MH17 tragedy inspires Australian-led feature film campaign

THE aviation tragedy that stunned the world is set to become a major feature film, based on the harrowing tale of a Melbourne doctor.

THE profound impact MH17 had on an Australian woman’s life is the inspiration for a new book being pitched to American film directors.

Melbourne doctor Kim Ko may have been on the doomed flight, if her friend Elaine Teoh had convinced her to come travelling.

Instead Elaine went away with her Dutch-born boyfriend Emiel Mahler.

Tragically, the couple was among the 298 people who lost their lives when MH17 was shot out of the sky over Ukraine on July 17, 2014.

Melbourne couple Elaine Teoh and Emiel Mahler were travelling to a wedding in Malaysia when MH17 was shot down. Picture: Facebook

Their deaths took a grave toll on their family and friends including Dr Ko, who has spent the last 18-months working on a book about the life-changing incident.

“Hearing of Elaine’s death, it was like an alarm bell, like a wake-up call for me,” said Dr Ko, who had been struggling to tell her conservative Malaysian parents she wanted to leave the medical profession and pursue an acting career.

“It threw all of my doubts out the window about trying to change my life and pursue my own dreams.”

She said the main point of writing “July Seventeenth” was to inspire others who may be experiencing the same personal conflict.

“Hopefully it will inspire people to really not take life for granted, and to give ourselves permission to have a rebirth of our own.”

Kim Ko author of July Seventeenth. Picture: Supplied

A treatment of the novel is now being pitched to US-based film directors and networks by producer and writer Robert “Bobby” Galinsky.

He said the pitch was not about “capitalising on loss” but about making an inspirational film based on Dr Ko’s own epiphany.

“Netflix and Showtime are aware of the project; the screenplay should be completed by the end of this year and go out to a director,” said Mr Galinsky.

“The next step would be to attach a top actor to the project, someone like Emily Blunt would be fantastic.”

Screenwriter, producer and lecturer Robert (Bobby) Galinsky has big plans for Kim Ko’s upcoming novel July Seventeenth. Picture: Supplied

He said there was an “appetite” in Hollywood for inspirational films that would serve July Seventeenth well.

“It has all the hallmarks of a box office success, being female-driven, based on a true story and mostly it’s inspirational,” Mr Galinsky said.

“We would hopefully look to shoot on the Gold Coast. Village Roadshow has some of the best facilities on the planet.”

Despite her determination to pursue her dream of acting on stage and in films, Dr Ko said she was still working part-time as a doctor in a clinical research team.

“It’s a reality, we still need to pay bills and find ways to earn an income to feed ourselves,” she said.

“Pursuing our dreams is really good but we do have to think of ways to survive.”

Originally published as MH17 tragedy inspires Australian-led feature film campaign