What if we made our own documentary?

[Anonymous]

I am curious to hear other people's opinions on what they thought of the TB documentary, how it could be better, or more effective in conveying the message that WWASP is abusive. They didn't really get into the seminars AT ALL, I think that is an important part. Even without physical violence, the psychological trauma is universal. They also didn't talk about the escorts which take kids to these camps, the level system and how they pit you against each other, the seminars, or what happens when you turn 18 (exit plans), and what happens when kids are kicked out after returning home. Also, they didn't really talk about what happened after most kids got home. It's like they picked the couple of kids who were treated the absolute worst, and focused in on them, but there were thousands of us (at least), and that needs to be shown too. I don't know much about documentaries, but I really was inspired by this TB one to make my own. I felt it was very effective in showing the emotion and everything, but lacked in many ways, which I can focus on more. Instead of being from a foreign perspective it will be from people who were actually at these places. Anyways, I plan on saving up about 10k before getting started so I can have enough money to travel around filming, and interviewing, and for the hardware. I have all the editing stuff I need and computers and stuff. So I wouldn't get started for until the fall, but this is something I've been thinking a lot about since I saw the documentary. It really was a powerful piece of work, and brings up all kinds of emotions and memories in me. Most importantly I would do it as a nonprofit type deal and just fund it with my own money, and would make it completely free to distribute forever. What do you think?

[Anonymous]

It would be great to show all the different programs too, and how they relate. Not sure you could fit it all in one documentary, but maybe a series would work.

[Anonymous]

I think its a great idea. I don't know that ten grand is enough to do it. But its a good idea. I think it would be easy enough to find people to interview who could detail all these things you want to cover. If you figure on a two hour film you'd have time to get it all explained if you do some good editing. A good editor will by a necessity. Maybe you should write the young award winning producer of Self Medicated with this idea.
http://www.selfmedicated.com

[emaree]

If you have the resources, I think that would be the best way to get our message out to people. Everyone is so visually oriented and lazy today, I honestly don't think that anything else would get the point across like a film would.[ This Message was edited by: emaree on 2006-04-15 09:02 ]

[Anonymous]

I would act in it for free.  Get those of us who've been through it to donate our time and memories, and you can do it cheaply.  

One idea to reenact seminars in one scene:  Have someone play Gilcrease, have everyone dress up as rockstars, and do that scene.  A darkened room will work for the screaming part where you yell and cry about your life as you regress to infancy.  Then a simple circle of chairs will work while a group rips into each other, giving "feedback".  Retakes would be easy.

Someone who lives near each U.S. program could drive up the way Steven Frederickson did at SCL and get a clip from the outside, during transportation, a new kid arriving, or whatever else they can get.  They can download it on the computer and email it to the person in charge of compiling the whole thing.  

Other ideas would be to get more WWASP victims talking about what they've been through, with a variety from the programs, since parents seem to lie to themselves and say things like, "Oh maybe that happens at SCL but not at AIR where my kid is", so I think we should cover all bases.

[CCM girl 1989]

I think this is a great idea. You just need to get organized, and do it. I would consider being interviewed.