Guber-Peters to Film Environmentalist’s Saga

Peter Guber and Jon Peters, who run one of Hollywood’s most successful production companies, have acquired the movie rights to the story of Chico Mendes, the Brazilian rubber tapper who became a martyr of the environmental movement when he was slain in December.

But the Guber-Peters Co. faces opposition from six union and environmental groups in Brazil that Mendes inspired and led. “They absolutely disagree with the way the negotiations were conducted,” said Stephen Schwartzman, a U.S. environmentalist who represents the groups here. “The talks didn’t involve any of the local organizations that Chico Mendes dedicated his life to.”

Mendes’ story has been one of the most hotly pursued film projects in recent Hollywood history, drawing such big-name competitors as Robert Redford, Ted Turner and David Puttnam, in addition to Guber-Peters, which produced such recent hits as “Batman” and “Rain Man.”

Over the last nine months, directors and producers have made the long journey down to the Brazilian rain forest that Mendes spent much of his life trying to save--all in order to lobby the dead man’s family, friends and followers.

“This has been a full-court press,” said Guber, who had representatives in Brazil’s rain forest for eight months talking to Mendes’ family about the company’s work, and even screening the Guber-Peters film “Gorillas in the Mist.”

The Guber-Peters company spent about $1 million to acquire the rights to Mendes’ story from his widow, Ilzamar, as well as other family members and Gilson Pescador, secretary of the Chico Mendes Foundation and a close associate of Ilzamar Mendes.

That $1-million figure also includes payments for production assistance from J. N. Filmes, the Brazilian company that first secured the cooperation of Ilzamar Mendes, an agreement that fueled a sharp split between the widow and Chico Mendes’ followers.

The J.N. Filmes deal was strongly condemned by representatives of local union and environmental groups who sit on the board of the Chico Mendes Foundation.

While some of the $1 million committed by Guber-Peters will go to the Chico Mendes Foundation, none of it will go directly to the Mendes-inspired groups that are leading the fight to save the Brazilian rain forest.

Guber and Peters plan to start production in June--most likely in the Brazilian rain forest--with roughly a $20-million budget. No director or actors have been set.

At least one of Guber-Peters’ competitors, Ted Turner, may still go ahead with a made-for-TV movie. Turner’s Better World Society also is completing a documentary on Mendes that will air Nov. 1 on the cable station TBS.

Thomas Belford, director of the Better World Society, said he would seek the cooperation of the local groups Mendes left behind if he does go ahead with a TV film. The Guber-Peters project, said Belford, “does not include what we consider to be the bona fide representatives of the movement. If there’s a way to bring them in, we’ll go forward.”

But Guber defended his project. “What we’re doing is correct financially, legally and ethically,” he said.

Representatives of other competitors for the project could not be reached or declined comment.