By Bethany Harpur
Funding for a film script based on the life of Colonel John By — famous for his construction of the Rideau Canal — is more than halfway to its $100,000 goal.
“I’ve had an enormous amount of help and support in this past year, which is wonderful,” said Josephine MacFadden from her Sandy Hill home.
Group and individual donors have contributed $55,000 so far. A gala dinner hosted by the Casino de Hull is also in the works for March, to bring in more sponsors.
The film was recognized by Ottawa 2000, the planning group for the capital’s millenium celebrations, as a heritage project. Promotion and marketing has already begun through their efforts.
“I can’t think of a better way to put Ottawa on the map,” said Doug Hotston, executive director of Ottawa 2000. “We’re fully supportive of this initiative and hope (MacFadden) succeeds.”
Organizers are also looking at applying for government assistance.
“There is a lot of federal and provincial money available for projects like this,” said David Watts, marketing director for Friends of the Rideau, a volunteer support network helping MacFadden with fundraising. “We’re keeping an eye out for that.”
Lack of recognition is the main reason for MacFadden’s 18-year obsession with completing the script and bringing the tale to the big screen.
“Many of our wonderful stories have not yet been told and this is one of them,” she said. “This isn’t even in our history books. We want to set the record right.”
Members of the community were the first to rally around the idea of a film based on the legacy of Colonel John By, whose great engineering feat of constructing the Rideau Canal went largely unrecognized by the British government in 1832.
“For basically doing what his verbal orders were, he got into a lot of trouble,” said MacFadden.
After a rash of malaria cases and construction accidents, and the mounting cost for the project went over budget, By was ordered to return to England, where he spent the last few years of his life struggling to be recognized for his work.
MacFadden is hoping for a big-name producer and star to bring in the necessary funds to release the movie. She has already spoke with Anthony Hopkin’s agent, hoping the actor will take on the title role. And she has already received word that Dan Aykroyd is also interested in starring.
For now, the main concern is funding to finish the script, which is expected to be complete in two months. MacFadden will then focus on finding a company to handle production and distribution. Alliance Atlantis, a major Canadian production company, has already shown interest.
“Putting a film together is a major project,” said Watts, “especially in an area that isn’t known for major film production.”
But Watts has confidence in MacFadden’s opus. “This story is basically what great movies are made of.”
Tax-deductible contributions for the project are still being accepted. For information, please call 233-1397.