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Getting Through : Creative Writing
THIS ARTICLE IS NOW DELETED. | from kc_actress - Sunday, March 05, 2006
accessed 1604 times THE OWNER OF THIS ARTICLE IS NOW PERMANENTLY LEAVING THIS SITE PERMANENTLY AS OF 30/1/2006. AS OF THIS DATE THE OWNER WILL NO LONGER BE LOGGINING INTO THIS SITE NOR CHECKING THE EMAIL ADDRESS SUPPLIED IN THE PREVIOUS ARTICLE. |
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Reader's comments on this article Add a new comment on this article |  from kc_actress
Friday, April 07, 2006 - 21:51
(Agree/Disagree?)
Hello,
I have been away on location filming (as I have stated within my last post). I do apologise for the delays for responding and am trying my best to contact everyone ASAP.
Since I have been away I have noticed that I have been inundated with responses via post and as well as via email.
MOST of these responses have been extremly negative and very threatening. I DO NOT appreciate that at all and due to this I am resorting to my second concept. I have now given up on this entire concept as I really do not appreciate being threatened that I will be hunted down and murdered or beaten up just for my enquiry and for not being able to spell right or for not being able to understand a world I have never ever lived in before.
This is why I have posted this, so that I can work with people that can help me to understand and not be abused for it. Also as for my spelling and grammar, I do apologise if I have offended anyone as I did not realize that this was very important to you all but I simply do not have the time to sit down and spell check something I write. I dont know about anyone else but I am extremly overloaded with too much work and therefore I do apologise but really, for those that do have a HUGE problem with this I suggest you find a hobby or something else to do in your spare time as really that is what this all lacks down to.
Posting a comment on this website is even worse critism than a Writers Guild of whom are writters and therefore they should be more critical of spelling and grammar. However my sincere apologise if I have offended anyone with that but I am not going to spell check everything I write as I simply do not have the time to. If I did have the time I would but I just do not.
Ive been away from civilization in a remote location and havent been able to use a computer from where I am up until now.
With the death threats... who is psychotic enough to want to write such a thing? Whoever you are, you really have GOT major issues and need to be locked up! You are one sick evil person! You of all people really do need to get a life! Seriously, get some help!
On that note... I am definately not out to hurt or judge anyone but most of the people responding to this, etc are definately NOT nice and are simply narrow minded and VERY judgemental! Can anyone truly blame me for being just as harsh and cruel back after such treatment...? Put yourself in my shoes! It is very immature and unprofessional.
For those of you that have genuinely responded back that have been serious in offering me advise... I do apologise if I have wasted your time and efforts but I have been very inundated with too many threats and harsh comments that I just will not take anymore of this. Harsh comments are fine but when Im being threatened that I will be tracked down and murdered or beaten up this does become a serious threat! If I knew the person/s doing this I would definately advise the police. I'm even thinking of advising the police over here to see if their is anything they can do to track these person/s down and do something about this. If this was to be a joke it just simply is NOT funny at all and for my own security I am leaving this site completely within the next few weeks and will not be checking this anymore nor using the email address I have made as I simply cannot deal with this. For those of you that have given me advise, I can assure you everything you have stated is strictly confidential and will NOT at all be used for anything at all. It is on the email and of which I will be deleting before I stop checking the address.
I sincerely do apologise if I have wasted anyone's time especially for being so kind enough to work with me on my project but I just simply cannot continue this. As with the email address, I will stop using this also within the next few weeks, however, I will definately make a point to email back every single one of you before I do that.
Once again, my sincere apologise and I will be in touch very soon for the last time.
Thank You.
(reply to this comment)
| from wannanomore
Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 13:20
(Agree/Disagree?)
i wanna no more about this cult..
someone tell me abou it...
(reply to this comment)
| | | | from roughneck
Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 12:47
(Agree/Disagree?)
kc_actress:
Regrettably, it seems some of my fellow Movingon-ers have chosen to attack you personally rather than give you a straight answer to your specific questions. For shame!
Anyway, in point-form, I shall endeavour to answer your queries to the best of my knowledge.
- what are dermitt points?
Just for the sake of technical accuracy, they were called "demerit" points, just like what you get on your driver's licence if you misbehave on the road.
- How did you get “dermitt points”?
Well, depending on your age-group, you could get "demerits" for just about anything that could be construed as misbehaviour. "Foolishness" was a particular favourite slam-dunk-demerit for us boys... naturally.
- What were the dermitt points for?
You mean, what were they meant to accomplish? In theory it was meant to keep track of us kids' misdeeds, with graduated punishments for accumulated offences. How it worked in practice had more in common with a tinpot banana-republic justice system than anything else that springs to mind. -I know, that may be a tad unfair to tinpot banana-republic justice systems worldwide. Personally, I was a longtime member of the "Monday Morning Club", Monday morning being the time when the Demerit "accounts" were settled in our home, usually with a belt, ruler, 1x4 or other implement applied firmly to the buttocks. The biggest beef I can remember having was that the demerit "limit" you could get in a week was ridiculously low, like 10 or 12, or even less. Did I mention that any adult could give any kid a demerit (a double or triple demerit, even) for practically any reason at all, from talking loudly in the hallway, to walking on the lawn, to dropping one's pencil in class (I shit thee not), ad frickin' nauseam. Every home that had a Demerit system had a slight variation in the demeritable offences as well as the graduation and severity of the punishments thereof. One home that I was in when I was 9 went something like this:
2 Demerits/week: Miss your "get-out" (ie, recreation time outside, for many of us, the only fun we had all day)
5 demerits/week: Miss "get out" for a week
7 Demerits/week: Miss Movie night (once a week affair)
10 Demerits/week: "Special Disciplinary Action" (ie, a good whoopin')
over 10 demerits/week: Miss the next "excursion"; write out a significant portion of the Bible/Random MOP* section
et cetera.
(*MOP= a compilation of David Berg's Quotations arranged by subject. There was also the "Kidz(sic) Mop" which was the same, but (poorly) illustrated.
- Why did you have to sell literature on the street?
Because David Berg strongly discouraged his followers from having jobs like regular people, whom he called "systemites". By the way, The Family International, in addition to printed literature, also sells tapes, CDs, Videos & DVDs. Much of what The Family International (TFI) has produced for external sale of late has been geared toward children. (Like they did such a great job with us or something...) Anyway to answer your question, Selling literature was/is primarily a means of support, the motivation for which David Berg sold to his followers as "evangelism". In the 70's, David Berg discovered that he could make way more money from prostitution than from publishing, and launched the "FF" (Flirty Fishing) revolution. (you're bound to have more questions about this... later, OK? :)
- Did all the members of the family all live together? Like in tents, one big house? If so, how many was under the same roof?
In the early days of the cult there were only a handful of "colonies", usually composed of several hundred members on large properties. When these "colonies" (or "blobs" as they later became known) became too easy for law enforcement to track, they "split" into smaller "homes" all over the US/Europe. In the late 70's/early 80's, David Berg insisted that all Family Members leave the US and Europe (they were due to be destroyed by Soviet nukes ANY DAY NOW!!11eleventyone!1!) for Asia & South America. (Africa was considered to be a "Black Hole*" for missionaries; Family members were discouraged from "pioneering" Africa until fairly recently.) "Homes" could range in size from several hundred to a couple dozen members. The Family has constantly swung back and forth between mandating small homes for their cohesiveness & demanding big centre-type facilities where they can keep an eye on everything. I think the current requirement is for there to be at least 6 members aged 16 or over in order to be considered a "home". Don't quote me, I've been out for some time.
(*"Black Holes!" was the title of a MO letter, where David Berg expounded on some of his antipathy to Africans in general, as he was wont to do. See also the "The un-cursed sons of Ham", where he contradicts himself.)
- What were some of your beliefs?
You may think of The Family as Fundamentalists who like to Fuck. 'Nuff said. Seriously though, The Family International is an outgrowth of the Pentecostal/Evangelical/Snake Handler brand of loony protestant fundamentalist Christianity. Of course, they try very hard to reconcile (by which I mean "rationalise") their wackier beliefs with the Bible, typically by outlandish and highly imaginative interpretations of Holy Writ*. Case in point, the "Law of Love". In a nutshell, this belief states that Jesus' teachings (Matthew 22:37-40..) overrule Moses', including prohibitions on adultery, et c. (strange note though, TFI retains some Jewish dietary laws from Leviticus, like avoidance of pork/shellfish/treif animals. Of course, if you have "the faith for it" anything goes.) As for Saint Paul decrying adultery, it was Berg's view that this was just St. Paul's residual Jewishness talking. Oh, and they hate gays for Old Testament reasons, using Paul's views on the subject as corroboration. -Not terribly consistent, really. They're just counting on their followers not paying attention, and apparently this complacency is well-justified.
(*Not that I personally believe there is such a thing.)
- And why?
Us kids didn't really get a choice as to what or if we would believe. We were unabashedly brainwashed literally from birth, in the form of music, books, taped stories, videos, flannelgraphs, skits and puppet shows. Compared to your average kid, there were almost no outside influences on us cult children at all.
- Why did the guy who started up the family (David Berg, was that his name) why did he start this cult for and what was his initial thought for wanting to start up such thing?
I dunno, maybe because he too realised that religion is the single easiest way to separate a fool from his money in the known universe? I know he definitely was into the Benjamins, Bitches and Booze that went along with being God's Anointed Prophet.
- Is he still alive?
No, he kicked the bucket back in the nineties.
- How many countries in the world is the cult spread out to?
I don't have any numbers in front of me, but there are few populated places on earth that haven't been tainted by The Family, if only for short durations on "road trips". Especially during the 70s and 80s, Family homes had to keep moving around, because, frankly, we stuck out like sore thumbs, especially in places like India. Much of my early years I can remember living basically on the run, complete with secret codes, aliases, losing tails, et c. I must admit it felt like an adventure to me as a kid sometimes, but I'll readily admit that not all my experiences were typical. For starters, I was an only child to a single mother (rare in the we-believe-in-free-love-but-we-don't-believe-in-birth-control Family), so we got appended to many other people's dramas. -But that wasn't hard when you all lived under one roof.
- How old was the most youngest child to be “spanked”?
Can't say definitively, I know that corporal punishment typically started in early toddlerhood, usually escalating in severity until the age of 14* or so.. of course, Things Are Different Now (just with the same people in charge, is all).
*very rough approximation. For some it was later than this.
- How did you all survive?
Literature/Family Materials (collectively called "tools") distribution, (in the 80s) the proceeds of "FF-ing" (prostitution-by-another-name), canning (panhandling with a sticker! yey!), Busking, Ballooning (That is, selling balloon sculptures outside of malls...I found this to be the closest approximation to a "system job" that a Family member is allowed to have.), Selling Activated subscriptions, and of course large cash donations from "contacts" et cetera. Many Family members who live in their non-native countries have teaching visas, usually English as a Second Language stuff. Did I mention that the grand majority of educational certificates used to gain such employment are cut from whole cloth? Another survival method is "provisioning", which is soliciting donations of items, purportedly for the furtherance of their mission work. Fraud is a simpler word, really.
- How much contact did you have from the outside world?
In the case of "selah" (read: secret) homes, practically none whatsoever. If you were a regular "field" home, you at least had some minimal contact with the real world when you went out "witnessing" (proselytizing). Of course, us kids were always on the outside looking in, and were constantly chided for desiring "worldly" things.
- What is the “The Victor Program,”?
Was, you mean. Ostensibly it was a rehabilitation program for troubled teens. In reality it was the Family's attempt to instill in its youth the same brainwashed zeal that the previous generation had as a result of some conversion experience or other. Generally, the kids who kept their heads down and were goody little two-shoes didn't get selected for the "Victor" program. If you were considered "too far gone" for the Victors, you might get sent to the "DT" (Delinquent Teens, later newspeaked to "Determined" Teens) camp in Macau. (never happened to me, luckily. I did get 6 months of Victors though.) Generally the Victors lives were filled with endless indoctrination (daily reading and memorization requirements) & pointless, repetitive labour. "Silence Restriction" (complete with signs admonishing people not to speak to the subject, with a mask &/or duct tape over the mouth for additional effect sometimes) was a regular occurrence for your average victor. Breaking silence restriction was grounds for corporal punishment. Typically, you were considered ready to graduate when you broke down and Learned To Love The Program. Yes, some of us are very accomplished actors, you really should consider casting some of us ex-victors in your movie.. :P
- Is the Family/COG teach the same principals/beliefs around the world? Are they all similar? If not how different were they from one another?
By and large, yes. Family homes are pretty much the same all over the world. Some practices vary by region, but yeah, they're a fairly homogenous freakshow.
- What are “sleep over nights”?
Pretty self-explanatory really. When I was growing up, the Adults had a recurring event called "sharing night" which was basically a planned sex-partner-swapping night, conducted a couple times a month, usually.
- What does this all mean: “the loving Jesus Revolution, Vandari, claiming the power of the Keys etc”?
I'm not really up on the latest catechism, but as I understand it, Loving Jesus takes the notion of the Church being the Bride of Christ and extends it to the individual. The nuts and bolts of this is that members are encouraged to masturbate while talking dirty in prayer. The "Vandari" are apparently a new breed of blood-dripping polymorphous demon that infests young people who have left the Family and aren't "favourable". As for the Keys, the doctrine is an overly literal interpretation of Matthew 16:19.
- What did you do for income? Rent/food/paying bills – how did that all work?
See above
- The people that did join the family/COG, did they all have professions before joining?
Yeah, some were expert hippies, others were professional draft-dodgers, others were just Avid Lifelong Amateur Losers. Seriously though, while some people had jobs, lots were your more readily identifiable riff-raff.
- What made such people join the Family/COG?
Suspension Of Disbelief On A Massive Scale gets my vote. Honestly, I don't know.
- The FBI/police have been investigating the Family for sometime, how come they have not succeeded in making such arrest or ban the cult?
Good question! Personally I think 35 years is more than enough time to have made some headway against TFI, but I guess the Feebs like to slack off as much as anyone. To be fair, though, I think most of TFI's real money is in Switzerland.
- Growing up in the cult were you allowed tv’s/computers/microwaves/fridge/anything modern? Or were these technological things banned?
In short, yes, such modern conveniences were allowed. However, being as how most of The Family was in the Third World for most of the 80s and 90s, many of us didn't have such items for reasons of cost. No, TFI aren't Luddites, if that's what you mean.
- What did you do if someone needed medical assistance? Were you able to see the doctor or did you go into hospitals? Could the cult afford that?
For most of your healthcare-related needs in the cult, there was the handy biblical remedy of smearing-cooking-oil-on-forehead-and-praying-desperately-with-laying-on-of-hands, or, failing that, there was always the trusty egg-skin bandage for cuts that wouldn't stop bleeding after application of prayer and cooking oil. :) In short, the medical profession was not generally consulted unless it was for obvious stuff like broken bones & stitches. For anything that might need medicating, The Family substitutes prayer. For times when medical assistance was necessary, it was usually "provisioned" (ie, donated services) or paid for by "contacts" (suckers who are friendly to the Family).
- Why were some kids that misbehaved “publicly exorcised”? Is this “exorcism” as in what “exorcism” means or is this a term for something else?
The Family believes that literally EVERYTHING that happens (trust me, I'm not kidding... EVERYTHING!!) has some spiritual cause. This leads to a frequent need for leaders to cast out their flock's demons. I suppose if they were to just say "shit happens" every now and again it would mean less tithe.
- What is: “Silence Restriction”? Can you please explain what this means?
See above
- What is the “callisthenics program”? Could you please explain in great detail?
I don't know how much there is to tell... at one point I remember some people were considered to be "overweight", and were required to spend extra time exercising, as well as being subject to smaller portions at mealtimes, et c. These people were called "maxis". There was a corresponding "minis" program where you were basically force-fed calorie-rich stuff like unwhipped cream if you were judged to be too skinny. As far as I know this isn't a practice anymore. I do remember having to do Jane Fonda in a group, as due to "security reasons" (in other words, Too Many White Kids In One Place) we weren't allowed outside. These callisthenics times were usually done with the TV volume turned all the way down, so we wouldn't hear any of that Disgusting System Music. I should also add that "callisthenics" were a big part of the Victor programs. In lieu of a game of soccer or basketball (for example), the Victors would be forced* to do squat-thrusts, star-jumps, jumping-jacks, squat-walk(duck-walk), pushups, or merely run until they collapsed. Personally I hated the duck-walk the worst.
*failure to comply was grounds for corporal punishment, BTW.
- What does the term “Sheppard” or promoted to “sheppard” mean?
Again, in the interest of technical accuracy, it's "shepherd"... you know, like those countrymen of yours in Brokeback Mountain.. :P "Shepherd", in the Family sense, is a generic term for "leader". When I was growing up we had (in ascending order) Room Shepherds, Group Shepherds, Home Shepherds, Area Shepherds, Greater Area Shepherds, National Area Shepherds, et friggin cetera.
- Why were some girls not allowed to wear underwear at all at night?
Well, gee. How about, you've got 3 guesses, but the first 2 don't count? Use Occam's Razor, fer chrissake. Let's just say that if you guessed "for reasons of hygiene", you're dead wrong.
- What is the term for the cults religion exactly? Are they “Christian/scientlogist? I know there screwed up but what is the exact term of there religion?
How about "Psycho Wack-Jobs"? :) OK, OK. They claim to be Christian. However, most Christians wouldn't consider them to be such on the basis of TFI's loose morality, if they knew what the cult teaches behind closed doors, that is.
- How come some people had “Family names”? What was the purpose of having a completely different name from your real name?
Well, they say it's because you become "a new person" after being "born again", but in reality it's a convenient way to hide their real identities, nothing more.
- How did the women give birth? In hospitals or were they not allowed to go to hospitals?
Hospital births are allowed, however, many of the kids my age were born at home, with a midwife in attendance. I was born in a hospital.
- How did other manage to escape the cult? Was it that easy to be able to just up and leave or did the members try to stop you? Was it at all difficult?
Depends. Some people were pressured to stay, some were asked to leave, the smart ones just left without saying anything.
- How do you get to be a cult leader? Do they choose who gets to lead or not?
Since the advent of the "Charter", family members get to choose their local home leaders (usually 3 or more people elected to a "teamwork") but any higher ranks are appointed from on high.
Now, if I may take a couple moments to comment on some of your other comments, I would caution you that looking for positive stories from the participants of this website may be a bit of a lost cause.
You mentioned "I want to show both the good and dark sides of the cult." Sorry, for many of us, there wasn't a detectable good side. I mean , I can respect wanting to make a movie that's not a complete downer, but at the same time, the truth, especially about cults, ain't always pretty. And by the way, if the public at large is disgusted by cults, that's a GOOD frickin' thing! The reason that cults still have such a following is that way too many people confuse their empty head with having an open mind.
Sorry, but any kind of propaganda that suggests joining a cult is in any way a "positive" thing is going to get two thumbs down from me. (I don't know what the hell Ebert's going to say though) I do agree that a large percentage of cultists may have joined with noble ideals, but as we all know, the road to perdition is paved with good intentions. The most insidious thing with high demand religious organizations such as the Family is that they require, nay, demand the complete subjugation of the individual to the group. "Yieldedness" is the major requirement for what they call "discipleship". In black and white they say this means HAVING NO WILL OF YOUR OWN. In other words,
check your brains at the door,
you won't be needing them anymore.
In the words of Ben Franklin: The man who trades freedom for security does not deserve nor will he ever receive either. As far as I'm concerned, freedom starts with Freedom of Thought. I guess for some people the "security" of having someone else make all the decisions was easier than the freedom of thinking for themselves... suckers!
(reply to this comment)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | from
Friday, March 24, 2006 - 09:18
(Agree/Disagree?)
From the looks of your grammar and punctuation, I do not feel you are smart enough to make a movie. Certainly, you are not well-informed enough to make a movie that would create an accurate portrayal of the subject. Maybe a Southpark-like animation might be worth considering. Can you draw???
(reply to this comment)
|  From
Friday, March 24, 2006, 11:11
(Agree/Disagree?)
Are you better cause you sit around & knockdown people who want to do something. Let's meet & I bet you won't be walking away with that attitude. I am pissed at people geting on this site & knocking down my peers who are trying to do something with their life. You had better watch out about making fun of others, becase I swear that one day you are going to be begging for help & no one is going to come to your aid. Pathetic Twat.(reply to this comment) |
| | from kc_actress
Sunday, March 19, 2006 - 14:30
(Agree/Disagree?)
Hello...
Thank you to those of whom have emailed me with genuine feedback and advise. Very kindly appreciated. You dont know how much that means to me as I was so close in throwing it all away and developing concept number 2. You have all just given me hope that it could be possible to continue with this project as planned.
I have had a few responses, some quiet lenghty and am trying my best to get back to everyone one by one as quick as I can.
Please bare with me as, aside from this project for the feature film for the cult I am also working on my first short film I am filming now next month of which their are so many last minute plans we need to place, also the plans for the other second short film (though not a huge priority just yet), on the side I am producing a theatre showcase and have also been doing some acting in a music video and TVCs, inbetween that also is my day job and family commitments. Believe it or not, it hasnt been too bad trying to juggle everything. Late nights and coffee seem to do the trick!
I do apologise for any delays and am trying as fast as I can to reply back to everyones comments and advise. Although I have lots to juggle, please keep coming with your responses and feedback.
As my involvment in the feature film is to create the concept, produce and possibly direct - for the scriptwriting part I have 2 other writers that are writing the screenplay after I come up with a solid concept for it that is truthful and as real as possible to the cult with your approval. And the drafts shouldnt take long to write as the writers can edit that afterwards for the screen. Just the research is the hardest part.
If the film does go ahead -to those that have participated in providing advise and support, we may not be able to credit you all in the film individualy for your involvment, I dont know and would have to check when the time comes, As I would prefer to thank you all seperately but however I can market this "Moving On.org" website and mention that in the credits...? If that is ok.... that is if this project does go ahead as planned. If so can discuss at a later date, first thing is the concept. Anyways...
please keep at it with your responses. I am hugely sorry if their are delays with my responses but I can assure you I promise I will be replying back, garanteed as I still do need all your advise for this project.
Be in touch very soon - for those of whom have emailed me... or posted anything on my article. Keep them rolling in - email or post.
Once again...Thank You so much for your co-operation and advise. Thank you very much also for your support, i sincerly appreciate it from the bottom of my heart.
(reply to this comment)
| From Benz
Saturday, March 25, 2006, 15:58
 (Agree/Disagree?)
Kc - as a fellow New Zealander (or half Oz/ NZ anyways) I appreciate your desire to shed some light on our experiences. I've also been involved in making a few short films (trying to enter Tropfest etc) with mates over the past few years so wish you the best of luck.
In my case my Dad is from NZ (near Wellington). Despite being extremely bright and with a great future in a scientific field he is still in TF/COG after becoming a member over 30 years ago. My Nan and uncles in NZ have different opinions as to why he joined but mostly they believe he was taken advantage of at a time when he was vulnerable and lonely in Australia for the first time in his early 20's.
One thing I hope you will realise is that most of us that don't want sympathy. I think I can speak for others when saying we also don't appreciate being identified as "ex-members". - We did not choose to join a cult. These days more than ever people are looking to establish their "identity". It is therefore wrong to try and categorise the people on this site as "belonging to something", when it is in some ways, in fact the opposite. - Its about NOT belonging to a group which tried to make us members by birth. There are writers/ academics to this day who try to establish that we are "ex-members", seemingly because they want to establish something "pathological" about our natures, or perhaps because they want to put a tag on us as being a "certain kind of person" because of our upbringing. - I think it says a lot more about the kind of people who try to label than the subjects of those attempted labels.
The labels will not stick. We are not now nor ever were "members". We are children of those who are/were members who are trying to and for the most part have distinguished ourselves from our upbringing.
Also, please don't think you have to "market this site" - it is not a commercial venture. (reply to this comment) |
| | From kc_actress
Friday, April 07, 2006, 22:25
(Agree/Disagree?)
Hello Benz,
I am currently based in Auckland. However I may soon be returning back to Australia after the short film wraps up.
That is excellent news about your invlovment within the short films you have made. I wish you all the best with getting it into Tropfest and any other festivals your are putting the film/s foward to. We are also doing the same as with yourself. Its really good to hear that somebody here understands how hard it is to work in this industry as well, especially regards to film making.
As you can see from my last post/comment as above, I have now decided to end this research all together due to serious threats I have been recieveing. If I hadn't recieved such threats I would love to have met with yourself or your father (that is if you are both currently living in NZ at the moment) and discuss this further as I think in person would be best. But however, I am no longer needing this research now.
With the comment you have stated:
"There are writers/ academics to this day who try to establish that we are "ex-members", seemingly because they want to establish something "pathological" about our natures, or perhaps because they want to put a tag on us as being a "certain kind of person" because of our upbringing. - I think it says a lot more about the kind of people who try to label than the subjects of those attempted labels"......
I think the reason why the media/writers/academics see the cult like this is because their lack of understanding and knowledge. Mostly it is down to knowlegde and they must just hear what they have been told by others and percieve it that way and follow the crowd. This was the reason for my article was that I had (now) wanted to make a feature on this and make these types of narrow minded people understand abit more about what the cult is really about, etc and that people like yourselves and many others did not choose to be involved in the cult as I now understand that and of where you are coming from, having been advised from others that are kind enough to offer me their support.
But however, maybe you could do this project better than myself as you have lived it whereas I havent. Not many of the members here take me seriously enough and it may be due to my lack of knowledge but before researching, I pretty much had the same understanding as the people you have just stated in the above.
With this comment:
"Also, please don't think you have to "market this site" - it is not a commercial venture"....
Did you mean about my comment about placing this on the film credits? Well that is just an option of being able to thank everyone for their help and guidance as it may be too long to add everyones names in on the film. Also since everyone responding is anonymous also, promoting movingon.org may be a better way to say thanks. However, I am no longer making this project anymore so thats no longer needed now.
(reply to this comment) |
| | from kc_actress
Friday, March 17, 2006 - 23:58
(Agree/Disagree?)
To: Thats a strange reaction you gave....
'can anyone help me out' statement... What I meant with writing this is I am becoming rather tired and cannot be bothered anymore of people constantly putting down my article and thinking I am not serious.
if you read the previous comments majority of the people replying are really wasting my time, instead of being constructive and asking more precise questions rather than critise in a very negative way just for the fun of it.
I am trying extremly hard to explain myself, I do know it is an extremly difficult subject and am finding it extremly fustrating to communicate via email on a message board. If I could meet you all in person and talk face to face it would be ideal as I can explain more in great detail but however this would be impossible.
Personally I do not care about how long this project will take so long as it is written extremly well in perfect detail. I am a real perfectionist and would rather it takes time to write script perfectly than a rushed job.
And also because I do not have any idea of what it is like to be or have been in the cult that is also a huge issue for me, which is why I am looking towards anyone who has been in the cult to consult me so that I do get the information correct as I do not want to make up anything that isnt the truth.
The deadline of Feb/July 2007 is just a deadline. It isnt set in concrete but however it isnt impossible either especially if you have 1 creator (myself) and 2 writers involved. However if we do not make this deadline we can always make another. Setting a deadline is like goal setting... if you have no deadlines a project can easily be forgotten of and not worked on... and that isnt me!
I am out for myself, yes. Of course I want my career to excell but at the same time even though I am out for myself and for my career I want this script to be a huge success and get really noticed.
The subject of the cult/s is very rare in feature film. At least a really good script that really has the details precise. Ive seen some minor B grade films that Im sure didnt seem very well researched. And the Australian programme "Home and Away" shows that cults all live in tents... ? that Im sure is a false imterpritation... correct me if im wrong but i need real material.
im sure this isnt the case at all which is why I would rather it takes years to write this and have experianced people consult me on this so I dont get the details wrong rather than write the film and make up random details.
I of course want others to relate to the story and move people. What kind of a film would that be if it didnt get through to every audience member.
for: gragon
Firstly, I do know where you are coming from with not being able to trust others in general. however you dont have to be an ex-cult member to feel that way. Nearly every person has trust issues and you dont have to be in a cult to feel that way.
I myself do not easily trust anyone as I have had alot of events that have happened to me in the past, almost as hurtful as being in the cult and some of the events that have happened to other cult members.
I take years to build up trust but however i cant spend years talking over the message board and consoling everyone that I am trustworthy. you either want to learn to trust or you dont and fear that throughout life. However if you fear trust forever i guess you'll never grow.
I have seen an ugly side to people and i take a long time to trust others but what i have learnt is, if you dont trust then you never will learn. it is by our mistakes that we learn from life.
Aside from my thoughts about trust I cant advise you of anything else other than that. trust, the word means just that. We are also all human so the choice is yours to make.
And why else would I wish to exploit anyone for? for what reason or motive? Im not a reporter I have asked anyone that is ok to participate to be anonymous. How can i exploit you via media if i dont know who you are and besides, i hate the media!!! Trust me on that! I am very camera shy and rarely go out in public or to these media filled events! Id rather sit at home and watch tv than to go out and be round such people. there all the same to me, all shallow! Anyways....
All i want to do is make an incredible unique concept for a screenplay, at the same sense with my films help others understand life/socitey/beliefs and expose others in the wrong and hopefully be able to touch people in a way that they either take action and do somethimg or learn from whatever it is that touches them.
Then after that all the research I have done once the script is finished I will destroy as what need would I have to keep everyones testomonies for other than for use of the film.?
you can believe what you like and I am willing and do want to understand you all but you must understand something about myself... that what I say I am doing is exactly that nothing else. You either believe it or you dont. You dont have to tell me anything if that is the case. Also..
When you say this:
"There is also the xfamily site that has very precise descriptions of what you are asking for."
Can you name me the sites.?
However I realise where you are all coming from with reading it up via others post or articles but their are alot of things I just have so many questions about that I dont understand (please see below, the other questions i had on this page).
When you also say:
"it took me ten years to figure out how to live with myself in the world that you know."
The world I have lived in, thats the only world I understand and I do not know of your world which is why i need personal help with that in fine detail so i can describe clearly in the script.
On that note: The world i know, however isnt as nice as you think it is.. at times it is really no different from the cult.. people in this world are just as screwed up as cult leaders/members! It isnt that normal, in fact nothing is ever that normal! Theirs no such thing as a perfect world, if their was i would be there right now!
Anyways... thats my thoughts...
I do realise also you may get tired of telling your stories over and over again, and again with what I have said before thats up to you if you want to either tell or re-tell your stories. Im not out to pressure anyone and am just seeing what kind of views people have about this and if anyone is serious bout being involved or if their just out to poke fun just coz they have nothing else better to do and if anyone is actually brave enough to share some info with me... anyways...
Thank You, i really appreciate both your comments.
(reply to this comment)
| | | | from gragon
Friday, March 17, 2006 - 14:02
(Agree/Disagree?)
Firstly, you must understand something about us in order to acurately portray our lives. I would say that the main thing I learned as a result from growing up in TF was never to trust anyone. We have been lied to and manipulated our entire lives growing up. There are also many who have gone and told their stories to the media only to have them manipulated. There is a reason for the behavior here where no one seems to trust you; most of us simply find it almost impossible to trust anyone. Trust is earned, not deserved.
The fact is that much of what you have seen from posting your article is a direct result from our background. You have asked people on this site to share with you their extremely personal, and still extremely painful memories, while not divulging any information to assist us in feeling comfortable entrusting you with that information.
There are pages and pages of horendous stories on this site. There is also the xfamily site that has very precise descriptions of what you are asking for. It's not that no one wants to help, but since you are a guest on our site, and you want our help understanding our lives perhaps it would be in your best interest to try and understand us. Is that not what a good actor does.
I don't know that it would be possible to get the full gravity of our lives in one month; it took me ten years to figure out how to live with myself in the world that you know. The best description i can give of what it is like when one leaves TF is like an alien that has been dropped of from another planet, and has to learn about everything, how to communicate, and interact with others from scratch in order to survive.
Many of us have also told our stories many times. It gets tiring having to explain everything over and over. That's the main reason I don't tell my story much, well, that and sometimes I just like to feel normal. I still tell it, but I am selective.
I'm not trying to be an ass, and give you a hard time here. However, you are contemplating telling the story of our lives, if anyone would be making a profit on this it would be you. If this is something that you want to pursue it is in your interest to sell it to us. We are more than a sensationalized story, we are human, and I just want to know if you truely believe that you can tell our story from our eyes. If you wish to contact me, you can e-mail me through my profile.
(reply to this comment)
| from kc_actress
Friday, March 17, 2006 - 06:26
(Agree/Disagree?)
Is anyone actually serious, and I mean dead serious about helping me out with this film idea I am researching about the cult....?
My deadline to get this script written and submitted for funding is by Feb/July latest 2007. It takes a very long time to reseach, write a solid draft of the concept/synopsis and the screenplay. A feature film is 130 pages max, 1 page = 1 minute.
A screenplay isnt at all easy to write and takes alot of time to get it right. I have 2 short film projects inbetween these dates that I am filming, one starting as of next month in collaboration with USA/Australia/NZ (this collaboration will be the same also for the feature film only) and really need to get moving with serious results of my research.
I need to start researching ASAP if I am to make this deadline for the funding for the feature film for my concept for the cult film so that I can get it started with the writing. Funding is not that easy also to do and is very, very complicated.
It would be a shame to not be able to make this film about a cult (in general I do not need to refer this as COG, I probably will use an anonymous name for the cult, as so I do not offend anyone) as my aim is to expose of the cult's sick and twisted ways, get the public to be more aware and hopefully help current cult members to see that their is life outside of the cult.
If I dont recieve any genuine replies through my post or email this idea will be banned as of:
22rd April 2006 (or possibly earlier).
After this date (or earlier) I will definately be cancelling my membership/email address account and will not return to this site and will launch concept number 2 instead of writing about the cult.
Thank You.
(reply to this comment)
| From Thats a strange reaction you gave
Friday, March 17, 2006, 10:32
(Agree/Disagree?)
I think its a put off that you know so little about this cult or cults in general as you said you wouldn't use they're name as to not offend but 'pointing out' the evil to them and the world will offend the group and why shouldn't it be so?
I don't know about the 'can anyone help me out' statement either because the way I see it is, if some one wants to have a film made of their life, then it should be the other way round, you helping them to to speak out and tell a story which others can relate too. This can't be as simple as 'after such and such a time it will be banned' You mean scraped I believe. If you have such a passion to expose cults through the power of our life's experiences, I am sure it would benefit both you and the person(s) willing to tell their story, to keep it on the shelf until a time and person(s) are suitable. Any way this is an extremely sensitive subject and needs handling very differently
You can't expect people to rush around to your deadline-and whinge about it-so that your career can move forward?-you do come accross like, it's all about you, and what sort of a film would that be I wonder.......
good luck anyways, even if you have to 'resort' to concept no.2
(reply to this comment) |
| | From Thats a strange reaction you gave
Friday, March 17, 2006, 10:24
(Agree/Disagree?)
I think its a put off that you know so little about this cult or cults in general as you said you wouldn't use they're name as to not offend but 'pointing out' the evil to them and the world will offend the group and why shouldn't it be so?
I don't know about the 'can anyone help me out' statement either because the way I see it is, if some one wants to have a film made of their life, then it should be the other way round, you helping them to to speak out and tell a story which others can relate too. This can't be as simple as 'after such and such a time it will be banned' You mean scraped I believe. If you have such a passion to expose cults through the power of our life's experiences, I am sure it would benefit both you and the person(s) willing to tell their story, to keep it on the shelf until a time and person(s) are suitable. Any way this is an extremely sensitive subject and needs handling very differently
You can't expect people to rush around to your deadline-and whinge about it-so that your career can move forward?-you do come accross like, it's all about you, and what sort of a film would that be I wonder.......
good luck anyways, even if you have to 'resort' to concept no.2
(reply to this comment) |
| | from kc_actress
Friday, March 17, 2006 - 06:03
 (Agree/Disagree?)
Thank you very much for your articles.
Mr. T/Fish/kc's biggest fan/Neez/Baxter:
You are all clueless pathetic idiots and I pity you all! Think what you like. I am not wasting anymore time and cannot be bothered of your stupid opinions!
Get a life! Your comments make me laugh! Because you all sound idiotic! HahaHA!!!
Oh and to: kc's biggest fan... you had to register on this site just to make up that name to mock me...? Well, thank you for that! Now im starting up a fan club!
Does anyone else want to re-register/register another name on this site and use my login and email anonymous name just to mock me? If so by all means, it looks like Ive started a fan base already anyways! Thank you for the jump start: kc's biggest fan!!!
(reply to this comment)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | from kc_actress
Friday, March 17, 2006 - 05:44
(Agree/Disagree?)
SeanSweede: Thank you very much for your help with advising me on your article. I have read your article before and the reason why I have asked all those questions about the Victor Camp is because:
- "Dermitt Points": did you get these by misbehaving? And how come they only had the dermitt points go up to the number 6th - then they spanked people as punishement - why didnt they go any higher?
- What is the difference between The Victor Programme and JETT camp?
- Did they do anything else nasty in the Victor Camp?
- What is: jesus job time?
- Is the Victor Camp just for men? or was their females?
- When you say this: 'After I "graduated" from that hellish place called The Victor Program'.... how do you graduate exactly?
- what is: Silence Restriction?
- Why would you get sent to this Victor Camp and who would send you to such a place?
- How was the Victor Camp started and why was it started for (what was the camps main purpose or objective in starting this up)?
As I have no idea what being in the cult is like this is why I have so many questions and they may seem ridiculous but I cant even imagine what you must of had gone through. Im really, really, really sorry to hear about your experiance of having had been in this camp. I feel for you so much and wish I could help you erase such memories you have had of the cult. They are awful people and hope they get what they deserve! Which is what I am hoping to accomplish with the film, make people like them realise this.
If you would like to discuss these questions in private SeanSweede my email is: kc_actress@yahoo.com
Or if you cant discuss this thats fine. I do understand it must be painful talking of such details. If anyone else who has experianced similar details that feels that they can or wants to email me privately in regards to my questions feel free to email me or put on the post... Anything you have communicated I garantee will be kept confidential and you can even have an anonymous name or email address.
Thank you.
(reply to this comment)
| from Mr.T
Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 10:50
(Agree/Disagree?)
KC, YOU AINT GOT NOTHIN BAD TO SAY ABOUT FISH OR MR.T CUZ
http://www.movingon.org/gallery2.asp?ID=2320 !!!
MR.T HOPE YOU NEVER MAKE A MOVIE ABOUT KIDS GOIN TO A SPELLIN BEE OR GRAMMAR CLASS!!!
(reply to this comment)
| from kc_actress
Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 00:26
(Agree/Disagree?)
Fish and Mr. T...
I have so many harsh comments that I could say about you both but however I will not sink down to your level as I am not out to offend anyone. Thank you for the saracastic remarks! Just a question... Have you guys both achieved anything or any form of success in both of your lifes..? Aside from critise others?
At least I've succeeded as an actress, if I was to reveal my true identity I'm sure you would have known or seen my films. As for the film project, Im still new to this but however I know more than enough. Im especially new to the subject of what I am researching, that is the cult, which is why I have put up my post as I have stated so please, I know i sound like I may not know anything bout the cult but thats why I have asked for others help to give me an insight on this..
Oh as for your little school grade remark... I'm sure since you have both been in the cult that you mustn't have graduated grades 3-12 right..? Oh, that was just a thought... And yes I have passed with flying colours both grades 3-12 but another question... was I suppossed to have graduated grades 3-12, by the "cult" school system that you went to? Is that what you mean? Oh I could say more harsh things about this but I aint going to sink that low! Thats harsh but I guess thats what you get for what you give! All I'm out for is to do my research... As I have stated below, if all you have to say is rude comments, then...
PLEASE DO NOT EVEN BOTHER RESPONING!
And PS:
I am not out to make fun of or offend anyone but if people are to push me then dont expect me to stay nice!
(reply to this comment)
| From Fish
Thursday, March 16, 2006, 07:42
(Agree/Disagree?)
Forgive me! How could I be so stupid? Ive seen several of your films, and quite enjoyed them, if I recall. Your the blonde in "Russian Girls Academy 3" arnt you? Damn, I thought your acting was superb. Dont worry about what the others say, Im right behind you, all the way!
I know you Ukrainans have a hard time with english, so Ive decided give you free "one on one" tutoring. Im willing to make such sacrifices to help you expose "the cult".
Im sure youll know just how to thank me, if your acting is any indication.(reply to this comment) |
| | | | | | | | | | | from SeanSwede
Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 10:32
(Agree/Disagree?)
Read my story about my experience from the victor camps in Japan. That might help with some ideas.
(reply to this comment)
| | | | | | | from Fish
Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 03:54
(Agree/Disagree?)
Before you start writting your script, you may want to take grades 3 thru 12 again. Just a thought.
(reply to this comment)
| | | | From
Friday, March 24, 2006, 11:27
(Agree/Disagree?)
By the way the correct way to word your sentence would either be:
I pity the actress who doesn't take grades 3-12 again.
or
I pity the actresses who don't take grade 3-12 again.
So you see you have a very limited grasp of English. Maybe you need to return to Grammar School again. (reply to this comment) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | From Otter
Saturday, March 25, 2006, 11:50
(Agree/Disagree?)
By the way "mrt" I would refrain from calling people suckers. I think you are getting so into your "persona" & it is blinding your eyes. If we were to go at it in the flesh, I give you a good 20 seconds if your as good as you try to sound. Or maybe it's something you do to make up for other inferiorities. So many of your type are putting my peers down who have been through enough already without your fowl mouth. Tell me where & when. Or better yet grow up.(reply to this comment) |
| | | | | | | | | | | from kc_actress
Friday, March 10, 2006 - 06:01
(Agree/Disagree?)
These are some of the questions i have about the cult:
- what are dermitt points?
- How did you get “dermitt points”?
- What were the dermitt points for?
- Why did you have to sell literature on the street?
- Did all the members of the family all live together? Like in tents, one big house? If so, how many was under the same roof?
- What were some of your beliefs?
- And why?
- Why did the guy who started up the family (David Berg, was that his name) why did he start this cult for and what was his initial thought for wanting to start up such thing?
- Is he still alive?
- How many countries in the world is the cult spread out to?
- How old was the most youngest child to be “spanked”?
- How did you all survive?
- How much contact did you have from the outside world?
- What is the “The Victor Program,”?
- Is the Family/COG teach the same principals/beliefs around the world? Are they all similar? If not how different were they from one another?
- What are “sleep over nights”?
- What does this all mean: “the loving Jesus Revolution, Vandari, claiming the power of the Keys etc”?
- What did you do for income? Rent/food/paying bills – how did that all work?
- The people that did join the family/COG, did they all have professions before joining?
- What made such people join the Family/COG?
- The FBI/police have been investigating the Family for sometime, how come they have not succeeded in making such arrest or ban the cult?
- Growing up in the cult were you allowed tv’s/computers/microwaves/fridge/anything modern? Or were these technological things banned?
- What did you do if someone needed medical assistance? Were you able to see the doctor or did you go into hospitals? Could the cult afford that?
- Why were some kids that misbehaved “publicly exorcised”? Is this “exorcism” as in what “exorcism” means or is this a term for something else?
- What is: “Silence Restriction”? Can you please explain what this means?
- What is the “callisthenics program”? Could you please explain in great detail?
- What does the term “Sheppard” or promoted to “sheppard” mean?
- Why were some girls not allowed to wear underwear at all at night?
- What is the term for the cults religion exactly? Are they “Christian/scientlogist? I know there screwed up but what is the exact term of there religion?
- How come some people had “Family names”? What was the purpose of having a completely different name from your real name?
- How did the women give birth? In hospitals or were they not allowed to go to hospitals?
- How did other manage to escape the cult? Was it that easy to be able to just up and leave or did the members try to stop you? Was it at all difficult?
- How do you get to be a cult leader? Do they choose who gets to lead or not?
- How did the cult spread worldwide?
This is all I have so far and what I have found i either dont understand because the terminology isnt explained very clearly or that I simply didnt understand. As mentioned the articles posted are in some ways very helpful but theres so much that I still cant get my head around on what the meanings are as some terminology, for someone outside of the cult, would find very hard to understand. Sorry if my questions seem ridiculous but keep in mind, i do not have indepth knowledge about the cults.
If person/s is able to answer these that would be much appreciated. different answers from different peoples point of view would be wonderful. And if anyone has got anything else to add or to share, any other experainces, etc feel free to post or email: kc_actress@yahoo.com
Thankyou.
(reply to this comment)
| | | | from kc_actress
Friday, March 10, 2006 - 04:42
(Agree/Disagree?)
Hi Solemn,
I do apologise. I had thought you was out to offend me. Im really sorry about that and now I do realise where you are coming from. I did not mean to offend either. I didnt mean for the confussion with my post. I guess i wanted to avoid as much as i can and not have to go into detail as it is very hard to via written corrospendence on the web (would be easier to explain in person).
I realise most people who were born into cults feel the same way as you do, that the people in them who have joined them are all screwed up. I understand this would be the majorities thoughts and i do not mind that and would love to hear whatever opinions or stories I can about others experiances in the cult.
however theres the small few who really arent bad people, they were picked on by cult leaders who preyed on the innocent and the insecurity of the weak. These people were lost with themselves and needed a sense of belonging. It can get pretty lonely if you have nothing in life and the only people interested in your life is cult leaders. I have read stories of 2 people of whom were lead into cults this way. There is also a story i have read about a very well known family of whom their parents have joined the cult back in the early days. They mentioned they had joined because they were looking for a better way of life to raise their kids. Where they were from was a real bad area in NYC where alot of crime and poverty is. It was either that or the cult. To them the cult was a blessing and a way out of that kind of life. But however they were innocent and didnt realise just exactly what they had gotten themselves into. Luckily few years after they did before the cult became more corrupt and left before it was all too late.
These are the type of characters I am looking to use. Then throughout the movie have their innocence preyed on and then slowly they start to see the dark side of the cult, bit by bit they realise that what they are fed from the cult leaders is all lies and they come to realisation that the cult leaders and people in the cult (the people who have joined the cult for screwed up reasons, like what you have said) are revealed as the evil people that they shamelessly are.... something on the lines of this.
However i do need to fill in the blanks of these experiances of day to day life within the cult, etc.
I want to show both the good and dark sides of the cult. But i do not want the film to be all about the dark side otherwise it would just lose the audience. The best films I have found have a good balance of both the good and bad experiances of others and emotions. You will see what i mean once i get the movie finished. prior this i need to research.
..... for "Neez".......
Thank you for your advise on wanting to be a film maker. I know more than enough about the film industry and have been in this industry for many years, since I was a child so thank you but i do not need your lecture and do realise that there are "film critics" out there but however, i havent even started on making nor writing a script for the film, im still researching as I have stated!
again i did not write to get critised! You either want to participate or you do not, end of story!
If you do not want to or feel negative about what I am trying to do then please, just do not respond, especially be "sarcastic" towards my comments. I am not a negative person and do not go out and judge anyone by who they are and what there motives are in life, etc so please, do not judge me.
Also, I may not have a huge insight on what the cult is about etc, but that is why I have joined this site. I did not join this site to waste time or what have you. I am simply here to research for my film as I have an exact view of how I am to portray the cult as but as I have mentioned, I have joined this site because I am missing some elements of reality that I need for the film. Simple articles are not enough.
Also... i do apologise for not being clear with my post, but i didnt want to reveal anymore than i had. I assumed people would understand. I hope my last few responses have cleared that up.
and as for my statement about most normal people thinking people in cults are screwed up, well that is true. i have asked many their opinions and most dont believe anyone innocent would join the cult, which is mostly true but there said some have. And i am aware most people in the cults were born into it. However, not all were. After all, how can you be born into the cult without people joining the cult...?
Im sure not everyone on this site were all born into the cult..? There are 3441 registered users in the directory and 48 users logged in at 12.50am NZ time, 11.3.2006. Surely out of this many poeple, there has got to be members that werent all born into the cult..? Correct me if i am wrong but thats alot of born members if so!
As for your home and away statement... i admitt home and away is "crap" and do agree with you there but how many shows/movies (not documentaries) actually explore the subject of "cults" few and far between so i kinda have to make do with what I have got available so far... unless you got other suggestions..?
As for reading other articles, i have. All over the web! But in every article I read it isnt very indepth! Indepth meaning no-one ever explaines day to day routines in the cult, any happy moments, what your living conditions were like, how you survived without or little contact with the outside world, etc... And no-one ever explaines in depth about the realism of the terror they have been put through. I realise it is hard to talk of but most articles I have read are just saying "how much of a bad time people have had" but they dont explain what was really bad that they experianced or what they experianced exactly.
So much is missing that I need more depth for my research. I am able to use some of the info i have read but its not enough for me. I still have alot of pieces to my research that is missing and cannot do this without speaking to people, in depth. I garantee this is all to be kept confidential and for the movie no names would be mentioned at all... you can even make up whatever names you want as I dont need to know who you are, i have no need for that info, only peoples experiances.
Hope that all answers your questions.
This is a quote from the: "open letter to the family" post....
"Many of us have parents and siblings who remain members of The Family. We spent years of our lives growing up with you. We are not nameless strangers. We are not the “enemy”, or the “Devil.” We are your children and siblings. Many of us still believe in God, but many of us were terribly hurt and abused while in The Family. We are suffering and hurting as a result of this. We want to heal and break any potential cycles of abuse. Will you help us?"
I feel so deeply to all of your experiances and by making this film I hope to do just that, hopefully help those of the people you love and care about that are still in the cult to realise that it is time to get out! I realise that the majority still in the cult would be brainwashed but hopefully by the release of the film they can see what its like through the eyes of someone else and wake up! That is my objection and purpose for this research, and for wanting to make this film.
(reply to this comment)
| from solemn
Wednesday, March 08, 2006 - 09:20
 (Agree/Disagree?)
Um, so are you wanting to make a movie in favor of the cult or against it? I don't mean to be critical but it sounds as if english is a second language to you. You might want to clarify that point because if you are looking to make a movie in favor of cultism you will not likely get a positive response from anyone here.
(reply to this comment)
| From kc_actress
Wednesday, March 08, 2006, 22:52
(Agree/Disagree?)
Hi Solemn,
Look, I didnt go on this website to post this article out to be made fun of! If you have read my article properly it wouldve made sense! New Zealand is also an English speaking country - to clarify your smart remark! As to your question, No, I am not critising the cult! If this was my intention why would i have this article up for and why on earth would i be interested in such subject of a cult for a film!
My motives for wanting to make a film about the cult is because: 1) its an interesting subject. 2) "normal" society wouldnt understand bout cults and why people would even associate themselves in one. "normal" people would critise such cults and look at these people as dirty and in disgust (unless you was born into the cult) and think people in such cults are real hippies/freaks!
What my objection is that I want to get across is that people would have different reasons for wanting to be involved in such cults. for one they may have not been aware of what a cult was about or that they were simply looking for a better life or that they were wanting to belong somewhere, to have meaning in there life... i do not want to critise, if ever i want to make the film come across so that "normal" society understands and looks at cults differently... what's more, myself i think all these beliefs about god and religion are wrong that the cult practices but some people in the cult may not realise it. people are allowed there views but what im also hoping to achieve with the outcome of the film is to make others in the cult realise also that they are living lives under morales that are incorrect and that there's more to life outside of the cult and that the real world isnt as scary as what members of the cult would've made them to think.
I have seen the ricky rodregiuez story (im sure i spelt his name wrong) and for me it was quiet touching and that's why I am very interested in making such a film, to help others like him realise before its too late.... not put down the cult in a negative way or critise coz i also want normal society to understand that people in these cults aren't as so called screwed up as what they think, people have different reasons just like how people are allowed freedom of speech and different opinions to how they view the world... some are innocent, some aren't, etc... i dont know and havent had much insight about cults aside from the doco's I have watched (and Australian drama Home and Away, the new episode of a cult in Summer Bay)...
which is why i have joined this site to hopefully seek help from anyone who has that insight as I do not have that experience. (for eg: I wouldnt have a clue what you did on a daily basis, how you lived, etc). Movies are all about stories and the only stories I know of the cult so far are either negative or quiet sad. Im looking for real stories - happy/sad/fustration/hate, whatever.
As I explained, i did not join this site to make fun of, critise, irate ex-members. I am a serious film maker - I have two short films underway right now and am looking for a subject for a feature film... I have been an actress alot longer than i have movie making... but the two short films i have underway are in process of pre-production right now and once finished will be in festivals worldwide by mid-late 2007.. these will be my first films both acting, producing and creating in them... if they succeed then this will launch the feature film, i am definitely interested in the cult for this subject... i have one year to finish the script and get it in for funding feb 2007. which is why i need to start researching now. If anyone is keen to help me out - thankyou! If not i am going to close my membership and end it and find a new subject...
Just please do not critise my article I have written because i did not place this article on this site for these purposes. If you are to critise then dont bother posting any replies. In one month (April) I will close this membership if no-one is keen to help out.... I do understand that some or most of you aren't that willing to talk about the cult experiences you have had and that's fine, your choice. But anything that is mentioned will be strictly confidential.
You can email me personally on: kc_actress@yahoo.com rather than posting here also.... Thank you.(reply to this comment) |
| | From solemn
Thursday, March 09, 2006, 09:24
(Agree/Disagree?)
Offending you was not my goal. Your original post seemed to send conflicting signals which you have addressed more directly in your response. As a result I will not loose sleep over the fact I may have insulted you. A cult took the first 13 years of my life and made them a living hell so pardon me if it's a touchy subject. If you want to show normal society that people in cults aren't "screwed up", you may have come to the wrong fucking place to look for participants. BTW, I can clarify one point for you, the only "reason" anyone would want to be involved in a cult such as COG is because he/she is an ignorant, self centered, weak minded, waste of human flesh. Good luck(reply to this comment) |
| | From neez
Thursday, March 09, 2006, 00:50
(Agree/Disagree?)
If you want to be a film maker, I'd suggest you get used to critics. If/when you get a bad review will your response be something like "Look I didn't make this movie to be criticised"?
Your choice of words in your initial article was confusing.
First you say "I am not wanting to make a movie of this in a negative way, i am wanting to make a positive statement about this cult". Then you go on to say "make others aware of what the cult is doing to society and the members preaching this and of how this is wrong"
So you're saying you want to make a positive statement about a cult that is wrong and screwing up society?
To be honest, you seem more confused then "most normal people" about cults because you make statements like "normal people would critise such cults and look at these people as dirty and in disgust (unless you was born into the cult)"
I'd suggest you read around this site a bit more, keeping in mind that the people here WERE born into the cult. We aren't "irate ex-members", we never joined.
And for the love of half-decent movies, please don't call watching Home and Away "research".(reply to this comment) |
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