'Babes' will back Butler as the new film face of Rabbie Burns

What the hell? I thought Gerry's people already made it clear that they DID NOT want fangroups becoming financially involved with this project - and I agree with them. I sincerely hope this isn't true, because this is a bad idea. A really bad idea.


'Babes' will back Butler as the new film face of Rabbie Burns

Published Date: 08 June 2009
By MARTYN McLAUGHLIN

FEMALE fans of one of Scotland's biggest movie stars are campaigning to help get the cameras rolling on a film about Robert Burns.

Gerard Butler is set to star as Scotland's national poet in the production during the year of Homecoming.

Members of Butler's considerable international female fanbase – known as Butler's Babes – will come to Glasgow to stage a benefit event, in lieu of investment from film financiers.

Such is the devotion of some of the actor's fans, they have even set up their own production companies to help snowball investment.

Even so, the future of the £5 million film, first mooted a decade ago, is unclear.

Although Mob Films, the production company behind Burns: The Movie, has held discussions with Scottish Screen, The Scotsman can reveal that it has not yet even applied to the agency for funding.

A fundraising dinner at Edinburgh Castle, to be hosted by First Minister Alex Salmond, has also been indefinitely delayed.

Far from dousing the enthusiasm of Butler's fanbase, the lack of progress has only motivated them into action. Sandra Horyski, from Winnipeg, Canada, is organising the Burns Film Benefit, to be held on 28 July in Glasgow's Oran Mor with as many as 400 people expected.

She has already spoken to the film's director, Vadim Jean, and will meet executives at Mob Films to discuss how her fellow fans can continue to help. "Our goal is to bring people together to share the legend that is Burns and to help raise as much money as we can for the film," she said.

Such is Ms Horyski's dedication to the cause, she has even given Butler a rare 1830 volume of Burns' poetry carried by her great-grandfather in the battlefields of the First World War.

Although Butler, 39, has described his following as "surreal," he has filmed messages for fan events and donated film props and costumes to their auctions, raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity.

Yet the fans' long-held dream of seeing Butler play Burns – Ms Horyski said he has the "rare ability to become the character" – may not be realised. Mob Films say the film, to be co-produced by Evil Twins, a production company co-owned by Butler, remains "in development".

Andrew Boswell, its producer, said the firm is "supportive" of the fan event, but told The Scotsman he did not want to "overexpose the film".

In January, the company said a "major part" of the funding was in place, but appealed for additional sponsorship.

To date, East Ayrshire Council has pledged £1,000. Other investors, however, believe a cinematic release is far off. "The company seems to be having real difficulty getting the financing," confirmed one.

The Scottish Government said it was liaising with the firm to rearrange the event hosted by Mr Salmond. Butler's agent was not available for comment

It won't get anywhere. What will happen to all the money raised if the film doesn't happen? Who gets to keep it?

One word comes to mind when I hear about fan forums and groups wanting to 'help' fund Gerry's movies: manipulation.

Quite a few years back, I had this guy who was madly in love with me, and wanted to marry me. He was sweet and kind and was not shy in letting me know how he felt. The problem was, I didn't share his feelings. Though I considered him a nice guy and even somewhat of a friend (we could have been better friends had he not been so overbearing), I did NOT want to have that kind of relationship with him. So, he upped the ante by "doing" things for me...making trips from out of town to see me when I didn't invite him, buying me gifts, and more gifts, and more gifts, etc. etc. etc.

Looking back, I can see now that he wasn't so much doing this because he loved me as much as he was doing it as a way for me to feel indebted to him. It was a controlling, manipulative tactic to try to make me do something I didn't want to do.

I'm sure Alan Siegel is a smart man and sees this too, which is why he said "thanks but no thanks" to the offer. Notice the article said "female" fans....what does that tell you?

On another note, why is it so DAMM hard to get this film off the ground? Evil Twins already has one film in the can with other DEFINITE projects on the horizon. Why is everyone around the Burns film crying poor???

I just don't get it. It's like walking through molasses.

who is a part of the babes?

where did they come from?

I'm with Leo...

Why is it so hard to get 'Burns' made?

If Gerry's heart is into it, why can't he get the financing? What are they waiting on?

I don't get it. He can do, dare I say, somewhat mediocre work (maybe that's a harsh word to use), but something he seems genuinely passionate about doing can't get made. Perhaps it's fated, eh? Maybe when finally makes this film it'll be the be all, end all in his career. Oscar-worthy. Maybe.

I myself would be anxious to see him as Burns. Something's keeping the movie on the backburner though.

Maybe it has to do with the Burns family or foundation or legacy organization.

Is Gerry the only candidate to play Burns? Don't other actors want to?

good question...do other actors want to do it? is the foundation holding out for someone else?

If the fans really want to help Gerry, they will help fund my Gerry goat herd. Hell, I'll even name the herd "Burns" if it will make them happy.

Speaking of which, that just reminded me...I used to go to church with a guy named Jerry Burns.

No, that has nothing to do with this topic. Neither did the goat comment.

lol! Yeah, gotta donate to help others.

I have always thought that this movie sounded like something that might go straight to DVD. I'm not sure how much mainstream success it would have outside of Scotland or the UK. It would be like some random native son from American history appealing to an international audience. Literary buffs might like it, but I doubt it would be a box office hit. Look at what films are selling now - i.e. The Hangover. Maybe the financing problem is more an issue of that, then anything else.

I also wonder if Gerry is starting to worry about his age and this role, as well as the direction that he is going with his career. He is booking other rolls, ones that will make him money. The entire Burns project is only going to be around 5 milllion pounds. He's not going to get much of a paycheck from that and there's a lot of risk in doing an iconic role. Maybe he doesn't want to turn down other offers for jobs and so the Burns project is moving slowly.

I think you're right, Dallas.

Dallas, you took the words out of my mouth. Was going to write about the money deal. Some passions are bigger than others.