Ann Harvey’s Weblog

I came across the story of The Wreck of The Despatch and the rescue efforts of The Harvey Family, in 2007. I was amazed that I’d never heard or read of the story. To date I haven’t found a single person who knows the story.. other than those involved either as descendants, historians, writers, artists, local Newfoundlanders or members of the Steering Committee behind the effort to establish Ann Harvey as a Woman of Historical Significance.

It seemed to me, that a Documentary Film or program might help.. I also started writing a Feature Film Synopsis with a fictional contemporary context and setting, that could encompass the Historical Events at Isle Aux Morts.

Along the way, I began researching the story.. to get a sense of who George Harvey was, the nature of ‘passage’ across the Atlantic in that era, the passengers and crew and ship, Newfoundland and its south coast, the locale of the wreck and rescue effort.. and to reflect the current status of the story.

Creating a Documentary and/or a Film is a major undertaking. If you work backwards, there’s audiences in Canada and the USA, and International audiences in countries such as Ireland and the UK.. perhaps even in other countries the story appeals to. Whether on televisions, via DVD or even online distribution that means ‘partnerships’ and ‘deal-making’. Working further back it means Production Companies and Networks are involved (and lawyers). That all takes MONEY .. Writing, soundtrack, camera work, graphics, photography, editing.. research, liaison, memos, phone calls, more research.

Well.. that’s where I sit today.. at the ‘more research’ stage.. as well as what we call the ‘preliminary development’ stage. Where I’m contacting Film Agents, Production Companies, Talent Agencies, Funding Sources, Networks, Film Boards etc etc. 

I’ve been down this road before.. perhaps not with a story of this significance.. or ‘weight’ .. and in the days and weeks and months to come, I’ll try to maintain a ‘log’ of how it unfolds, who I talked to, their interest or potential involvement. I just had a delightful conversation with Gordon Pinsent’s agent in regard to him being the narrator or even an on-camera host of the documentary.. I’ll update further, as we proceed.