NETFLIX stole my brother's show, gave to Zac Efron
Donation protected
Hi! My name is Rob and I am here representing my Australian brother who is stuck in a situation of having the rug pulled out from under him by streaming giant NETFLIX. A classic case of a big company stomping on the little guy.
His name is Ben Waddell and his production partner is Whitney Smith. In 2017, Ben curated a plan to return home to Australia through the production of a world wide documentary series called 'Down to Earth with Ben Waddell' about a tv show that would bring awareness to the people and places in the world, that look after the environment, whilst helping us to learn how to do the same, of which he would be the host. He and Whitney spent close to a year planning, filming around the world and editing an amazing pilot, then he pitched the idea to several production companies in the US and Australia in 2018. There was a lot of high end interest but he struggled to get the program off the ground as he wasn't a well known 'celebrity' host. After many many meetings the decision was made with Whitney Smith to start the production of Down to Earth with Ben as the host but film in Australia first before going to the world stage.
When 2020 arrived, the devastating blow came and production had to be halted as the shock discovery of a NETFLIX 'original' series release called 'Down to Earth with Zac Efron' surfaced. The titles and concepts are identical to Ben's original idea, even the trailer is made up of scenes and commentaries that have similarities too extensive and specific to be coincidence. In fact when the original 'Down to Earth with Ben Waddell' trailer is viewed concurrently with the 'Down to Earth with Zac Efron' trailer there is no doubt that Ben's original concept and pilot have been directly copied.
This is a classic example of the big company stomping on the little guy.
Zacs original concept was ‘SPOONING with Zac Efron’ (See below) a docu-series about him traveling the world with his famous friends trying different foods
I welcome you to watch both trailers (attached) and see the similarities for yourself, but without attempting to catalogue every point, look out for:
- the opening scene showing the host struggling to learn a foreign phrase, then cut to a shot of the host on a plane with a view out the window.
- dialogue about human interactions being more important and effective in life than politics/government
- Visiting sustainable and organic farms, trying the food grown there, and Ben and Zac having similar reactions to the food sampled
- Dialogue about sustainability.
- Vision of the host looking out over green forests/hills
- Perhaps the most blatant of all; the name is the EXACT SAME!
Season 1 has already gone to air and to rub salt into an open wound season 2 is being filmed, you guessed it, in Australia!
Ben has commenced legal action against the production company and NETFLIX and I am trying to help him raise funds for this David and Goliath legal battle, as it as already cost him thousands of dollars. Anything you can do to help would be unbelievably appreciated, our whole family would be so grateful as the emotional toll this has already taken is substantial - but we know we have a long road ahead.
Thank you for reading, please see screen shots and trailers attached,
Rob
His name is Ben Waddell and his production partner is Whitney Smith. In 2017, Ben curated a plan to return home to Australia through the production of a world wide documentary series called 'Down to Earth with Ben Waddell' about a tv show that would bring awareness to the people and places in the world, that look after the environment, whilst helping us to learn how to do the same, of which he would be the host. He and Whitney spent close to a year planning, filming around the world and editing an amazing pilot, then he pitched the idea to several production companies in the US and Australia in 2018. There was a lot of high end interest but he struggled to get the program off the ground as he wasn't a well known 'celebrity' host. After many many meetings the decision was made with Whitney Smith to start the production of Down to Earth with Ben as the host but film in Australia first before going to the world stage.
When 2020 arrived, the devastating blow came and production had to be halted as the shock discovery of a NETFLIX 'original' series release called 'Down to Earth with Zac Efron' surfaced. The titles and concepts are identical to Ben's original idea, even the trailer is made up of scenes and commentaries that have similarities too extensive and specific to be coincidence. In fact when the original 'Down to Earth with Ben Waddell' trailer is viewed concurrently with the 'Down to Earth with Zac Efron' trailer there is no doubt that Ben's original concept and pilot have been directly copied.
This is a classic example of the big company stomping on the little guy.
Zacs original concept was ‘SPOONING with Zac Efron’ (See below) a docu-series about him traveling the world with his famous friends trying different foods
I welcome you to watch both trailers (attached) and see the similarities for yourself, but without attempting to catalogue every point, look out for:
- the opening scene showing the host struggling to learn a foreign phrase, then cut to a shot of the host on a plane with a view out the window.
- dialogue about human interactions being more important and effective in life than politics/government
- Visiting sustainable and organic farms, trying the food grown there, and Ben and Zac having similar reactions to the food sampled
- Dialogue about sustainability.
- Vision of the host looking out over green forests/hills
- Perhaps the most blatant of all; the name is the EXACT SAME!
Season 1 has already gone to air and to rub salt into an open wound season 2 is being filmed, you guessed it, in Australia!
Ben has commenced legal action against the production company and NETFLIX and I am trying to help him raise funds for this David and Goliath legal battle, as it as already cost him thousands of dollars. Anything you can do to help would be unbelievably appreciated, our whole family would be so grateful as the emotional toll this has already taken is substantial - but we know we have a long road ahead.
Thank you for reading, please see screen shots and trailers attached,
Rob
Organizer
Robbie Waddell
Organizer
Hawthorn VIC
