Last week Larry Aydlette called my attention to an AP story about the Slumdog Millionaire child stars and how plans were in the works to profoundly alter their living circumstances. Now Peter Nellhaus has pointed me to this article online that gives more definitive answers as to what Danny Boyle and Slumdog Producers will be doing for the children and it definitely looks to be a good thing. Although no one says so, I can't help but feel it was in part media pressure that made this happen so cheers to the MSM on this occasion for running the stories and photos that first made bloggers and fans of the film take notice. My take on the original controversy can be found here.
16 comments:
Jonathan, I came so late to your original piece on this that I didn't comment. But it was on my mind as I kept watching those beautiful kids beam during the Oscars, so I am very glad that the movie isn't the only thing with a happy ending--that is, if I don't think about the other kids still in that slum.
Time to update my charitable donations. Not much else a person can do. :(
Thanks Campaspe. The story also mentions a large sum, I think around $500,000, to be put in fund for the whole area. I don't expect Boyle or Fox Distribution to take responsibility for all of the slums in the world since their only responsibility is to their employees, i.e. cast and crew so this is incredibly generous on their part I think. It would have been irresponsible of me to write up the initial controversy and then not report this turn of events.
But now it's back to classic movies, scanned pics from my movie books and photos from historic archives. Onwards and upwards!
I didn't comment on your previous post, but just thought I'd point out that a lot of stuff in that article is old news.
Boyle told reporters who pressed him weeks ago that he had put money in a trust to pay for the children's educations after the film was made and that they had bought new apartments for the families. And of course, they were all paid the current going rate in India for the work they did on the film as well as $15,000 bonuses after some early film fest awards were won. The only thing new is the whole Disneyland trip and the fact that India's government is now involved. It's my understanding that Boyle felt uncomfortable at first about going into too many details in interviews when people pressed him about how much money the children received and frankly, I don't blame.
And I won't mention the fact that a lot of the negative stuff seems to have been pushed on the media by Harvey Weinstein and co. who wanted an Oscar upset.
I think it's wonderful that the film is opening up people's eyes to what the slum areas of India are like and the horrors that orphan children have to suffer there. After hearing about it in great detail from my husband over the years (he's spent a lot of time in the country), it seems a bit ironic that a film that has put a spotlight on a long time problem would be dismissed for the way the producers and filmmakers treated the young actors. I don't remember this kind of scrutiny over Oscar nominated films such as Children Underground, Salaam Bombay, City of God, etc. but maybe people will care enough to start asking questions about these films and the kids in them now too.
By the way, what did you think about the film?
I had heard about the trust fund but I hadn't read anything about the apartments until now. As I said to Campaspe, I think Boyle has really gone above and beyond the call of duty which is why I put this post up. I wanted to let anyone who had heard about the controversy or read my previous piece know that all had turned out well. I mean, they're even setting up a fund for all the kids in the area. That's great and I hope it helps a lot of people.
By the way, what did you think about the film?
You know me well enough by now to know how slow I am on new movies. I just saw Cloverfield two months ago. Slumdog is still playing at the AFI by my house so I might see it in the next week or so. Judging from what I've read from my fellow bloggers I expect to like it though.
I think I read the information in Variety or maybe it was in Maitland McDonagh's blog since she's been defending the film in recent weeks? I was just shocked to see the headline "Slumdog' kids get homes" on Yahoo today when Bolye had casually mentioned that to reporters weeks ago.
You know I don't often see new movies in a theater either, but I really must say that Slumdog is a "big screen" experience well worth the extra money due to the lush cinematography and the way they captured Mumbai. But I don't want to stress it too much in case you hate the film and blame me for your terrible experience. Obviously the film has its detractors, but I'm a long time Boyle fan so I have my own biases.
I haven't found anyone so far that outright hates it or anything and I'm not going to go in expecting the greatest film ever made so I'm sure it will be a good experience. And the AFI theatre makes the experience better no matter what the movie.
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This is good news. I commend Boyle et al. for it.
But you know, when I first wrote a piece on this several weeks ago (it January 28), I almost immediately got sent a joint press release from Boyle and the studio, and not one thing was said about any houses, or about any money sent over. On the other hand, they did say what they'd done as far as the education, and the trust they'd get when they're eighteen if they'd stay in school.
I don't know where or when this casual mention of the housing was, but Boyle and his publicists weren't shy about sending a press release defending themselves a month ago, and no mention was made of any $15,000 bonus or housing.
I commend Boyle for the housing and the after-the-fact sharing of his wealth, but it sounds like to me more that the pressure made him do it. Just my take.
And Kimberly, I loved Slumdog, for all the reasons you mentioned. I think it deserved best picture.
I don't know where or when this casual mention of the housing was, but Boyle and his publicists weren't shy about sending a press release defending themselves a month ago, and no mention was made of any $15,000 bonus or housing.
It does seem odd that one would fail to mention it in a press release defending their actions. I think the press attention made Boyle more aware of the situation (producers often "assure" people like Boyle that things have been taken care of when in fact they haven't, at least in my admittedly very, very limited experience) and he took the steps to correct it.
Hey! Where have you been??
Today was the day of the big Office Space-like interview where we discussed with a consultant what our jobs are all about and what we do and blah, blah, blah. There's a very good chance my position will be out-sourced but I'm told that could take more than a year so for now it's just a wait and see situation.
Plus, I've been busy online with some other stuff. I'm helping a friend set up a blog for music so I've been uploading music to my other blog from my soundclick account (music I've written and recorded) so when he gets here tonight I can be reasonably prepared to show him how it works.
I had a feeling it might have something to do with that, and I was worried the news would be bad. And I guess it's not good, but at least if the worst should happen, you'll have some time to prepare.
Hey, Jonathan, that's not at all good news. Sorry, man ...
Bill, Rick, thanks. Yeah, it's not the worst that could happen. It's not happening tomorrow or anything and there's an outside chance, pretty far outside, that it won't happen at all but the way the budget structure is set up, well...
But on the good side I successfully tutored my friend on how to embed his own music onto his newly set-up blog (set up by me) and his own videos! Now I'll have a "friend" beyond the automatic staff "friend" on my music sharing site. Hooray!
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