Jessica Watson's solo sail to become a film
by Media Services on 21 Aug 2012
Jessica Watson’s Homecoming - 15 May 2010 - Jessica Watson’s Homecoming - 15 May 2010 Howard Wright /IMAGE Professional Photography
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The world will soon see the story of the solo round-the-world voyage of teenage sailor Jessica Watson in movie format, starting production in Australia next year.
Sean McNamara, the director of the Hollywood movie 'Soul Surfer', and Paramount Pictures chose the Australian International Movie Convention on the Gold Coast yesterday to announce they will shoot the 'inspiring drama' called 'True Spirit' in Australia next year.
It will be based on Watson's book of the same name about sailing around the world non-stop and unassisted as a 16-year-old. She was at sea for 210 days before arriving home in May 2010.
Watson, now 19, said she was flattered and excited about the movie and looking forward to being involved as a consultant.
The American production company Brookwell McNamara Entertainment is teaming up with Watson's manager, Andrew Fraser, and his partners in Sunstar Entertainment for True Spirit. Sunstar has previously made two documentaries on Watson: one on her circumnavigation and the other about her skippering of the youngest ever crew in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race last year.
No actor has been chosen at this stage to play Jessica, but producers surmise she will be Australian.
Producer David Brookwell said the filmmakers were aiming for an accurate re-telling of the story.
'There's no need to manufacture any of the story. It's so incredible!'
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