching the case and how much time would you say you’ve spent on it?

3 Where do you go to research the case? What are you resources?

4 What are some interesting things you’ve noticed about the case that most people might not be aware of or that you think should be a bigger focus in the investigation?

5 What conclusions have you drawn about the case as to Madeleine’s fate?

6 Can you tell us about the community of people online who do what you do? Are you all in contact with each doing and do you swap notes?

7 Have there been any major breakthroughs/developments in the case recently? What was the last big development that brought a new angle to the case?

8 With less money in the police budget, do you find detectives are turning to web sleuths in order to gain new info they may have missed?

Constablekid wrote:Thanks very much Tony, that's very helpful. I'll probably reply to them tomorrow.

It's October Films. Here is what they emailed me:

There are some questions below. Feel free to write as much as you want. Also, if you happen to know of anyone else who knows a lot about this case (or any other unsolved mystery) who might be worth getting in touch with, please let me know. The more people I talk to, the better.

Questions:

1 You’ve done a lot of research on the Madeleine McCann case - why this case? What is it about the case that’s got you so interested?

2 How long have you been researching the case and how much time would you say you’ve spent on it?

3 Where do you go to research the case? What are you resources?

4 What are some interesting things you’ve noticed about the case that most people might not be aware of or that you think should be a bigger focus in the investigation?

5 What conclusions have you drawn about the case as to Madeleine’s fate?

6 Can you tell us about the community of people online who do what you do? Are you all in contact with each doing and do you swap notes?

7 Have there been any major breakthroughs/developments in the case recently? What was the last big development that brought a new angle to the case?

8 With less money in the police budget, do you find detectives are turning to web sleuths in order to gain new info they may have missed?

Goodness! Questions 4 and 5 are like an open goal from 2 feet out! Go for it!

Question 7 - hmmm, new angles! Plenty of threads on this forum alone to choose from, but dare I mention 'The Last Photo'? Or over a million people watching Richard Hall's films?

I hope they haven't written to PeterMac. He will want a new keyboard by the time he's answered those questions!

Ha ha yes. Maybe I should ask if I can post the researchers email address on here and then everyone can email answers to the questions lol x

Constablekid wrote:Hey all,

I've been contacted by a TV company. They have emailed me a bunch of questions about the madeleine mccann case and about what it's like to be a web sleuth, how I communicate with others online who follow the case etc. They also want me to recommend other people to speak to.

What should I do?

Sorry, I put this in the members lounge also but now realise that may have been the wrong place for this message, so admins, feel free to delete that one.

CONGRATULATIONS AMAZING

i would be a bit careful , the company october films is the maker of the series obsession, dark desires recommissioned.

http://www.octoberfilms.co.uk/news.php?article=81

on wikipedia it is given the next description:

The show dramatizes real life accounts from people who have been the victim of stalking

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsession:_Dark_Desires

so do ask for exactly which program your information would be used. 

my gut feeling is leading me to think this becomes part of just the next pro mccann story.

onehand wrote:i would be a bit careful , the company october films is the maker of the series obsession, dark desires recommissioned.

In think 'onehand' has made some pertinent observations about film-makers before on here, so we should pay attention.

Also, as 'aquila' observes, why 'Constablekid'? If you look at 'Constablekid's posts, there isn't any active sleuthing there, just occasional comments and actually quite a lot of questions among his 60-odd posts. Nothing wrong with that, but is he actually a 'sleuther', or a 'commenter'?  

I should have suggested to him to ask the obvious question: who has commissioned this film?

For example, the 2009 'Mockumentary' was made by Mentorn Films - but commissioned by Mentorn Media. 

Jenny Kleeman was going to make a film, indeed I think she made a pitch to the Guardian. But the Guardian agreed, so in effect commissioned her. 

But still - I think 'Constablekid' should give them honest and straightforward answers.

As I did when Robhyn Swan emailed me one day with a list of questions. I had no idea that it was for the most pro-McCann book ever written: ''Looking for Madeleine' by Anthony Summers and Robyn Swan.

But at least some of my answers made the book.

Chapter 15 of their book finished with this (p. 203):

QUOTE

Bennett himself, he told the authors, still talks about the case, and conducts research. "This case has fired literally thousands of people", he said, "to delve into the depths of the matter, and many of them who have done most of the delving either do not wish to be named and take credit or are, indeed, fearful of being named publicly because of the severe adverse consequences of voicing one's opinions".

There have been and still are, as Bennett told the authors, dozens of McCann-sceptic websites. These sites are the murky substrata of the case, peopled by those who have been dubbed 'the haters'.

UNQUOTE

At least they reproduced one of my quotes verbatim

Constablekid wrote:Hey all,

I've been contacted by a TV company. They have emailed me a bunch of questions about the madeleine mccann case and about what it's like to be a web sleuth, how I communicate with others online who follow the case etc. They also want me to recommend other people to speak to.

What should I do?

Sorry, I put this in the members lounge also but now realise that may have been the wrong place for this message, so admins, feel free to delete that one.

Thanks.

How did they get your contact details?

A mutual friend gave them my email.

I'll ask if he minds me putting his email address on here then you can all send your answers to the questions if you want, because I agree, I'm not as qualified as most on here. I just happen to have a connection.

I can't vouch for the production company though so don't blame me if they twist your words!

Constablekid wrote:I'll ask if he minds me putting his email address on here then you can all send your answers to the questions if you want, because I agree, I'm not as qualified as most on here. I just happen to have a connection.

I can't vouch for the production company though so don't blame me if they twist your words!

Will you keep us informed of any progess please?

Wow ConstableKid, amazing that the company contacted you for any new angles on the case. 

As Tony has mentioned R. Hall's vid. why not send them a link and let them decide whether they can use any of the info. from that?

Yes will keep you all informed. I've replied to them asking some questions, including those you guys have asked on here. I'll let you know what they reply.

I'll ask them if they know of Richard Hall as well.

Constablekid wrote:I'll ask if he minds me putting his email address on here

I think he'll say no to that one! Just think of all the people who might e-mail him!

Every documentary-maker has an agenda, a message to get across - and that will be agreed in advanced with whoever has commissioned this.

It is not remotely possible that this documentary will present the viewing public with a shred of credible evidence that the McCanns' abduction story is anything but the Gospel truth.

Did BBC Crimewatch and the Met Police on 14 October 2013 even mention - still less show - arguably the single most important evidence in the whole case? - Martin Grime's statement and film of his dogs alerting in 17 places connected with the McCanns in Praia da Luz?

No

BBC Crime Watch prog was not even shown in Portugal, the place from where Maddie disappeared - I would have thought that it would have been sensible to ask the people of Portugal if they had seen anything suspicious on that night - not the UK and German populations.   What on earth was that all about?

I saw this thread late last night, and I was puzzled. Just as it's already been pointed out, why would a TV company contact someone who has only posted a few posts? Moreover, why would a "mutual friend" give a company your email address? I would have thought that your mutual friend would have discussed it with you first. Only then could I understand you asking forum members what their views were on taking part in the programme.

Can you post a copy of the email? Not the private information, such as email address, or any personal information, but the basics?

If someone gave MY details to a company or any other person/organisation without my permission, I wouldn't be too pleased, to say the least.

I smell danger or rats.

HelenMeg wrote:I smell danger or rats.

But it is also an opportunity - however modest. At the very least, the editors of the film company will (hopefully) learn of some facts they were not previously aware of - and watch Richard Hall's documentary before making their own

hi Constablekid....i would tread very carefully  in what you say or reply to this person

imo.... he will find everything he could possibly want on below link


http://gerrymccan-abuseofpower-humanrights.blogspot.co.uk/

Many people have been following this case in the British media but don't know the other side of the story from the Portuguese point of view. I have tried to collect as much information as possible for those who are only just starting to realise there is more to this case than is being told in the British media.

Constablekid wrote:Hey all,

I've been contacted by a TV company. They have emailed me a bunch of questions about the madeleine mccann case and about what it's like to be a web sleuth, how I communicate with others online who follow the case etc. They also want me to recommend other people to speak to.

What should I do?

Sorry, I put this in the members lounge also but now realise that may have been the wrong place for this message, so admins, feel free to delete that one.

Thanks.

Can't believe I'm reading this - are you for real?  I'm amazed that you need to ask advice from forum members.  If this be true I suggest someone is pulling your plonker or you're being set up - loading the gun for you to fire...

This is akin to commissioning a free lance fringe journalist to produce a documentary on the case of a missing child, during an active investigation.

Beware, here there be dragons.

Constablekid wrote:Hey all,

I've been contacted by a TV company. They have emailed me a bunch of questions about the madeleine mccann case and about what it's like to be a web sleuth, how I communicate with others online who follow the case etc. They also want me to recommend other people to speak to.

What should I do?

Sorry, I put this in the members lounge also but now realise that may have been the wrong place for this message, so admins, feel free to delete that one.

Thanks.

Hello Constablekid,

The bit in your above post which worries me is the bit seemingly tagged on to their interest in the McCann case, namely 'what it's like to be a web sleuth, how I communicate with others online who follow the case etc. They also want me to recommend other people to speak to.'


I hesitate to tar all with the same brush but it reminds me of a certain somebody's appeal not so long ago, saying it would be an opportunity for a McCann sceptic to put across facts of the case in The Sun newspaper but it turned out to be a stitch up.

As previous posters have pointed out, the info is out there to find and any TV researcher worth their salt could have their eyes opened to the facts of the case very quickly by looking in the right places. I very much doubt this is a programme about the details to any particular cases, let alone the McCann case in particular. Context is everything, and things portrayed out of context (ie. the valuable work of web researchers who are called anything from antis to trolls and a lot worse besides) can be very damaging. The tragic story of Brenda Leyland stands testament to that.
People can't tread carefully enough when dealing with the media.

Hmmmm.



8 With less money in the police budget, do you find detectives are turning to web sleuths in order to gain new info they may have missed?
-----------------------------

One 'investigation' that will NEVER 'subject' to LESS 'money' as we have been told recently, is Operation Grange!
----------------------------
'do you find detectives are turning to web sleuths in order to gain new info they may have missed?'
-------------------------------------------------
How could 38 FULL TIME 'detectives' (and police 'staff') have 'missed' ANYTHING 'related' to the McCann child 'disappearance'?

They've been 'investigating', FULL TIME, the 'case' for OVER FOUR YEARS and FOUR MONTHS!

(and will be 'at it' AGAIN on Monday!)

They have the PJ 'files'

They have the 'inconsistant' and 'discrepancy' RIDDLED T7 and JW 'statements'

They have all the 'video's, interviews, 'books' etc.,' 'related' to Madeleine's 'disappearance'.

Now, if you had been 'asked' (Q8) about 'files, 'information' e-mails etc'., that OG 'detectives' have 'received' from web 'sleuths', not 'missed', but totally 'IGNORED' ('nutter's' box!) then, and only then, might it be 'worth' a 'contact' with the 'tv' people.

I 'smell' a rat!

'this 'person' is OBSESSED, with 'damaging' two 'decent' people and their 'kids'

(who 'knows' where, and in whose 'hands', 'other' peoples e-mail 'addys' might end up? Pro Mccann 'supporters'? 'Trolls' (pro McCann) threatening people, ala BL?)

Having said that you 'could' point out to the 'tv' people these two little 'gems' from D Payne in his 'signed sworn', Leicestershire Police 'statement', Friday 11th April, 2008.

Interviewing Officer(s) DC 1485 MESSIAH , 1485 "Is there anything that you consider pertinent or relevant to establish the material truth'' (about a three years old child's 'disappearance')

D Payne reply "Err the, there ARE A FEW THINGS but I don't think this is the right forum for bringing those up.'

AND

D Payne: 'and if I was to say that she was carrying the child you know like this, rather than like, like that then, you know because again this is something that we've talked about, you know, if she was abducted, you know,.......'

'IF' she (Madeleine) was 'abducted'?

'IF i was to say that SHE was carrying the 'child' you know like this............'

WHO is the 'SHE' D Payne 'refers' to?

Perhaps you'd 'like' to tell the 'tv' people about the 'above'

THEY'VE 'seemed' to have 'missed' this 'info' strangely, which is ALL 'on record'

My 'advice' to you is to 'record, record, record' EVERYTHING in your possible 'dealings' with 'tv' people!

October Films make documentaries of people that are being stalked, so I too would be very very wary of their motives.  It may not have been commissioned by anyone, just themselves making one more documentary about obsessive stalkers.