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[alextheman]

I wrote the film before the student occupations too so I think the film is really specifically about that time last October.

[alextheman]

I was planning not to respond to this but I don’t want this anti semitism charge to be the last word.

The charge is fucking ridiculous. At many times the film’s characters criticize Israel.

But they don’t ever criticize Judaism or the Jewish people. Israel is a country like other countries. Israel is also a country committing a genocide in Palestine. Like every other country it is open to criticism. One of those ways is satire which this film is.

The film is about the conflation between anti semitism and criticism of Israel. I admit that I wrote the film angry about what was going on in Gaza and how people were treating it.

I don’t understand why satire which many times is one sided and not balanced is anti semitic or bigoted.

[Critic Jeff Stockton]

Jun 23, 2024 17:56:32 GMT -7 alextheman said:

I was planning not to respond to this but I don’t want this anti semitism charge to be the last word.

The charge is fucking ridiculous. At many times the film’s characters criticize Israel.

But they don’t ever criticize Judaism or the Jewish people. Israel is a country like other countries. Israel is also a country committing a genocide in Palestine. Like every other country it is open to criticism. One of those ways is satire which this film is.

The film is about the conflation between anti semitism and criticism of Israel. I admit that I wrote the film angry about what was going on in Gaza and how people were treating it.

I don’t understand why satire which many times is one sided and not balanced is anti semitic or bigoted.

Your story glorifies its main character, John Baron, who is a clear anti-Semite. Baron shows no concern when Jewish characters in the story are being harassed and threatened - in fact he acts like they deserve it. Everyone in your story that supports Israel is treated in a negative, borderline villainous capacity. The president of the university very kindly asks John to tone down his Pro-Palestine/Anti-Israel rhetoric to be more sensitive to Jewish students at the university. She very clearly specifies "Jewish" students (which you deny criticizing, but your own words work against you there). How does John respond? By ranting and raving about how Palestine is in the right (and thus the Jewish students are in the wrong). Maybe if you had John learn something about compassion (or really anything else) by the end, you could hide under the guise of satire, but you literally reward the character's anti-semitism with celebrity and a young attractive mistress. And he in turn rewards his young mistress with financial security for sharing his beliefs. You clearly believe everything your main character says and glorify him accordingly, which makes it not satire at all. Slowly Dying genuinely fits no definition of the word "satire" as you are not critical of your main character, only others, which just makes it a regular story about an anti-Semite hero.

[gavincmb]

This is absolutely ridiculous - Alex was just defending his work after being charged with anti-semitism. His script clearly does reflect his critical views of Israel but as he accurately stated, criticism of Israel does not in any way equate to anti-semitism. In fact, to conflate good-faith criticism of Israel to anti-semitism is itself anti-semitic, as it implies as Jewish people have a devotion to the government of Israel when in fact many Jewish people are staunch critics of its apartheid regime.

[alextheman]

Exactly I was defending my movie against critics who were accusing me of anti semitism which is a charge I take seriously and which I don’t think there’s any evidence that the film is antisemitic. There is no harassment scene in the movie.

[Critic Jeff Stockton]

Jun 23, 2024 20:47:17 GMT -7 gavincmb said:

This is absolutely ridiculous - Alex was just defending his work after being charged with anti-semitism. His script clearly does reflect his critical views of Israel but as he accurately stated, criticism of Israel does not in any way equate to anti-semitism. In fact, to conflate good-faith criticism of Israel to anti-semitism is itself anti-semitic, as it implies as Jewish people have a devotion to the government of Israel when in fact many Jewish people are staunch critics of its apartheid regime.

In reality you may have a point, but in the world of the Slowly Dying you do not. Alex's script and the main character of Slowly Dying himself waffle on the Jewish vs. Israeli debate, sometimes differentiating and sometimes equating. The most telling sign is that the only characters that show any kind of compassion toward Israel, Jews or even people in general throughout the story are both villainized by John Baron - Sarah Lawrence President Patricia Johnson (who simply asks that John tone down his divisive pro-Palestine rhetoric for the time being to not be insensitive to Jewish students) and Rebecca Kyle (a Jewish woman who has been attacked by leftists - John Baron being one - for her pro-Israel stance). I never directly called alextheman an anti-Semite, but he has created a main character (who he paints in a glorifying manner) that definitely is one.

[Admin]

Alright, people. This particular thread is not a place for political discussion - only for the films themselves, so lets keep things civil. The review from Critic Jeff Stockton is valid as he was only doing his job, and I assure you he is not the only one to see the film as he did. Some other critics did not have problems with the content given the overall positive reception the film received. For full disclosure, the studio did warn alextheman that Slowly Dying's main character John Baron did come across as anti-Semitic during the film's development, but he chose not to change or soften the potential issues. I hope that everyone can learn something from this experience/situation, use it to improve as writers, and remain civil in discussion going forward.

[alextheman]

I still don’t understand why defending myself is childish

[John Malone]

Jun 23, 2024 21:13:59 GMT -7 alextheman said:

I still don’t understand why defending myself is childish

In general practice (not specific to Slowly Dying at all), a writer, filmmaker, musician or artist of any sort "defending" themselves or their work against critics is never in the right. A critic's job is to critique, an artist's job is to create - not defend (that's a lawyer's job). It never turns out well, and just comes across as being touchy and defensive. I have not always agreed with the critics - in LRF and in other endeavors - but that doesn't make them wrong. If they misread your intentions, your intentions probably were not clear enough. That miscommunication/misunderstanding should be taken as a learning opportunity, not an opportunity to become defensive and attack the critics. Doing so can make the artist come across as petulant (or yes, childish), even if that is not their intention.

[Jimmy Ellis]

While not an entirely enjoyable film overall, I hope people liked the performances and the story told in Fractus.

[sammyjoellis]

really love that poster for Wonder Bean!

[sammyjoellis]

Am going to be honest. I was not expecting that critical and commercial reception for Wonder Bean. I’m so happy!!!

[H.G. Hansen]

Jun 26, 2024 18:10:27 GMT -7 sammyjoellis said:

Am going to be honest. I was not expecting that critical and commercial reception for Wonder Bean. I’m so happy!!!

After seeing it, it's rightfully rewarded believe me.

Shame there aren't more stories to tell in this world. I would've loved to see Charlie learn more of this crazy thing we call life.

[meiradtako]

What you guys think of Klitih? Would love to hear your guy's opinion about it because it is honestly one of my awaited release of my own stuff for a moment.

[meiradtako]

I am totally left speechless. I did not expect it to get anything good whether from its profitability or review.