Gospel of Force

(On location with lead actor John Bradley)

A few people have asked me about the title of my upcoming short film GOSPEL OF FORCE. It’s actually based on a theory that I developed several years ago, while contemplating the notion of violence in our society, particularly as it pertains to children.

It’s no secret that I am a huge advocate of children's rights. Have been for some time. In fact, it’s the underlying mission of ONWARD FILMS. But back to violence: Why is it that, still, every ten seconds a child is abused in the United States? TEN SECONDS, that’s right.

Still. That question lingered with me over and over, and I started to see the cycles of violence. The cycle of force—and how it is perpetuated over and over, from one generation to the next. Why do some escape and others, well, pick up where the other left off?

I know all the obvious, textbook answers, but with this film I wanted to point out the deep-cutting, in-your-face consequences for abusive acts committed against children. I don’t think we can sit back any longer and simply say STOP CHILD ABUSE. It’s a damn cliché in our society as much as JUST SAY NO is, and so it carries very little weight.

So, in many ways, the title bears a touch of irony, in that force has become just an accepted fact of everyday life or promoted as some infallible truth.

A few weeks ago, someone shot me an email and they asked me: Are you still trying to save the world with film? I’m not that presumptuous to think that what I have to say is going to save the world, but the belief that we must unite together to protect our most precious assets is certainly a part of who I am and what drives me, and if I can utilize my artistic abilities to draw attention to a much-needed cause, then so be it. Call it My Own Private Guernica.

If you are interested in joining a mailing list for upcoming festival screenings of GOSPEL OF FORCE, visit my main web site and shoot me an email.