Just got back from a screening, featuring a Q&A with the director and Bethany Hamilton herself. The film is adequate, it's basically a commercial for Bethany. Nothing terribly revelatory or groundbreaking.
What was especially disappointing was Bethany herself. I brought my daughters aged 7, 10 and 12 to the movie, excited at the possibility of being able to ask Bethany a question in the Q&A portion. Well, after the ostensibly mediocre movie wrapped up, the Q&A began, with a qualification from Bethany that no questions would be asked from the audience. Um, what? Oh, and even while we sit there and do nothing while we wait for the Facebook live stream to fire up, no questions allowed. And then, after the moderator threw her a couple of softballs, that's it, because her kids are waiting in the car or some insanity like that.
Honestly, if you're going to do a Q&A, DO A Q&A, don't completely half-ass it like this. I've been to many Q&A's prior to this (a benefit of living in LA) with very, VERY famous actors and directors taking the time to interact with fans in the audience. In this case, I felt like we were there merely to serve as background for her Facebook live stream- ie. to backstop her narcissism. Now I've got a sobbing 7-year old who doesn't understand why the audience was snubbed.
Our family was a fan of Bethany's before this screening... probably not anymore.
What was especially disappointing was Bethany herself. I brought my daughters aged 7, 10 and 12 to the movie, excited at the possibility of being able to ask Bethany a question in the Q&A portion. Well, after the ostensibly mediocre movie wrapped up, the Q&A began, with a qualification from Bethany that no questions would be asked from the audience. Um, what? Oh, and even while we sit there and do nothing while we wait for the Facebook live stream to fire up, no questions allowed. And then, after the moderator threw her a couple of softballs, that's it, because her kids are waiting in the car or some insanity like that.
Honestly, if you're going to do a Q&A, DO A Q&A, don't completely half-ass it like this. I've been to many Q&A's prior to this (a benefit of living in LA) with very, VERY famous actors and directors taking the time to interact with fans in the audience. In this case, I felt like we were there merely to serve as background for her Facebook live stream- ie. to backstop her narcissism. Now I've got a sobbing 7-year old who doesn't understand why the audience was snubbed.
Our family was a fan of Bethany's before this screening... probably not anymore.