I am writing to enlist your help in an initiative to draw some much-deserved attention to Frank Sfarzo’s heroic role in telling the Amanda Knox / Raffaele Sollecito story.

The idea is a little unconventional….okay, the idea is probably stupid….but notwithstanding this, I think it might be worth a shot.

The goal behind the initiative is to put Frank’s story in front of movie producers and artists who might be interested in making a movie about the Kercher murder. To win this exposure for Frank, an on-line petition has been established at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/reco ... gger-hero/ . The petition essentially describes who Frank is, what he did and the circumstances under which he did it. It then goes on to suggest that a story about the Kercher murder told from his perspective would make a fine film. Assuming that the petition receives sufficient support, the next step would be to send it to a list of producers and artists who would be in a position to approach Frank and inquire about his interest in participating in a movie project.

We periodically get reports about Frank needing financial help and in response, many of you have generously contributed cash to support Frank and “Perugia Shock”. While I’m sure Frank appreciates the help tremendously, it just seems to me that after all he’s done to inform the world about what was happening in Perugia, he deserves more than this.

By going to the URL above and signing the petition, you can help achieve the following objectives:
1) Potentially participate in a process that will result in a true telling Amanda and Raffaele’s story.
2) Create an opportunity to bring the story of Frank’s courage and fortitude to the rest of the world.
3) Create a sustainable financial opportunity for Frank either as a screenwriter or a consultant on an eventual “Kercher Murder” film project.
4) Say “thank you” to Frank for all that he’s done to keep us informed about events on the ground in Perugia.

Guys, I have absolutely no background in entertainment or contacts in the movie industry….nor do I know anyone who does. While the idea of sending a petition to a George Clooney or a Ron Howard may be totally loopy (i.e. amateurish and bush-league ala Mickey Rooney telling Judy Garland, "Let's put on a show. We can use my uncles barn."), but I really believe that Frank’s story is worth telling and also, that I….actually, we…as regular beneficiaries of his industry and courage, owe him a profound debt of gratitude that this gesture might somehow help to repay.

If you agree, follow the URL and sign your name. The minimum goal is a hundred signatures, so if you’re in, please sign and then promote the idea with as many 3-D and virtual (Facebook) friends as you can.

If you have any questions or comments please post here or, if you prefer, feel free to hit me with a PM.

I’m very certain Frank would sincerely appreciate any support you would care to provide or could orchestrate on his behalf.


Sign Frank Sfarzo Petition:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/recommendation-for-frank-sfarzo-blogger-hero/

What a superb idea, I do think it would make an excellent film.

Frank has to be the bravest man in the whole of Perugia, if not Italy.

Certainly a story well worth telling.

Excellent ideal Wald and very thoughtful of you. Frank was such a force in bringing about the truth behind the mountain of lies. His integrity is astounding and as geebee said, he must be the bravest man in all of Italy. I would love to see Frank get the recoignition he truly deserves for all his unrelenting work.

Ron Howard, are you listening? A story of what went wrong in Perugia, told through Sfarzo's reporting, would allow the viewer to go back and forth, as does he, wading thright the morass of media misreporting, to eventually figure out what the hell was wrong with this picture.

The only question is: who to play Frank Sfarzo? Strangely, all I can think of is reversing genders here - Rooney Mara, from Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.....

Darn it, I put my comparison of Frank Sfarzo to Mike Royko and Studs Turkel into the "general" section. Both Pulitzer Prize winners, wildly divergent politically, but working under threat of arrest or worse for years.

Just to keep this at the top, for those that only refresh on updated threads, I signed!!!

I signed too. But with the non-negotiable provision and condition that Rooney Mara play Frank. If they go for pretty boy Ryan Seacrest, I'm changing my whole take on this case.....

I've e-mailed Rooney Mara's people about this. I'm serious. If Ron Howard does a Kercher film from Frank's point of view and does not cast Mara as Sfarzo...... there's gonna be heck to pay!

Come on guys, 23 is very poor. Granted traffic has slowed down since the acquittals but Frank never stopped

what is "23"? Is that showing as how many signed?

Hi Bob,

This is a fantastic idea. I would LOVE to see Frank's story made into a movie!

I hope this petition lands in the right hands.

Finally figured it out -- signed and sent. [patting myself on the back for a major internet accomplishment]

It was when I wrote that, now it's up to 38

Suggestions for who it might be sent to, anyone? My list is pretty short, but I have email and I'm not afraid to use it.

Also, thanks to everyone who has signed so far and extra double thanks for those who've promoted the effort on their facebook pages.

Just wanted to let everyone know that the signature count on this is up to 49 as of 11:00 PM EST. My internal goal is about 100 signatures, so to be half way there after essentially two days is awesome. Thanks to all of you who have helped out.

Signed. Thanks for thinking this up and organising it wald.

Signed! With great respect for the courage of FranK!

Status update - we added another 14 signatures today, bringing us to a total of 64 since the petiton was published last Tuesday evening. For such a narrowly focused issue, I think this is a great result and speaks volumes for the respect and admiration so many people feel for Frank.

On another note, someone contacted me to ask whether they had to "Pay" to sign the petition. Curious, I went in to sign again (I deleted afterwards, so this test doesn't count in the 64 above) and sure enough, after signing as someone other than the petition's originator, I got asked how much I wanted to pay to support ipetitions. While the screen seems to give you no other option than to make some dollar contribution, if you just click out of it at that point and leave the site, your signature gets registered anyway.

It's underhanded of ipetition.com to set up this money-trap and I sincerely apologize to anyone who was tricked into paying. For those who haven't signed yet, but still plan to, please feel free to bail out when you get to the extortion screen.

Short version - YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PAY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PETITION!

I noted that, too. I'm not sure it is effecting the numbers on the petition, becuase one doesn't get asked until after signing.

A tad underhanded.... esp. not to give an escape route other than backing out. I was worried it nullified my support, which it did not. So not TOTALLY underhanded.

Let's agree on underhandedish....

Good idea to post that. I got stuck for a minute when I signed, because I got to a screen with a list of payment choices, and I did not realize my support had already been registered. So I went to the next screen, and the default was $25! So I went back, got stuck, decided to read the smaller print on the screen, and it said something like, "your signiture has been recorded. We hope you will donate to ipetition ...". So I dumped out, since I had already signed. Sneaky approach. Makes me wonder if the owners are guilters ...

If I'd been thinking, I'd have maneuvred it so that you'd also have to support Rooney Mara as Frank in the film to come.... and give no way of backing out!

The signature count is at 70 as of this morning. That means we only need 30 friends of Frank to sign in order to meet my completely arbitrary and intrinsically meaningless goal of 100 signatures!!!!!! For those here who have signed, thank you again for your help. For those who haven't but who admire and appreciate Frank's courage and determination, please take a look at the document and give it your support.

Sign Frank Sfarzo Petition:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/reco ... gger-hero/

Remember - although ipetitions will ask you to contribute money to their site at the end of the signature process, you can simply click out of the site once you get to the extortion screen and your signature will still be counted.

I was kinda thinking of Adrian Brody or Lily Tomlin. Ha

Just a quick status update….as of this morning, we’re up to 92 signatures.

I updated the document to include the artist formerly known as Newcomer’s translation of Frank’s January 29 blog post.

I also updated the document to correct a couple of embarrassing editing errors that I’d missed when it was originally posted.

In short, the response in support of Frank has been tremendous. Thanks everyone for helping out.

If you haven't already, please take a look at the proposal and consider giving it your support:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/recommendation-for-frank-sfarzo-blogger-hero/

Rooney Mara or no one.

As of 2/11/12, how many signatures have we hit?

We are at 100 signatures.

What will be the follow up of the petition? Or have I missed something?

Well done Wald.

The only thing needed for evil to triumph is for good man to do nothing.
Edmond Burke

Frank's courage is very inspiring. It is easy for us to criticize Mignini from a safe distance, but it takes real courage for a journalist in Italy to step up to the plate in face of the relentless efforts to silence criticism that Mignini has employed.

But everybody who can should support Frank with some further financial support. I was doing so! Its important. Soon bis trial will start and I think he will have to face a lot of lawyer costs. I agree keyboarding is easier.

Yes, this is THE time to help our friend Frank. He will face the courts in 20 days!!! Please!! Now more than before..please!!
Let us remember the key part he played by bringing the lies to the surface. He literally gave all for the truth. Grazie, Bettina