‘Chappaquiddick’ Filmmakers Option ‘Woman Who Shot At Gerald Ford’ Book
EXCLUSIVE: Producers Taylor Allen and Andrew Logan, who are developing the indie feature Chappaquiddick, just optioned the film rights to Geri Spieler’s award-winning book, Taking Aim At The President: The Remarkable Story Of The Woman Who Shot At Gerald Ford.
Spieler’s book is the true account of Sara Jane Moore, who unsuccessfully attempted to assassinate President Ford and remains the only woman in U.S. history to fire a bullet at a sitting president. Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme also attempted an assassination, but the gun jammed; she ended up spending 34 years in prison. Both attempted the shooting within three weeks of each other, with Moore’s attempt 17 days after Fromme’s in September 1975.
Moore was sentenced to life in prison but was released after serving 32 years. At the time of the shooting, the government and the media did not reveal the full facts of this near miss or the remarkable story of Moore’s life as a double agent for the FBI and underground terrorist organizations in San Francisco.
“We’re thrilled to have the option on the book. It’s a great story,” Allen told Deadline. Added Logan, “Her book is the definitive authority on Sara Jane Moore.” The two said they are currently developing a screenplay based on the book.
Shortly after Moore’s arrest, author Spieler received a letter from Moore asking to arrange a meeting with her at the prison. That visit initiated a relationship between Spieler and Moore that spanned three decades and culminated in a shocking and in-depth portrait of the would-be assassin’s psyche. Furthermore, Spieler conducted her own independent research, including an interview with President Ford himself, to sort the real facts from Moore’s skewed narrative of her own past.
As executive producers, Allen and Logan are in pre-production on Chappaquiddick, a script they co-wrote that was listed on the 2015 Black List. Logan’s producing credits include 6 Years, Entertainment and Hellion.
Spieler, who published the book through Macmillan in 2009, is represented by Sharlene Martin of Martin Literary Management and Laurie Megery of Del, Shaw, Moonves, Tanaka, Finkelstein & Lezcano of Santa Monica. Allen and Logan are repped by DMG Management.
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