Monday, August 21, 2006

An Ethical Dilema

When I first heard about it I thought it was a great creative idea. A film that lasts one second and the rest is credits. Hang on, there’s more. The credits consist of names of people who donated money to the making of the film (and which the proceeds go to charity). I think it's cool to have the chance to be apart of Hollywood even though I'm just a small town girl who will never live her movie star dreams (Especially the one with me in the hot tub with....oh, uh, never mind).

Now here was the best part of all. Those who are given producer credits can get their name on imdb. So I finally have my chance. I recently started a list of 100 (though I'm only up to 64 at the moment) things I want to accomplish before I die (my boyfriend thinks I'm morbid). The second thing on the list was to get a credit on imdb. (I always though I'd have to settle for miscellaneous crew under "Thanks" or something. I knew it would involve giving money or something, not being in the movie itself. I do, however have “be an extra in a film” as number one so I will make my mark eventually. Probably as Girl #3.)

I thought cool, I can finally get my name on imdb. And I can use the free link they provide on the 1 Second Film website to go straight to my web log. But then here's the problem. I want my real name to go on imdb. But this site is powered by my alter ego Angela Simmons. I don't want those worlds to collide. I thought perhaps I could buy two credits and give one to Angie. But them I stepped right in to my ethical dilemma. (For those of you nitpicking, yes, I’m speaking as me and not Angie right now but I’m having a dilemma, so bite me.)

I look to imdb for information and I don't want to soil it just so I can get my alternate ego some advertising. I know there are others out there who would just tell me to do it and stop complaining. (Charlie Kaufman's fictional twin brother Donald is credited on the site after all). But I know in my heart it's not the right thing to do.

The 1 Second Film includes celebrity producers such as Stephen Colbert, James Cromwell, Kevin Bacon, Christina Ricci, B.J. Novak, and many more. Copyright www.the1secondfilm.com

I know I'll come up with a solution eventually, but for the time being I think I should at least give some more web advertising to the people helping me fulfill my movie dreams. (Click on the picture to go their site.) Now if only someone would help me with that hot tub dream......