http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/port-arthur-massacre-filmmaker-paul-mode...Port Arthur massacre filmmaker Paul Moder hits back at The Project over ‘travesty of media whiplashing’
THE filmmaker whose views on the Port Arthur massacre were slammed on The Project on Monday night has come out swinging at producers and panellists Waleed Aly and Carrie Bickmore.
Paul Moder, the mind behind a graphic upcoming film about the day Martin Bryant terrorised Port Arthur, agreed to appear on the show to promote the film Bryant — the Port Arthur Massacre.
Moder said writing the film was “very, very difficult” because of “conspiracy and agenda”.
He attempted to explain how Bryant never received a fair trial. It followed on from a Facebook post in which he suggested Bryant “allegedly” committed the crime.
The Project host Aly was quick to hose down any link to Bryant’s perceived innocence.
“What is that meant to mean?” Aly fired back. “I mean he’s convicted, there’s no allegedly about it.”
Moder explained there was no open trial, no fingerprints taken from the scene, and no ballistic evidence linking Bryant to the firearms used to gun down victims.
But Aly pointed out that there was no evidence needed because Bryant made a full confession.
“There’s nothing to be made of the fact that this evidence hasn’t been presented publicly, of course it hasn’t been presented publicly, that’s the way the system works,” he explained.
“If there was a defensible case, it would have run at trial. That’s what would have happened and those discrepancies, if they even exist, would be discussed and judges would rule on them.”
After the show, Moder took to Facebook to share his thoughts on the interview. He didn’t hold back.
“Well, a predictable butchering by these biased, agenda driven moral ‘gatekeepers’ and the saddest part is, I expected it going into the interview,” he said.
“The Project long ago lost it’s integrity, objectivity and fairness, but it was worth it to see the crestfallen look on their faces after the interview and trust me, I gave as good as I got.”
Moder said much of his interview was cut out by producers, one of whom he wrote to after the show to talk about how badly the interview went.
“I don’t know if you were privy to that travesty of a media whiplashing, but the saddest part is I actually expected it,” he wrote to the female producer.
“My advice? Tell those egomaniacal moralistic gatekeepers to pull their biased, agenda driven heads in and remember what journalism is all about.
“That was a vicious, calculated attack, masked by an amiable, inclusive approach ... Shameful, reprehensible. This is Australia, what happened to fair hearing, balance and media decorum? Poor show guys.”
Earlier, Moder told news.com.au he doesn’t have the blessing of the victims’ families but he won’t let that be a deterrent.
“I do implore those who would be traumatised by seeing a re-enactment, not to view the film if they feel it will not help their healing process.”
This Thursday marks 20 years since the massacre. Moder said he would ideally like to shoot the film in Port Arthur but would use another location, possibly in NSW or Victoria, if he didn’t gain support from the community.
“It’s still too raw,” he said.
Moder did not elaborate on his theories on Facebook. It’s expected they will be revealed when the film is complete.
“I will be including the factual anomalies, discrepancies and legal improprieties that are evidenced and on public record,” he wrote.
“Ignore The Project interview.”
News.com.au approached Paul Moder for comment.
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