Bernie blocked 1986 F1 movie plan, says Cronenberg

[John S]

Most films about F1 hit Ecclestone's cash barrier, we're the losers.          
I realise Bernie monetises everything in the present, but surely well made movies would have given worldwide publicity to F1 and improved future growth, might even have got the US audience all fired up by now.  

David Cronenberg, director of a host of acclaimed films including Crash, The Fly, Dead Ringers, Scanners, Naked Lunch and Videodrome, has revealed that plans for an F1 movie in 1986 were thwarted by Bernie Ecclestone.

The Canadian, speaking after the Venice Film Festival, revealed that he was recruited by Paramount Pictures to make a movie based on F1, the first since John Frankenheimer's Grand Prix in 1966 - assuming you forget Bobby Deerfield in 1977, which is the best thing you can do.

However, such were the demands of F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone the idea was scrapped. Sylvester Stallone, who had plans to make a an F1-based movie in the late 90's was left similarly frustrated by Ecclestone.

"I had meetings with Bernie to talk to him about how we might structure a Formula One movie that was modern at the time and could we, for example, invent a team and have a pit for our team," Cronenberg told the Independent.

Revealing that he had planned to use 1982 world champion Keke Rosberg as camera-car driver, Cronenberg says that at first Ecclestone was all in favour of the idea. "All of these things he was talking about as being possible," he said. "Of course, ultimately it would have come down to money."

A keen F1 fan, who has raced historic F1 cars, Cronenberg, though frustrated by Ecclestone's attitude, eventually used much of his research for a screenplay about Phil Hill's championship winning (pre-Bernie) season 1961. However, that movie project was also subsequently shelved.

Cronenberg's revelation comes as Ron Walker begins work on his movie based around James Hunt's winning season, and as Asif Kapadia's feature documentary on Ayrton Senna continues to win over fans of the sport and non-fans alike.

Talking of the legendary Brazilian, Cronenberg reveals that Senna was one of the drivers he spoke to while doing his research for the movie. "I asked him about dreaming," says the Canadian, referring to the claim that before a run he would 'dream' the entire track. The Brazilian admitted that he "dreamed the racetrack. It's almost like I am practising the racetrack in my dreams." Asked the same question, Keke Rosberg replied: "No. Why would I dream about the racetrack? I spend too much time of my waking life on the racetracks."

.....And we all know what Bernie dreams about.

original article from Pitpass.com, 13th Sept.

[cosworth151]

That's a shame. Grand Prix brought F1 many fans. I'm one of them. Another well made film could well have done the same for another generation.

It might be just as well that the Stallone project was changed. Driven was awful.

[Jericoke]

That's a shame. Grand Prix brought F1 many fans. I'm one of them. Another well made film could well have done the same for another generation.

Bernie isn't looking for 'well made' (which Cronenberg can do), he's looking for 'Fan Friendly', which isn't really Cronenberg's strength.

While I think it would have been a fantastic movie, I don't know that it would have benefited F1 as much as Frankenheimer's did.

It might be just as well that the Stallone project was changed. Driven was awful.

I like the CART chase through downtown Toronto