George Clooney's back, back again . . . this time as the VIP Judge of this years Film Your Issue contest for student film makers. The letter is kind of weird, but it's point is basically this . . . "If you think you can't make a difference, that one person can't make a difference, I have two words for you: Rosa Parks."
Now, I think this type of stuff is great in a certain sense. It encourages young people to look at their world and use their creativity and initiative to make a statement about what they observe. The major challenge I see is twofold. First, this "issues oriented" film making stresses an ideological approach to film. First there is your idea, then you manipulate the evidence to "prove" your point. Does this contest encourage kids to film both sides? Will it foster an understanding of what is real, what is true?
The second problem is with the judging panel. We know where Clooney stands. He's politically liberal, a vocal proponent of liberal causes, and as we saw at the Oscar's he thinks that it's brave for Hollywood to make films that everyone in Hollywood already agrees with, but that dumb "red state" America needs to "know." Will this panel be composed of like minded individuals? Will there be a voice for the kid who wants to show that "the invasion and war in Iraq was just" or the kid that wants to make a film about "how abortion adversely affects her generation"?
I'm not a cynic, really, but I have a hard time beleiving that this contest will encourage all points of view. Is it "Film Your Issue" or "Film Our Issue" we're talking about here?
I guess what he really wants to say is "Film your EGO!" Issue-orientated films are usually Ego-orientated films: Michael Moore, George Clooney. To make a difference? Make it the way I want!
Posted by: numquamsatis | Mar 11, 2006 at 02:22 AM