'Betrayed' writer drags Clooney into row over film
Ewan McGregor (left) and George Clooney: cast in the film
Tuesday November 03 2009
WRITER and journalist Jon Ronson must have been thrilled when he learned that George Clooney and Ewan McGregor were to be cast in a film inspired by his book, 'The Men Who Stare at Goats'.
But, in advance of the nationwide premiere of the movie this Friday, Mr Ronson's moment of glory is in danger of being tarnished by claims of betrayal by his one-time best friend and fellow documentary maker, John Sergeant.
Mr Sergeant (51), who has worked with Mr Ronson for years, has accused him of "airbrushing" him out of the story, and is now seeking redress by taking his gripes straight to Clooney.
He claims he spent two years in Los Angeles, from November 2001 to 2003, researching and gathering material for the TV series 'Crazy Rulers of the World', which was broadcast on Channel 4 in 2004, and from which Mr Ronson's bestselling book was spawned.
He says he found key figures on which the story was based, and persuaded them to speak on camera.
Mr Ronson's work is a non-fictional account of the American government's attempt to harness paranormal abilities as part of a top-secret military programme. It is understood that Mr Ronson signed a contract which allowed him to write a book based on the series and the film rights were then sold.
Mr Sergeant said: "I worked intensely through 2003 and 2004 on it." He added that, had the material remained within a documentary, he would happily have let the matter go.
"I never formally agreed for the material I unearthed to be used in other media," he added, "and I was extremely uncomfortable when it was, especially when I was airbrushed out of things. Ewan McGregor is playing this character who finds the story. Jon presents that person as himself but really, it is me."
While Mr Sergeant was credited in the book -- which Ronson dedicated to him, and which included an afterword commending his research -- the film makes no mention of his contribution. The film-makers state that the work is "inspired by Jon Ronson" but do not acknowledge Mr Sergeant in any way.
When Mr Sergeant was not invited to the film's screening at the London Film Festival on October 15, he wrote to Clooney detailing his grievances and asked the festival's artistic director, Sandra Hebron, to pass on his letter to the actor's publicist, which she duly did.
However, yesterday, Stan Rosenfield, Clooney's publicist, said: "George is not aware of any attempt to reach him."
Mr Ronson declined to comment for legal reasons. (©Independent News Service)
- Arifa Akbar in London
Irish Independent
