Just left the Va xx ed 2 screening, hoooo boy. I have some thoughts, but I'll hold them for now.
Okay so first, there are going to be multiple screenings, so I'd like to use the next tweet to let some corporations know that their ads were played before an anti-vax film in case they want to, ya know, stop that
The theatre was basically filled. I got there super early and picked a crappy end seat on purpose so people couldn't see me take notes but I almost had someone sit directly next to me 😷
So the movie starts off and it's basically covering the timeline of Va xx ed I, how the news surrounding it being pulled from Tribeca made it more enticing. I don't disagree.
They also go on to praise how INTEGRAL @PeriscopeCo was to spreading their anti-vax message.
Great.
They also go on to praise how INTEGRAL @PeriscopeCo was to spreading their anti-vax message.
Great.
No seriously, the people in the movie go out of their way to thank @PeriscopeHelp for all the tools they needed to make the first anti-vax film such a success. Archived livestreams from Periscope are frequently cut into this second film.
I remember reading the Guardian article reviewing Va xx ed 2 and thinking I couldn't possibly find much more to complain about.
This is why I paid to go, because I'm usually wrong.
This is why I paid to go, because I'm usually wrong.
Next, it's painfully obvious this movie was produced by different people from Va xx ed I. It tries to emulate that feel but falls slightly short.
First, from a strictly production aspect, it's a little rough around the edges.
First, from a strictly production aspect, it's a little rough around the edges.
At one point the camera autofocused during an interview and iirc Andrew Wakefield looked super blurry lol
Also there's some noticable gaps in the narration where you can tell exactly where they cut it and added in a different clip.
Also there's some noticable gaps in the narration where you can tell exactly where they cut it and added in a different clip.
In Va xx ed 1 the way people's interviews are structured into the film is what helps make it compelling. Each person is well introduced, and they're brought in only when necessary to help build the film's narrative.
In 2, it's not as elegant.
In 2, it's not as elegant.
Some expert interviews added either nothing or next to nothing in terms of what had just happened in the previous scene. Sometimes it's just redundant. The narrative jumps around a lot. Even some minor shuffling and cutting would improve things.
Also NOBODY TOLD ONE OF THE LADIES BEING INTERVIEWED THAT HER EARRING WASN'T FULLY SECURED AND I COULDN'T LOOK AT ANYTHING ELSE WHEN SHE WAS ON SCREEN IT WAS SO DISTRACTING anyway that was petty so ignore me
Also I wish anti-vaxxers realized that not all health problems are caused by vaccines. That's basically what this movie says. They won't stop until everyone is convinced that unvaccinated people are healthier in every way. The last part of the movie hammers that point hard afffff
I also feel supreme sadness for the children in this documentary who are only in it because their parents are, and whose obvious pain feels very exploited by the Va xx ed crew
Hot take: I don't think anti-vaxxers are a "vocal but small minority", they're a growing minority. Movies like this just whip up that base. After the screening was a Q&A with a nurse, a father who claimed he cured his son's autism, and a leader from an anti-vax lobbyist group.
A woman in the audience said she drove THREE HOURS to see the movie and everyone clapped. They asked parents of vaccine injured kids to stand up, rough guess is that 30 did.
"See? It's not rare"
"See? It's not rare"
They bragged about how their advocacy at the Ohio Statehouse has convinced some lawmakers to NOT VACCINATE THEIR KIDS.
READ THAT AGAIN
READ THAT AGAIN
You can dismiss them as fringe, as just a vocal minority, but they DO have a lot more influence than pro-vax people like myself are inclined to give.
Anyway, thread over. I need to freaking sleep. Vaccinate your children.
I wanted to mention this but forgot, Va xx ed 2 uses Hitler to demonize pro-vaxxers because they just couldn't help themselves.
Grabbed this from an anti-vaxxer on FB so you can see.
Grabbed this from an anti-vaxxer on FB so you can see.
Adding this tweet to the bottom because it is relevant to the movie
