A new documentary about Straight Edge called "Edge the Movie" is circulating the film festival circuit mailings. So it might appear at a local film festival near you soon. I do want to see this one as it appears that will at least have a more positive look at SxE despite the fact that they mention they will talk about the negative aspects as well. I do feel though that it isn't that necessary to even discuss these aspects at all. Enough has been documented about those that claim Edge and are violent and ruin the scene and name for the rest of us. That would be like doing a movie about Christianity and saying well we have to talk about the Crusades and the Spanish Inquistion, not if you focus on the positive aspects as your documentary. I feel like the iea of doing an unbiased balanced documentary can be lame as a proper focus on the positive aspects can be just as important and fullfilling in a documentary. I'll keep my official judgement quiet until I see the film though.
They do plan to do a DVD release so even if you can't catch it at a film fest or local independent theatre, you can still watch it at home.
Showing posts with label documentary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label documentary. Show all posts
June 30, 2009
April 12, 2008
Straight Edge is NOT a Gang
Overall the NGC documentary "Inside Straight Edge" tried to show multiple angles of our community, but I felt that despite the varying views the concentration still leaned towards the idea that Straight Edge is a gang. I understand that the documentarians didn't specify that it was specifically, but they gave focus to those that said that it was, or was becoming that.
Sure, there are those that are Straight Edge and are violent, but pretty much they only beat up drug dealers, drunks and those that start fights with them. I bet that some start fights, and probably do stupid things, most kids do stupid things (like get drunk and do drugs.) But most Straight Edge people are positive and that is the kind of focus that the documentary should have taken. Interview people that are SxE and do great things for our world. Talk about what it's like to be a part of the SxE world, how do girls feel about the community, talk to SxE kids that start drug-free programs for their schools, or SxE kids that grow up into adults that have families and love being Straight Edge.
They put a lot of emphasis on a single murder of a gang (not that I believe that any murder even just one is allowable) that didn't have to confront SxE kids that were saying stupid things. I'm sure that the gang he belonged to killed people and sold drugs.
One thing I thought was very thought provoking was the idea that there are college fraternities that are full of organized people that do very harmful things (not all, but some as in SxE and everything else.) I've read many stories about frats that gang rape women, sell drugs, commit crimes. Shouldn't frats now be targeted as gangs? Anyone with greek letters should be stopped by police and searched for drug paraphenalia. SxE kids don't drink underage or do drugs, but I know that frats give alchohol to underage kids and smoke pot. But I guess since it's done while at an institution of higher learning it's okay and everyone knows that a little drug and alchohol abuse is fine, look at our fearless Commander in Theif as a prime example of what good comes of cocaine and alcohol.
I guess it would be very fair to do a documentary that starts with the tagline "Christianity, has it gone too far? Some have now formed gangs like the KKK, and then there are those church going Catholic mobsters in New Jersey, the Spanish Inquisition, the Crusades, look at how many people have died at the hands of the Christian Gang!"
Sure, there are those that are Straight Edge and are violent, but pretty much they only beat up drug dealers, drunks and those that start fights with them. I bet that some start fights, and probably do stupid things, most kids do stupid things (like get drunk and do drugs.) But most Straight Edge people are positive and that is the kind of focus that the documentary should have taken. Interview people that are SxE and do great things for our world. Talk about what it's like to be a part of the SxE world, how do girls feel about the community, talk to SxE kids that start drug-free programs for their schools, or SxE kids that grow up into adults that have families and love being Straight Edge.
They put a lot of emphasis on a single murder of a gang (not that I believe that any murder even just one is allowable) that didn't have to confront SxE kids that were saying stupid things. I'm sure that the gang he belonged to killed people and sold drugs.
One thing I thought was very thought provoking was the idea that there are college fraternities that are full of organized people that do very harmful things (not all, but some as in SxE and everything else.) I've read many stories about frats that gang rape women, sell drugs, commit crimes. Shouldn't frats now be targeted as gangs? Anyone with greek letters should be stopped by police and searched for drug paraphenalia. SxE kids don't drink underage or do drugs, but I know that frats give alchohol to underage kids and smoke pot. But I guess since it's done while at an institution of higher learning it's okay and everyone knows that a little drug and alchohol abuse is fine, look at our fearless Commander in Theif as a prime example of what good comes of cocaine and alcohol.
I guess it would be very fair to do a documentary that starts with the tagline "Christianity, has it gone too far? Some have now formed gangs like the KKK, and then there are those church going Catholic mobsters in New Jersey, the Spanish Inquisition, the Crusades, look at how many people have died at the hands of the Christian Gang!"
March 31, 2008
Nat Geo Documentary on Straight Edge
Late last year I was contacted by a guy working on a documentary for National Geographic on the subject of Straight Edge. At first I hoped that they would take it in a positive direction. After dealing with the lies and subterfuge with Rolling Stone covering SxE I knew it wouldn't be a positive story either.
So next Wednesday, April 9th @ 10pm, National Geographic will be airing "Inside Straight Edge" to cover the darker side known as Hate Edge. Sure it exists, sure it is a dark and rough side to the story, but it has been done so many times with never a real mention to the positive and enlightening aspects of a culture that has enriched and empowered so many. I won't make any specific judgments about how biased or open-minded their coverage may be until I actually see this.
They will apparently cover Straight Edge from the point of view of an Ex-Edge Cop in Reno on the gang beat, Ronen Morris the director of “Boston Beatdown" and a soccer-mom that is struggling with the idea of her child embracing the lifestyle of Straight Edge.
I always hope that things like this will shed positive light on a lifestyle that is very important to me, but I always know that it's not the case when the press gets involved. But we'll see.
So next Wednesday, April 9th @ 10pm, National Geographic will be airing "Inside Straight Edge" to cover the darker side known as Hate Edge. Sure it exists, sure it is a dark and rough side to the story, but it has been done so many times with never a real mention to the positive and enlightening aspects of a culture that has enriched and empowered so many. I won't make any specific judgments about how biased or open-minded their coverage may be until I actually see this.
They will apparently cover Straight Edge from the point of view of an Ex-Edge Cop in Reno on the gang beat, Ronen Morris the director of “Boston Beatdown" and a soccer-mom that is struggling with the idea of her child embracing the lifestyle of Straight Edge.
I always hope that things like this will shed positive light on a lifestyle that is very important to me, but I always know that it's not the case when the press gets involved. But we'll see.
May 30, 2007
October 23, 2006
September 19, 2006
Punk Goes to the Movies
This Friday American Hardcore opens here in NY at the Angelika. It looks to be a great movie. I can't wait to see it. Unforunately I'm not sure I'll be able to see on friday, but once it goes to more theatres around the city at least it should be easy to catch. I definately am interested to see what amount of the film involves Straight Edge. I don't want it to be a passing phrase that's barely uttered and whispered. It seems that the stigma behind SxE has made it into something it's not. But we'll just have to wait and see.
Also coming out soon is the film Punk's Not Dead that will take on the more recent punk scene as opposed to a historical documentary view. This will be a film I am very interested to see since I didn't grow up in the hardcore scene or the early punk scene, being born during the start of punk I didn't quite experience it, so I have a more current interest. Hopefully it will be worth the wait, since no release date has been set yet.
July 18, 2006
Great SxE Audio Documentary
Straight Edge Lifestyle has a great BBC audio documentary on their site. It's a little long and since the site is in flash they don't provide direct access to download the audio.
To be honest I quite dislike their site (from a design aspect), most Flash sites suck and this one has really bad navigation. But listen to the documentary it's pretty cool.
To be honest I quite dislike their site (from a design aspect), most Flash sites suck and this one has really bad navigation. But listen to the documentary it's pretty cool.
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