[Note: Some of you might notice I've toned my initial response down. I decided there's enough negativity in the world without my adding quite so much.]
Well, I just received a rude response to my previous blog entry, "Director Responds." Anonymous commented,
Why don't you post the paragraph where he consulted you about the script prior to filming? I find it interesting that you go to such lengths to torpedo a small indie film that is the ONLY feature drama made about your subject of fascination. This film was not a documentary. Get over it already and move on with your life.
If you are going to present yourself and this site as a FORUM, let people speak their mind and stop editing information to suit your own ridiculous ego.
I did leave out the first paragraph of the e-mail TJ Martin sent me on February 4. This is what it said:
Kristen, [note misspelling]
My name is T.J. Martin and I wrote and directed the movie. You may remember me. Years ago, while I was researching the script I called you twice and sent you a copy of the script for notes when it was completed. The original script was called "The Forlorn" and it was a closer depiction to the actual events then the final film portrays. Our talks were spirited and you were supportive of the idea to focus on the "Forlorn Hope" as it would contain the vast story.
To address Anonymous's comments:
Why don't you post the paragraph where he consulted you about the script prior to filming?
I didn't include it because I thought it was addressed to me personally, it didn't add anything to TJ's defense of his film, and the post was long enough without it. (In case anybody's wondering, when TJ says he consulted me years ago about this project, I'm sure it's true, but I have only the faintest recollection of it.) Maybe I should have left it in; if TJ is upset about it, I'll apologize, but I don't think it's a huge deal.
I find it interesting that you go to such lengths to torpedo a small indie film that is the ONLY feature drama made about your subject of fascination.
"Go to such lengths"?! Oh, man. If only you knew. It could have been much, much worse, believe me.
This film was not a documentary.
I never thought it was. I'd have been willing to accept The Donner Party as an effective film if it had been true to the spirit of the Forlorn Hope, if it had presented the members of the Donner Party sympathetically. It did not.
Get over it already and move on with your life.
I am over it, have been for quite some time, and have "moved on"; I was working on a new post on an entirely different topic when your comment came in.
If you are going to present yourself and this site as a FORUM,
This is not a forum nor do I present it as one. This is a blog -- my blog. It's where I present my opinions, musings, and news reports about the Donner Party.
let people speak their mind and stop editing information to suit your own ridiculous ego.
I moderate all comments. Nothing appears in the Comments section unless I OK it, and I OK almost everything. I published TJ's response and your comment -- how is that not letting people speak their mind?
As for "editing information to suit [my] ridiculous ego," I'm perplexed. What did leaving out a non-essential paragraph have to do with suiting my ego?
And as for my ego being "ridiculous," all I can say is, why do you care what I think? If my opinion matters, then my ego is not unmerited and therefore not ridiculous.
It's interesting that you know the entire content of a private e-mail sent me over a week ago. Did you see my response to TJ, in which I wrote, "I'm very sorry I can't like your movie"? I meant it sincerely -- I truly wanted to like The Donner Party.
You sound hurt and angry and I'm sorry you feel that way. I'm passionate about the Donner Party and am very disappointed that the first feature film to be made about it didn't turn out better.
4 comments:
Hi, Kristin:
In case any of your readers are interested in seeing "The Donner Party" movie so as to see what all the fuss and bother is about, it is already available for purchase (in HD, no less) or rental on the iTunes Store.
Hi, Eric--
Thanks for the info. People can see it and make up their own minds.
Kristin
I hate it being said, "This isn't a documentary." It sure as hell tried to look like scenes from one! Why all the info scrolling at the end about that happened to them- it should have been replaced by a big banner that said 'this movie was inspired by the 'Donner Party'- it in no way accurately represents what really happened.'
I also dislike the whole "You should be happy anyone is trying to do the 'Donner Party' at all! No matter how it is done, you should be grateful and supportive!" My goodness, Kristin is an authority on the Donner Party and anyone who has even the most cursory knowledge of her would be out of their minds thinking she would approve of such a butchering of the story. If her imput was once sought, it must have been on a very superficial and brief level which she must not have taken very serious because there is just no way she would champion such a script. And truthfully, I'd rather there be no movie at all than this because people will see this and sadly think this is what happened- it would be much better for them to read the books but people would rather watch a movie than read a book- this tries to pass as a record of events that actually happened when it's not true- that's what is so tragic about the whole thing.
I just discovered this discussion after reading McGlashan yesterday, and I thought you might like to know that Anonymous is a crusader.
I wrote a fairly scathing review of "The Donner Party" for Amazon. A few days later, I got a personal email from TJ Martin asking me to make changes to the review because I had misrepresented the film. I re-read the review and decided to let it stand.
A few days later I got a "comment" on the review that was obviously made by the same person who wrote "Anonymous." I haven't checked it line for line, but the tone is the same and some of the points raised (It's not a documentary) were the same.
One of the problems with the Amazon model for reviewing is that it's extremely easy to "game." Write a bad, obscure book? Get a half dozen of your friends to "review" it and give it five stars, to counter the folks who actually read the book and, yes, boost sales. People reading the reviews should keep in mind that they are subject to pretty easy manipulation.
As for the movie, well it's obvious now that Martin read McGlashan and not much else for background. I don't know what McGlashan had against Bill Eddy, but there are places where his animosity is almost comical.
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