European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 17, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Media Gen. Ii. Norman Schwarzkopf i s he the stuff of a miniseries or just a Book Deal War s Over s the our be seen the persian Gulf War. Now How about the to movie version not so fast. The to networks usually Quick to whip headlines into prime time drama say they Are open to ideas but they Are not certain if the Public will be interested. A a we be already seen it a explains one producer a a a a a a a Quot a a a a a. A surprised you would think the War its he. Roes the secret military planning and the Flag waving Happy ending would inspire a flood of can to miss to projects. After All polls reported that 80 percent of americans supported the conflict. Seems like a guaranteed big tune in. On the contrary. A a we be pretty much resisted a stories about the conflict says John Matoian cd so a vice president for movies and ministries a because its All been covered so extensively and so Well so we done to feel it would be that big a draw.�?�. Matoian says he a been pitched Story ideas a but in be yet to hear one that puts a new Light on the  a a. A a a on the other hand there a already been a flood of books and videos distilled from news clips for Quick release to chronicle and glorify americans Swift defeat of enemy forces. Bookstore shelves Are bulging with 30 Gulf works including everything from a a desert shield fact books to Middle East crisis maps. And publishers Are hoping the Public a waning interest in so called a a instant books will be Reinsh Gora cd by More substantial works. Agents say they Are pursuing offers of up to $2 million for rights to such potential Book and film stars As Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf and Gen. Colin l. Powell chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. A the three can correspondents who reported dramatically from their hotel rooms on the Allied bombing that launched the War a Peter Arnett Bernard Shaw and John Holliman May All wind up with Book deals said a spokesman for the Atlanta based to news network. Holliman is already represented by the Morris Agency. And Abc can and Abc television networks said they Are All either  planning to distribute Home videos recycling highlights of their War coverage. A but Why bother watching news when there  purer thrill of raw weaponry Easton press video in Norwalk conn., is Selling six Ond hour videocassettes crammed with images of armoured and amphibious assaults As Well As air warfare. Meanwhile one weekly supermarket tabloid says it offered $100,000 to the family of former prisoner of War Melissa Rathbun Nealy for the exclusive rights to interview her. Quot As the first american female pow she has a hell of a Story to Tell a said Phil bunion editorial director at the Globe. But there a no word yet on her response. A there Are a lot of Gulf War heroes wed like to tie  the feature film business Isnit shying away either. A number of Independent production houses Are working on action movies with Gulf themes including one in dolby stereo on americans kidnapped in Iraq titled human shield. To allay concerns that films May become outdated As Gulf developments unfold producers Are re jiggling scripts atthe last minute. Independent producer 21st Century film corp. Has finished shooting a Gulf War film starring Rob Lowe then added an epilogue using president Bush s speech declaring the wars end. The tentatively titled desert shield movie should hit screens this summer. A the tabloids Are already after Melissa Rathbun Nealy seated with Mother Joan Rathbun standing for her Story. To could also join in. Doing say. The Schwarzkopf Story Isnit he a natural epicentre for some kind of to portrait. Not necessarily says Ruth Slaw son vice presi Dent of to movies and miniseries for a acc a if i knew More about his personal life maybe. But i done to. I be Only seen him As an operational  a the networks say what they Are really looking for is the kind of account that has t been widely exposed a personal Story w Ith the War As a backdrop. That kind of Story might not evolve until the pos and troops coming Home  material that Wasny to seen in the six week to War. Susan Barwald whose company is associated with Abc productions thinks there could be in. Terpst in a Quot personal Story from among the troops that had its stateside Story and its desert Story. Visually its got to be something we Haven to seen.�?�. A a it one to movie that is proceeding is Abc s Story of Bush a Early years. The defeat of Saddam Hussein May Well have Given new impetus to the project although Roger ails co executive pro Ducor of the project says a a we re not planning to add any material from the  he added that the Story focuses on the future president a from his final year in High school through world War ii a in which he was a Navy Pilot. It is a Good bet however that lbs Abc and Abc ate All still listening carefully for sure fire ideas on the War itself. Says one Abc official a so Little is known about what really went on at the front. And until something comes out from the individuals who were there who a going to know what went on we re open but All things have to be considered before you jump  but some critics warn that Gulf entertainment like most trends May quickly reach a Point where one offering seems to look and sound just like any other a you can make a movie of any topic and Only one or two of 50 Are relevant and have some in Crest a said film expert Vlada Petrie a Harvard University professor. Quot i predict 99 percent will be junk from an artistic Point of . Contributing to this Story were los Angeles times television critic Rick do brow and David e. Kalish associated press business a . A a March 17, 1991 sunday a Page 17