An independent filmmaker is doing the unthinkable — not only is he trying to capitalize on the horrible events at Sandy Hook Elementary School by making a movie related to it, he is also trying to shoot it in Ridgefield, Conn., only 20 miles away from Newtown! Read on for more shocking details.
Little-known indie film director/writer Jonathan Bucari has apparently never learned the word “tact.” Less than two months after 20 children and six teachers were murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School, he is looking to make a movie in Connecticut that uses the Sandy Hook shooting as a plot device.
‘Illness’: A Sandy Hook-Related Film
The film, titled Illness, plans to depict a 13 year-old boy suffering from mental illness and his parents, who start to worry about their son in the wake of the Newtown massacre.
On Feb. 3, Bucari told News 12 Connecticut about his plans to scout for filming locations in Ridgefield, Conn. He told reporters that he chose Ridgefield because it had the same feel as Newtown.
The French-born director and his producing partner, Carina Rush, have set up an Indiegogo.com page in order to start a fund-raising campaign for the film’s production. The filmmakers are looking to raise $3,000.
The Backlash Comes In Full Force
Illness and the people making it instantly received backlash once news of their filmmaking plans went public. The superintendent of Ridgefield schools called Jonathan’s project “insensitive,” while Ridgefield First Selectman Rudy Marconi took an even stronger stance. “I will do everything in my power to stop this,” he told The Danbury News-Times, “Mr. Bucari is going to have to find another location.”
Meanwhile, Twitter went into a frenzy in defense of Newtown. “From what the Newtown residents tell me (my friends) they don’t want him either. Opportunist slime,” @GuerillaGirl tweeted. @calicab, a Ridgefield resident tweeted, “Keep out of Ridgefield and give up on a movie about the Newtown tragedy. Way to soon, way out of line, and not welcome in our town.”
In the face of the criticism, Jonathan took to the film’s Facebook page on Feb. 4 — which was later taken down — releasing the statement, “Dear friends, after yesterday’s report about the film, I would like to clarify one very important point. We are not doing a movie about what happened in Newtown and will never do so. We are doing a non-profit film about mental illness. Our objective is to help families with kids struggling with mental illness. I thank you again for all your support.”
Either way, we’re thinking that all filmmakers should stay away from Newtown and the horrible tragedies that happened at Sandy Hook for a very, very long time.
But what do you think, HollyMoms? Are Jonathan Bucari and Carina Rush out of line? Let us know.
– Andrew Gruttadaro
More Sandy Hook News:
- Jennifer Hudson & Sandy Hook Choir Sing 'America The Beautiful'
- Gabby Giffords' Plea: 'Too Many Children Are Dying' From Guns
- Policeman To Dying Child At Sandy Hook: 'Your Parents Love You'
Take Our Poll 
No comments:
Post a Comment