Greater than he gave himself credit for
During the next two weeks, each of the young people featured in First Person will be getting a first look at one of their sample scenes from our developing rough cut, then blogging with their reaction. This post is from Kurtis’ mother, responding to questions from Director Ben Herold after viewing a scene with Kurtis walking to school on the first day of 11th grade.
1. What was happening in the scene you saw? What are your memories of that morning? Kurtis is walking with a friend, holding up his pants and talking negatively about his environment and school as it relates to him personnally. He slipped out the house without a belt obviously and walked to school instead of catching the bus. I usually insist on prayer, hug and kiss in the morning. Looks like he may have skipped out on that this morning, since I didn’t catch the pants! Meaning he probably hollered from downstairs that he was leaving and I instructed him to say a prayer and I told him I loved him as always.
2. How did you think the scene portrayed Kurtis? Was it accurate and did it feel like him? Not for me! But then I would prefer to see a more positive young man, describing a bright future instead of the blight I see in this scene! However unrealistic this may seem. His future to me was greater than he gave himself credit for - He was in a computer program, he was in a college program, he had a future worth looking forward too, from my point of view anyway!
3. What was your reaction to seeing him on screen? I loved seeing him on screen. I didn’t like the way he portrayed him self, or his life. Would have loved to have seen something indicating alot more positive feedback from him.
4. What was Kurtis’ reaction when you described the scene to him on the phone? He was hoping you had cut some of the language he used in the scenes. And he wanted the individual walking with him cut out!
5. Did the scene meet your expectations? Not at all, I was hoping for a positive reflection of him, but I am reminded that this positive
reflection I remember was probably only displayed at home, in front of or around me.
August 1st, 2007 at 4:20 am
Watching Kurtis’s scene was difficult because I knwo he has grown and changed alot since the footage was filmed. i didn’t like the way it portrayed him becuse as Mrs.graves stated kurt was was in alot of positive things I just don’t want people to have the wrong impression of him when they see this. and it was hard to see that Kurt had a strong head on his sholders and a wonderful set of parents behind him ….but im sure it was difficult showing these aspects on film because Kurt doesn’t have alot of footage with him in it….. but im hoping that the 2nd version of the movie is a little more warm and less raw
September 17th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
Thanks Malikka