A movie about Hayley?

[stevemacdonald]

Wouldn't it be cool if they made a movie about Hayley?

The film opens with Hayley (played by a series of actresses) onstage for the final curtain call at Croydon, 2008. The rapturous ovation from the audience brings a dreamy gleam to her eyes as she looks off into the distance and remembers how it all started, back when she was six.... We fade into a classroom scene where young Hayley is singing along with the other kids, patiently waiting for her turn to solo. When her voice rings out, it's suddenly clear to all in her midst that she is to be the Star... the Littlest Star!

Flash forward to the mean streets of Christchurch where various and sundry buskers are plying their trade the best they can. We spot a scrappy, fresh-faced 11-year-old Hayley (now played by Dakota Fanning) fearlessly pulling in the crowds with her sparkling soprano and upbeat energy. Passersby are stopped in their tracks the moment her voice catches them.

And so on.

As I see it, the movie wouldn't be a sappy TV version of her autobiography; rather, it would have excellent production values and massive appeal to families and aspiring musical artists everywhere. There's the improbability factor at work in stories like hers: Who'd have thunk a kid from the South Island of New Zealand would entertain world leaders before her 17th birthday, 'specially after staring down the honchos at Decca to keep a Kate Bush cover on her world debut?

The movie will rival "A Star Is Born" if done right. It can be done!

[Martin]

Hi Steve
A nice "dream" but probably 10 - 20 years premature and even then Hayley would have to have reached truly International stardom before investors would contemplate such a venture.

Best Wishes
Martin

[stevemacdonald]

martin said:

A nice "https://i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifream" but probably 10 - 20 years premature and even then Hayley would have to have reached truly International stardom before investors would contemplate such a venture.

Yeah, sadly you're right... except that at present there's more of a market for stories about youth culture than ever before. Hayley's tale would be a wonderful antidote to the Amy Winehouse/Britney Spears crazy-is-cool mystique. More good role models are needed and a few of them are skyrocketing. Just look at the wild success of squeaky-clean Hannah Montana. Any investor in a Hayley story would be tapping into both a wave and a need. The story must be told.

[socalboy]

Big budget movies about 20 year-olds are rare unless there is a tragic conclusion. The only tragedy here is the notion of Dakota Fanning playing the young Hayley.

BTW Steve, if there is ever an award for most prolific thread starter it should have your name on it. Your boundless imagination is much admired in these quarters.

[milewalker]

stevemacdonald said:

martin said:

A nice "https://i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifream" but probably 10 - 20 years premature and even then Hayley would have to have reached truly International stardom before investors would contemplate such a venture.

Yeah, sadly you're right... except that at present there's more of a market for stories about youth culture than ever before. Hayley's tale would be a wonderful antidote to the Amy Winehouse/Britney Spears crazy-is-cool mystique. More good role models are needed and a few of them are skyrocketing. Just look at the wild success of squeaky-clean Hannah Montana. Any investor in a Hayley story would be tapping into both a wave and a need. The story must be told.

Hi Steve,

The only problem with "sqeeky/clean" is that is has a shelf life. I am not saying that it becomes a disadvantage so much as that I think at some point it stops being a marketing asset. Using the example of Miley Cyrus you cited her sales are simply either going to drop precipitously in a few years time, or she will have to reinvent herself as an adult performer in some fashion. There is quite likely a very large range of choices there - and it doesnt necessarily involve going down the Winehouse road.

For this reason I see no liklihood at all that such a movie would be made about Hayley now.

Jon

[stevemacdonald]

It doesn't have to be a big Hollywood movie... but maybe something on a modest scale (think Whale Rider). I could be wrong here, but I think a charming and feel-good movie about someone making superb music against all odds has winner written all over it. If a movie like Billy Elliot can get made on a shoestring and win trophies galore, why can't a cool movie about someone like Hayley hit the spot?

Music is a hot subject now in movies. The soundtrack to Juno is killing the competition. Ditto the Hannah Montana materials. And Jon, Miley is a multi-threat talent who will be around acting in movies and TV series for decade to come. In fact, she won't even come into her best singing voice for several more years.

[dutchjoyce]

........Huh.........a movie??

I love a tour Dairy.......Hayley singing in New Zealand...........
her most beautiful songs filmed in New Zealand, with beautifull
shots of the New Zealand scenery!! Release date.................
somewhere before Christmas 2008 !!!

Greetz JOYCE.

[Libby]

No, thanks. Interesting idea, though.

For one thing, I wouldn't want to see a bunch of "fake" Hayley's. Dakota Fanning is a nice actress (for now ), but she doesn't resemble Hayley in the least.

The DVD is something we need right now more than a movie. It would be seen by a lot more people, since it would probably be aired on PBS.

Hayley's story is lovely, but I think her book is good enough. You get the story from Hayley's point of view, and you can picture the real Hayley in your mind. In the movie, you'd instead see some Hayley imposter pretending to sing, while they play Hayley's real voice over it. That wouldn't be any good.

No, sorry. DVD, please.

[Richard]

Thanks Libby!

I totally agree with you on all points.

Richard

[stevemacdonald]

libby said:

... Hayley's story is lovely, but I think her book is good enough. You get the story from Hayley's point of view, and you can picture the real Hayley in your mind. ...

But keep in mind nobody in America's even heard of the book. It's not sold here, A cool movie about Hayley would introduce her to a wider audience in a unique way.

I guess the main point is it has to be cool, No lame effort will do. I picked Dakota Fanning merely to suggest that an accomplished child actress play her. Movies from New Zealand have been all the rage in recent years. The time is right to put her story out on the big screen. Or at least a story inspired by her. After all, she's riding a whale of a career.

[milewalker]

Hi Steve,

I am not trying to reject the idea out of hand - but there is a question here. I think that the problem Hayley has in America is that in some ways she simply isnt "cool" enough in the first place. I am intending to take this merely as an observation of the way things are - not a criticism of the way that Hayley is.

Socialboy noted above that in general, movies about stars tend to only be successful when they have a sad ending. This is only partially the point but I think he is on the right track. The movie doesnt necessarily have to be sad, but it does have to be exciting - emotionally evocative in some fashion.

The problem is that as I have seen this unfold, the real reason Hayley has been less successful in the US than we have hoped is because she doesnt have a persona which is "Exciting" enough to get attention over all of the noise. I see no way for a movie - large or small - to overcome that. I think you could probably come up with an better choice than Dakota Fanning - the actress should be prettier - but even if you get a good fit there, I just dont see people lining up to see this movie. If they did, they would already be buying her records.

The catch 22 here is how to make Hayley acceptable to American audiences without doing something to upset her existing fanbase - if you could find an answer to that problem, then projects like a movie wont work. If you dont solve that problem, there is likely very little that will work.

Jon

Jon

[socalboy]

milewalker said:

The catch 22 here is how to make Hayley acceptable to American audiences without doing something to upset her existing fanbase - if you could find an answer to that problem, then projects like a movie wont work. If you dont solve that problem, there is likely very little that will work.

This does seem to be the crux of the dilemma, doesn’t it? We’ve discussed this before elsewhere, but the fact that Hayley has led a rather exemplary life plays against the media’s appetite for scandal and despair. Hayley could raise a million bikes for Ghana and the story would be buried pages behind Britney’s umpteenth descent into dementia. And you just know Britney’s life will get the movie, with or without Dakota Fanning.

I actually don’t find Hayley unexciting at all. If you’ve been around the business long enough, you realize that the way she has handled fame is truly unique. Her inter-personal skills – her emotional health, her precocious wisdom – the way she manages her life are all exciting to me because I’ve never seen anything quite like it.

Hayley’s story could make a good Disney movie, but unlike Miley Cyrus (whose own talents should not be underestimated) Hayley’s fame is adult-driven. Teen audiences drive the business. Which returns us full circle to the dilemma of the girl who’s got a too-good-to-be-true story, but no one willing to put it up in lights. I think Martin’s call for patience is right. Maybe if we give her a few more years she’ll have married into the Royal family or be caught on film by PETA slicing into a juicy steak. Then I’m sure all Hollywood will be calling.

[Libby]

stevemacdonald said:

But keep in mind nobody in America's even heard of the book. It's not sold here, A cool movie about Hayley would introduce her to a wider audience in a unique way.

Umm, pardon me, but I have heard of and purchased Hayley's book, and I am from America. I don't think I'm the only one, although I know her book is much more well-known in the UK, NZ, Australia, etc.

But if you think nobody in America has even heard of her book, what makes you think they'd hear of her movie? Since nearly everything about her career is pretty much centered in the UK countries, why would Hollywood be interested?
Sure, if Disney, or some other Hollywood production made it, it would be more likely to be heard of by Americans. Pop and rock stars are usually more interesting to people.
And you know it would be faded out by all the newest action films, chick-flicks, dumb comedies, etc. I would certainly want to go see it, of course.

I do think a Hayley movie potentially could appeal to some people. A story about how a normal, ordinary girl, with an extraordinary voice began singing, and eventually acquired international fame might be interesting to some.
But still, it doesn't seem likely it'd be very popular anywhere but the UK.
I also think they need to wait a while. Maybe she'll gain more recognition with her next few albums. Still, there's nothing very dramatic that's happened so far; what would be the plot? There usually has to be some conflict, adventure, or something else dramatic.
Maybe if she fell in love, or something, that could provide more interest. But as sensible as Hayley is, that may not happen for a while. Her love story will probably be sweet, but probably nothing immoral and dramatic enough for Hollywood.

The DVD must come first; right now, it's far more important!