Spec script sale: “Everybody Loves Whales”

Warner Bros. buys based on real life story “Everybody Loves Whales” from writers Jack Amiel and Michael Begler:

The script tells the story of three California gray whales who were found trapped under the ice of the Arctic Circle in October 1988. The subsequent rescue attempt became a huge global event, as scores of journalists converged on the nearby Eskimo town of Barrow, Alaska, and the U.S. and Soviet government enjoyed a rare moment of collaboration.

The two-week drama played out at a time of geopolitical change, with Mikhail Gorbachev in the midst of his glasnost initiative and Ronald Reagan preparing to leave office after his second term. In addition to the rescue attempt, Amiel and Begler’s script centers on a love story between a nonprofit aid worker and a journalist.

The project is said to be a high priority for Warners, which hopes to turn it into a big family film. Environmental stories and causes are close to the heart of Warners topper Alan Horn, who sits on the board member on the National Resources Defense Council.

I doubt that Amiel & Begler were targeting Warner Bros. and Alan Horn specifically when they decided on this story concept, but you can be sure that their agents knew of Horn’s active involvement in environmental issues when they sent out the spec script.

Speaking of which, Amiel & Begler are repped by WMA and managed by Anonymous Content.

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