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A Piece of the Moon |
2007 . 24mins
Century TV for Channel 4 / More 4 / TX 04.01.08 7.30pm
A film that tells the stories of some of the 150, 000 British people who believe they have bought land on the moon.
In 1967 the governments of the world signed up to the outer space treaty in which they agreed that no one amongst them could lay claim to any extra-terrestrial property. This treaty however did not mention individuals. In 1980, an American entrepreneur; Dennis Hope, filed a declaration of ownership of all know planets with the UN, and as they have yet to respond American law makes him legally the current owner. Dennis sells franchises on to business people across the globe, who in turn sell it on to us for 20 pounds an acre
A Piece of the Moon is entirely shot at night . Within this nocturnal landscape we meet, amongst others; a father and daughter who bought the moon for each other in order to be remembered when they die, a couple who can't afford to live together with their kids and are holding out for their moon property to increase in value and a builder whose lunar land represents a new home to escape to when the sun expands. We also meet Francis Williams, the Cornish businessman who bought the exclusive UK rights to sell the moon from Dennis Hope
The Moon is a symbol of hope, romance, achievement and change, all rolled into one. There is nothing more symbolic and romantic on Earth one can give to a loved one... You can look into the night sky and say 'I own a piece of that!'
Francis Williams, MoonEstates Brochure
Co-directed with James Price