When do films cross the line?

It wasn't easy for me to publish this to the community at large. I
am a little intimidated. It may cause me to be alienated amongst my
peers and colleagues, but after Sunday night, I already am - by their
actions. I also think that these concerns need to be voiced. I'm not
used to writing this way, and I really hate that its come to this, but
it was too important an issue and must be discussed.

If you'd like to contact the Fringe Festival about their decision and
complacency, you can reach them by: Phone: 519-434-0606 Email:
info@londonfringe.ca

I am interested in hearing responses from others as well: msmediafrenzy@gmail.com

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"We are not exempt from being the oppressors -
oppression is ingrained in our development
It is, however scary to see in yourself that which you hate in society.
Know what sexual assault is!
Realize the effects your actions have on people."
From the zine - Not without my consent!

When do films cross the line?
When they perpetuate societal apathy towards the abuse of women.

The following is about my experience at the 62 Hour Fringe Film
Competition Screening and Awards Night, which took place at the Wolf
Performance Hall on Sunday, March 22nd. While I enjoyed almost all of
the films shown, the night was ruined for me by the final short shown
and the audiences reaction. It may explain why I am up writing this at
5am unable to sleep, do to agitation and distress.
Here we go.

I love filmmaking. I rarely have qualms with films depicting violence,
when it is part of telling a story, providing a voice, developing a
plot and characters based around such serious events. I'm all about
freedom of speech or freedom of expression, in fact I thrive on it. I
have no issue with nudity in films (boobs are swell, I have some
myself).
I consider myself to be anti-censorship.

That said, when the focus of a film is primarily to make light of
sexual violence, when the result is to downplay the severity of sexual
and physical assaults against women, by overdubbing ridiculous off-cue
dialogue using a man to portray the victims' voice, during an extremely
violent rape scene, I can't sit back and take the joke.

The worst part wasn't even seeing the images depicted on the big
screen, it was hearing my friends, peers and colleagues chuckling
throughout the duration.
I had to speak up. Since when is rape funny?

How can this be encouraged, applauded and awarded, by the London Fringe Festival and the filmmaking community?

The filmmaker has made it clear the film was produced to provide shock
and awe and to potentially get the production banned from the festival.
That was the desired result. Instead, they were awarded 3rd place. They
were "surprised the film was even going to be fucking shown."

So why was it shown? Did Fringe give no thought as to the effect such
images will have on the behaviour and mindset of the viewer? The
filmmakers sure knew it would piss people off. That's why they made it.
Fringe did give a advisor warning of nudity and sexual violence before
playing the film, and nearly half the audience left the room before it
even begun. Is that the desired result for this film festival? What
exactly is the criteria necessary to get a film shown during one of
these screenings? Only 8 of the 14 films were shown all the way
through. Why did they choose that one to be shown? Was it truly more
cinematically impressive than the rest? Maybe I just couldn't see past
the horror and missed the beauty.

But I don't think that's it. This film wasn't made with that in mind.
It was made to be purely controversial and to cause a scene, was that why it won?

This made me so uncomfortable. I am sickened. I feel physically ill and
emotionally distraught. I felt the need send apologies to my friends
who paid to attend the screenings on my suggestion. I am embarrassed
for this society.

This industry is made up mostly of men. I realize I am going to have to
deal with subject matter and points of view that will be drastically
different from my own. I just can't believe this type of material is so
widely accepted.

Do men really not get it. Guys, listen PLEASE. 25% of women report
being sexually assaulted during their 4 years at college/university. A
1993 Statistics Canada survey found that one-half of all Canadian women
have experienced at least one incident of sexual or physical violence.
That's only counting those who had the courage to report it. In most
cases, it is a close friend or acquaintance who commits the crime (not
a bogeyman rapist lurking in the bushes or dark alley).

Think of all the women you know or care about, your mothers, sisters,
daughters and all the women in our community. Chances are at least a
quarter of them have experienced sexual abuse. This affects everyone in
the community. These scars run deep and these issues are mainly
unaddressed. When you create and screen a piece of work that portrays
rape as a joke, it in turn makes it ok for it to be joked about in the
real world. This is a direct insult and displays so much disrespect and
disregard towards, well...everyone.

A societal norm has been established that this type of abuse is acceptable.

I don't know how I will work in this environment, where this is the
kind of art that is valued. I don't know if I can continue working
alongside some of my peers who just don't realize the negative effects
their actions and comments can have.

But I realize I have to keep filming and creating, if only to provide
some balance in the film making messages, to provide a woman's voice
and perspective.

Why do we have to promote hate? I want to be a part something that will have a positive effect on the community.

And unfortunately, I don't foresee Fringe Film being a part of it.

I won't be silenced, I won't sit back while this is considered acceptable and I won't take a joke that's not funny.

ms. media frenzy

p.s. If I've made anyone uncomfortable or offended with the above message, it probably wasn't nearly enough.

"The best way to prevent sexual assault is to work with others
to change a society that presently condones sexual assault
and other forms of violence against women"
http://www.metrac.org/programs/info/prevent/faq_sex.htm

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