Stop the Bullets…
Aug 20th, 2007 by Simon
Sorry to be a killjoy about this one, but I’m not sure.
Beautifully shot. Stirring soundtrack. BUT…
It might just be me, but I felt like it glamourised shooting – rather than putting me off, it reminded me of the Jackal scene (original movie) and other cool shooting clips – wouldn’t it be great to actually shoot a watermelon?!?
So, like it, but not sure it will be effective. Worth watching, though… Click here or:
Fair challenge but the fact that the glamourous start makes me flinch at the end, every single time I watch it, means that the glamour is surely not in vain. For me anyway. Whether it works is another matter but by god I hope so.
Aesthetics (hackneyed in my book) aside of the film, let’s break it down planning stylee…
Who’s the audience and what’s the desired response?
Well it sure isn’t the gun totin’ kids themselves. Doesn’t take a brainsurgeon to work out they won’t lay down their arms quietly in response to this.
Doesn’t really feel like the audience is their parents either… there’s no specific appeal to any sense of parental responsibility, duty, or love.
Doesn’t really feel like the audience is news editors, journalists, politicians, ministers, or opinion formers. The issue is already fully in the public eye, so doesn’t feel like there’s much of a role in using their coverage and debate of the isse to bring it to attention of a broader audience.
Doesn’t feel like the intended audience is me (i.e law abiding average person). I know it’s an issue and already feel concerned (see above).
I find this puzzling enough.
But on top of this, it doesn’t ask me – or anyone – to act on awareness of the issue, cos there’s no call to action, no appeal to get involved in anything, there’s no URL to check out for how to get involved, there’s not even an appeal to give any money. In fact it doesn’t ask anybody to do anything at all.
So I guess apart from the gun wielders, we’ll all just nod sagely in agreement, tell each other it’s a terrible thing and DO…. nothing.