Birkhead Preps for Custody, Willa Ford film gets greenlighted too
By Jeffrey Jolson
Smith with possible
babby daddy Birkhead
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 4/11/07 – In the wake of DNA tests that confirmed Larry Birkhead was father to Anna Nicole Smith’s baby daughter, he prepares to take her back to Los Angeles sometime after Friday’s custody hearing. It may not be that easy.
Nothing has been easy in the saga. In death, Anna Nicole remains larger than life. Movies and TV projects are already being planned about her high-voltage, tragic life and the first of them wasted no time in announcing a star and shooting schedule. “Anna Nicole” from director Keoni Waxman (Shooting Gallery, “Attack of the 5 ft 2 Women”) will star multi-platinum singer Willa Ford (“I Wanna Be Bad”). It will start shooting next week with Elie Samaha exec producing, according to Variety.
The real-life actors in this ongoing dramedy are still playing out a surreal script, with the smiling faces today concealing a barrage of legal maneuvers for the upcoming custody hearing and the other cases including the inquest into Smith son Daniel’s death.
“We might go from one fight to another, but I’m hoping that’s not the case because, you know, there’s only one dad, and I have no problem with anyone that has good intentions being allowed to visit the baby and see the baby and be a part of the baby’s life,” Birkhead said Wednesday on the “Today”
show.
Custody is first to bat with Howard K. Stern, who been in an acrimonious battle with Birkhead for about a year, saying no problem. “I just want to say that I’m obviously very disappointed, but my feelings for Dannielynn have not changed. I am not going to fight Larry Birkhead on custody. We are going to do what we can to make sure that the best interests of Dannielynn are carried out.”
Stern’s attorneys have hinted that the two have a settlement planned. In truth, Stern will have little say when Birkhead takes the child back to the United States, where paternal ties overrule other considerations in most family courts. Plus Birkhead said during the Florida court case he wasn’t sure he would be able to get along with Stern, blaming him for keeping Dannielynn from hi, “I missed the delivery of my child, had to FedEx Christmas gifts and missed everything that was important to about my daughter.”
Stern said he wanted one thing though, to keep baby Dannielynn away from her grandmother Virgie Arthur, who is asking for custody as well. “I’m going to do whatever I can to make sure that (Birkhead) gets sole custody,” he said from the Bahamas courthouse steps.
Former Birkhead attorney was back on Showbiz TV, even though she was reportedly dismissed and sent Birkhead a controversial $620,000 bill. “Whatever anger Stern has (over Virgie Arthur getting any custody) that’s his problem. Larry does not have that anger. Larry always wanted her to be part of that baby’s life.” She added “I fully anticipate holding that baby,” though she might have to remove the 18 limo rides and $2,500 dinner from the legal tab.
Stern appeared to grant Birkhead temporary visitation rights, however, “As I’m concerned, Larry can come over to the house and spend as much time as he wants with her right now. I would like there to be a gradual transition position period for her so there’s no harm caused to her.”
He wouldn’t say how long that would last, though it could be out of his hands Friday, as the baby is a U.S. citizen, with an American father. He could skedaddle to L.A. anytime, where he has bought baby furniture for Dannielynn, or got to Kentucky with his family.
Stern isn’t going anywhere, he said “I’m going to stay in the Bahamas regardless. I’m not going to leave Anna or Daniel here alone.” Which is a stand rejected by an attorney for the owners of the mansion Stern is staying in, or in their opinion, squatting in.
Larry’s sister Judy Birkhead said she would not be surprised if her brother and Stern worked things out amicably. She told Larry King “I’m not surprised on my brother’s part, because he is a loving and forgiving heart. He wants the best for Dannielynn, and he’s going to do whatever he can do to make sure that that happens, to make things smooth and make things go well. So I’m not surprised on his part. I don’t know Howard well enough to comment on what his motives or what he’s doing. He seems like he’s trying to work things out and do the right thing. And we hope that he is.”
She may be forgetting that Larry could be called testify at the cause of death inquest on Daniel. Though not present at the time of death, he could repeat his damaging testimony from the Florida courtroom about Stern supplying drugs to Anna Nicole and other topics. Birkhead would be in legal trouble himself if he changed his testimony of record.
Observers are talking about what kind of father he will be, as part of the nature of the saga is that a fair portion of America has an attachment of sorts with the baby. His sister says he’ll do just fine. “He’s going to do wonderful. He’s great with our kids. He is very protective of all of our kids. They love him. They would much rather be with him than any of us. So he’s going to do great.”
Which is more than we can say about many new parents, though most don’t appear in court more than 25 times for a year just to get custody.