Ethical Plot Issues

We realised at an early stage in our production that our plot/storyline was a rather difficult and controversial one, and that we would have to approach the issue very carefully. The idea of the kidnapping and missing child theme is one that has been prominent in the countries media over the recent years and this may cause a certain amount of outcry by the audience if we were inconsiderate at all in our advertising and production.



In 2007, there was the sudden cancellation of an abduction storyline featuring a baby in the TV Soap Opera 'Coronation Street'. A source quoted by the Daily Mail said: 'We were going to have a storyline involving Freddie Peacock, who was to be abducted while he was asleep in his bed. But after Madeleine disappeared so soon after filming the scenes, we realised there were too many similarities and parallels between the plotline and her disappearance, so we decided not to run with it.'



Producers of the soap have now published how they plan to create another storyline of the same nature throughout 2010. They face a lot of criticisms over this decision, however spokespeople have stated how they feel enough time has passed so that they can use this to raise awareness of these issues and the differences in circumstances will be enough to retain a certain level of respect for those involved in cases such as that of Madeleine Mccann.



Similarly to the decisions made by the producers of Coronation Street and ITV, we had decided that our storyline will not be in any way offensive, and any references to abduction will be purely connotations and will not actually depict any violence or kidnapping. We will carefully address any ethical issues to make certain that our teaser trailer and production will be suitable for all audiences and not cause the upset of anyone or induce public outcry.