Agh......and I thought the movie issues were over...

Hey guys Ciaran here. Over the pass few weeks or months, Phillip, Daniel and I have made a movie. A piece of work we are very proud of. Through all the productions issues I always thought..."Its okay, once we finish it its time to sit back and take in the glory"...well of course the glory was plentiful but life always has a way of showing how much of a bitch it is.

It actually started mid afternoon around 3:30ish. I logged online and checked out my emails, twitter and finally Youtube to see how our movie was going. Ok all good its up, I tried to vote. I wouldn't work, "Ah I suppose the polls aren't up yet". I check back an hour later.....

The movies gone. Comment says "Removed by Mod's" in the topics. I check my emails nothing. I wonder was it a mistake. I send them a message:

"....why has our video been taking off without any notice? I look through the lists and its not there anymore, plus I doesn't say I've posted a video in the members section."

2 hours later I get a reply:

"We have just finished a meeting where we have viewed the first set of films. We withdrew this film along with another film. We felt that the end shot was inappropriate and slightly disturbing."

That was all that was written....I reply:

"So we have no opportunity to defend our film and to keep its place in the competition? I apologize if I put teenage depression coupled with the sadly increasing teenage suicide rate too bluntly for you. In my mind this is far from inappropriate. The film is meant to be and to be perceived as a teenager that didn't cope and decided to take his own life and without showing the more depressing aftermath I showed the journey through life and death. To say the least I am angry with your decision and what is happening now is quite ridiculous. My team and I worked very hard on making a true to life short film that coupled the psychological part of science and now all our hard work is being thrown aside. This wasn't some misguided afternoon work."

....and reply:

"PS: The majority of teacher at Francis Douglas Memorial College have seen the film at not one has commented on the last scene being disturbing or inappropriate. Maybe 10 years ago but not now. You expect at G rated movie yet make a competition for senior students and get surprised and confused when you see an M among the bunch."

.....and reply:

"If your not going to accept the film as now is can I please change the ending. Myself and my team included want to compete and if all the work we did is going to be abandoned for the sake of one scene that we can change if need be it doesn't seem fair at all. There was no way previous to the competitions film meeting to know that you would find the conclusion unappropriated. None of us or my peers and teachers saw the film in the light you seem to be seeing it. Just a question, do you believe in creative free-roam?"

.....and finally reply:

"There would be no re-shooting. I have all the footage I need."

Later I get two email replies basically outlining the same thing and a phone call.
The emails first:

"Hopefully you have got my email now and I have since spoken to Dansel a few minutes ago.I can understand that you would be pretty upset and that is obvious from your emails to me. However we are giving you the opportunity for it to be put back up again as long as your school is happy for that film to represent the school and takes responsibility for it. Or as I mentioned earlier you could also change the ending."

"I can understand that you would be upset and theRoyal Society does not want to be too dogmatic about it.There are two options that we would consider.The first being, if your principal is happy with the film representing the school and has a good argument for it being up there then we will consider putting it back up.The other is that maybe you could finish off with a different ending. Let me know what you think Cairan."

The emails and the phone call put simply said: If you want the film to be put back in the competition either get the permission of you principal with the backing of a good argue (one I already outlined in an email) or change the ending.

If you think it would be easier just changing the ending it is actually not really. To do so I would have to completely render and re-upload which could take any where from 3 to 8 hours combined.

If you want my thoughts on this refer to the email transcripts previous. Agh....more work, to be honest making this movie has been nothing but trouble. Oh course I'm still proud of it but the thought to go back and not make it seems tempting at a moment like this. Of course I'm in too deep to go back now so I'm not giving up till I WIN!

Link to the controversial video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ecggv51cClI