Tuesday, July 19, 2005
That Vision Thing
I don’t let my philosophy, or Weltanschauung interfere with my doing a project. Especially since I’m kind of an attention ho, coming from a broken home and all, as I do.
But, I will turn down a project if it directly delivers a message I don’t jive with. And even then, it has to be a message I feel diametrically opposed to.
For instance, I’m an atheist. There’s no ambiguity, or wishy washyness, or even a hint of agnosticism. And I have a disdain for organized religion. There’s a lot of fucked up stuff going on in this world that organized religion has a hand in.
But, neither my atheism, nor any of my philosophies define me. And I have a lot of religious friends. I’ve come aboard a lot of projects that had something to do with a religious thing.
I recently helped a friend who is a preacher set up a Podcast of his sermons, for instance.
But, I felt a little trepidation when a guy called me for an acting gig. I love treading the boards. I’ll jump in front of the glass at the drop of a hat.
He had seen me work before, and wanted me for the job. Cool…except…
Well, the job was for a post abortion counseling place…still possibly ok…a Catholic post abortion counseling place.
Still not a deal breaker. I’ve seen many commercials by religious entities that do a lot of great work, and downplay the religious aspect. They provide it if the client wants it, but don’t force it on the client. I can deal with that, and I consider those folks to be fighting the good fight.
I told the guy to send me the script, and I’d see.
I optimistically envisioned it as being along these lines:
VO: Hey, you just went through something huge. You feel confused, lost, alone, and you think you don’t have anyone to talk to…
Well, you can come here. We’re here to help…
You know something like that…to the point you almost wouldn’t know it was a religious institution.
I got the script and read it once and knew that I couldn’t do it.
Let me preface by saying that I am not saying that these people wouldn’t do good works, or help out, but I could not attach myself to the project.
I’d love to cite specific examples of the script, but it’s a production in the works, thus privileged info, so I won’t.
It just seemed really judgmental and bad and uber religious and silly and creepy and all these things in a horrible combination.
I turned it down also because have you seen those people in the addiction / recovery commercials? Not very quality acting. I thought I’d be soft-spoken spokes-dude, not regretful mess of a guy who’s shortie just had an abortion.
And, to add insult to injury, this would have been my 3rd role in a short while that had me as a druggy.
Later that night, I did have a flat tire, so I think it happened because I made baby jesus cry. Or maybe because I take crap care of my car.
But, look forward to me as young business guy in an upcoming commercial. It’s way less preachy, and I think I only take focus factor for a drug.
But, I will turn down a project if it directly delivers a message I don’t jive with. And even then, it has to be a message I feel diametrically opposed to.
For instance, I’m an atheist. There’s no ambiguity, or wishy washyness, or even a hint of agnosticism. And I have a disdain for organized religion. There’s a lot of fucked up stuff going on in this world that organized religion has a hand in.
But, neither my atheism, nor any of my philosophies define me. And I have a lot of religious friends. I’ve come aboard a lot of projects that had something to do with a religious thing.
I recently helped a friend who is a preacher set up a Podcast of his sermons, for instance.
But, I felt a little trepidation when a guy called me for an acting gig. I love treading the boards. I’ll jump in front of the glass at the drop of a hat.
He had seen me work before, and wanted me for the job. Cool…except…
Well, the job was for a post abortion counseling place…still possibly ok…a Catholic post abortion counseling place.
Still not a deal breaker. I’ve seen many commercials by religious entities that do a lot of great work, and downplay the religious aspect. They provide it if the client wants it, but don’t force it on the client. I can deal with that, and I consider those folks to be fighting the good fight.
I told the guy to send me the script, and I’d see.
I optimistically envisioned it as being along these lines:
VO: Hey, you just went through something huge. You feel confused, lost, alone, and you think you don’t have anyone to talk to…
Well, you can come here. We’re here to help…
You know something like that…to the point you almost wouldn’t know it was a religious institution.
I got the script and read it once and knew that I couldn’t do it.
Let me preface by saying that I am not saying that these people wouldn’t do good works, or help out, but I could not attach myself to the project.
I’d love to cite specific examples of the script, but it’s a production in the works, thus privileged info, so I won’t.
It just seemed really judgmental and bad and uber religious and silly and creepy and all these things in a horrible combination.
I turned it down also because have you seen those people in the addiction / recovery commercials? Not very quality acting. I thought I’d be soft-spoken spokes-dude, not regretful mess of a guy who’s shortie just had an abortion.
And, to add insult to injury, this would have been my 3rd role in a short while that had me as a druggy.
Later that night, I did have a flat tire, so I think it happened because I made baby jesus cry. Or maybe because I take crap care of my car.
But, look forward to me as young business guy in an upcoming commercial. It’s way less preachy, and I think I only take focus factor for a drug.
// posted by Tim @ 1:16 PM 
Comments:
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Hi Tim - I am a post abortive team leader.(that Catholic one!) We had an atheist attend one of our retreats a couple of months back.
You see - you don't need to have any religious background to hurt from an abortion - or religious foreground, for that matter.
The retreat is not a "religious retreat" in the way you might think. We have had atheists, as I mentioned above, agnostics, Buddhists -- you name it, they have come.
The script, you say, is not blatantly religious - that would be in keeping with the retreat. We do talk about God - we do talk about healing and Jesus, but we do not make anyone a Christian for that is God's domain, not ours.
God Bless you -
You see - you don't need to have any religious background to hurt from an abortion - or religious foreground, for that matter.
The retreat is not a "religious retreat" in the way you might think. We have had atheists, as I mentioned above, agnostics, Buddhists -- you name it, they have come.
The script, you say, is not blatantly religious - that would be in keeping with the retreat. We do talk about God - we do talk about healing and Jesus, but we do not make anyone a Christian for that is God's domain, not ours.
God Bless you -
# posted by 
: 3:09 PM
: 3:09 PM
Thanks For the Feedback
First off: how’d ya find me? Small little Internet world isn’t it?
Second: about the car thing, that was humor.
Third: I’m glad you guys are doing good works. In fact, I’ve little doubt that you are. I agree with a lot of what you’re saying and your mission.
When I talked to a friend of mine, who happens to be a preacher, he summed it up well. If the script were more warm and fuzzy, and touchy feely, or as he specifically put it “pastoral” I would have still been down.
But the commercial used language that hit on the guilt place (in my opinion, anyway). I’m not saying that there would not be a tremendous amount of guilt involved in a circumstance where there was an abortion, and that your depiction wasn’t a relatively accurate portrayal, just that it seemed to get soap boxy when the emphasis on the comfort should have been there.
If I were a roofer, and you needed a roof, that would be different. I’d do it. But to help get a message out I don’t believe in…I’d feel like a traitor to myself.
If I didn’t make it clear, let me say, that there is nothing personal.
To close, I wish you a lot of luck, and I think you’ll agree with me more that we both wish your services weren’t necessary.
And also, sorry about the sock monkey themed porn.
First off: how’d ya find me? Small little Internet world isn’t it?
Second: about the car thing, that was humor.
Third: I’m glad you guys are doing good works. In fact, I’ve little doubt that you are. I agree with a lot of what you’re saying and your mission.
When I talked to a friend of mine, who happens to be a preacher, he summed it up well. If the script were more warm and fuzzy, and touchy feely, or as he specifically put it “pastoral” I would have still been down.
But the commercial used language that hit on the guilt place (in my opinion, anyway). I’m not saying that there would not be a tremendous amount of guilt involved in a circumstance where there was an abortion, and that your depiction wasn’t a relatively accurate portrayal, just that it seemed to get soap boxy when the emphasis on the comfort should have been there.
If I were a roofer, and you needed a roof, that would be different. I’d do it. But to help get a message out I don’t believe in…I’d feel like a traitor to myself.
If I didn’t make it clear, let me say, that there is nothing personal.
To close, I wish you a lot of luck, and I think you’ll agree with me more that we both wish your services weren’t necessary.
And also, sorry about the sock monkey themed porn.
Well, kudos to sticking to your guns and staying with your principles even when it costs you. I once took my tea mug and potted plant and went home because my boss had demanded that I do something I knew was wrong. So I can relate.
Hi Tim,
I came across your blog post using the Technorati search engine, looking under "post-abortion". It was so interesting I included a link at my blog, "After Abortion". I really appreciate the position you took on this, and I like your blog.
I came across your blog post using the Technorati search engine, looking under "post-abortion". It was so interesting I included a link at my blog, "After Abortion". I really appreciate the position you took on this, and I like your blog.
Hi Tim,
I just wanted to say in reference to your last comment, that I actually am a roofer and maybe you should think about that before you start spouting off with roofer lingo like," If I were a roofer", or "I'd fix your roof".
As for the abortion stuff, well I'm not going to get sucked into that conversation, that would be rightly unrooferly of me.
Roofer rule #1:No abortion talk.
Thank you,
Rick Cork
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I just wanted to say in reference to your last comment, that I actually am a roofer and maybe you should think about that before you start spouting off with roofer lingo like," If I were a roofer", or "I'd fix your roof".
As for the abortion stuff, well I'm not going to get sucked into that conversation, that would be rightly unrooferly of me.
Roofer rule #1:No abortion talk.
Thank you,
Rick Cork
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