It isn't fresh news that adoption agencies are up in arms over Warner Bros. Pictures forthcoming Orphan, as back in May foster care groups forced the studio to amend their trailer removing the line, "It must be hard to love an adopted child as much as your own." Since then, I have refused to update the trailer in our database on pure principal, get the f*k over it. Apparently, these groups seem to think that bringing attention to the movie is going to help their cause, when anyone with a brain knows that all they are doing is bringing attention to the movie (just like with Bruno). In fact, the studios LOVE a good protest/boycott, so go ahead, bitch, moan and strike the film, people are still going to see it and you're still going to be an arsehole with no life. Read on for more on the latest call for a "boycott" (sigh) and tell us what YOU think (I am pretty curious).
Editor's note: Enjoy the unedited trailer below...
"Often divided over policy and practice, America's adoption community has unified in dismay over "Orphan," a horror movie opening next week that its critics say will fuel negative attitudes toward real-life orphans.
Some adoption advocates are urging a boycott of the movie, which opens July 24. A coalition of prominent national adoption and foster care groups, while not joining the boycott call, has asked for a meeting with Warner Bros. CEO Barry Meyer to discuss their concerns.
"We are concerned that in addition to its intended entertainment value, this film will have the unintended effect of skewing public opinion against children awaiting families both in the United States and abroad," said a letter to Meyer from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute.
Warner Bros. said it has taken the concerns seriously. Spokesman Scott Rowe told the Associated Press the company is considering adding a pro-adoption message at the end of the film when it comes out in DVD form.
Trailers for the film, shown nationwide for two months, make the basic plot clear without revealing the twist at the end. A couple mourning the loss of an unborn baby decide to adopt a girl from a local orphanage -- and their hopes for happiness give way to unease and fear as the new family member turns out to be far different from what they expected.
The trailer itself prompted outrage from many adoption advocates and adoptive families, and Warner Bros. responded by removing a much-criticized line from it in which the orphan, Esther, says, "It must be hard to love an adopted child as much as your own."
Rowe, while noting that virtually every film Warner Bros. makes offends someone, has stressed that "Orphan" is a make-believe story.
"It is not a depiction of any real-life events or situations and has never been portrayed as anything but an entirely fictional story," he said. "We apologize if we appeared insensitive with the initial trailer, as it's never our intent to offend anyone with our products."
Rowe said he'd not yet seen the letter from the adoption coalition requesting to meet with Meyer.
The letter, co-signed by leaders of 11 adoption and child-welfare groups, noted that an estimated 129,000 children are in U.S. foster care system waiting to be adopted, and that millions of children abroad also need adoptive families.
The letter said the film "may impede recruitment efforts by feeding into the unconscious fears of potential foster and adoptive families that orphaned children are psychotic and unable to heal from the wounds of abuse, neglect, and abandonment."
Among those signing the letter were leaders of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, the National Council for Adoption, and the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys.
Another signatory was Jedd Medefind of the Christian Alliance for Orphans. His group has launched a Web site -- OrphansDeserveBetter.org -- featuring a petition urging Warner Bros. to add a pro-adoption message at the end of the film and to donate a portion of box office receipts to aid orphans.
The Web site also asks individuals and families to share real-life stories, pictures and videos about their own experiences with adoption.
The film "seems to suggest that orphans are damaged goods, and that adoption could destroy a life," Medefind said. "We need truer stories."
Adam Pertman, executive director of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, suggested that Warner Bros. could improve matters by helping produce educational materials about the value of adoption.
"It has been a long time since a movie caused this much angst and worry in the adoption, foster care and orphan care communities, even before its release," Pertman said.
Not every adoption-related group shared the angst.
"The moral panic 'Orphan' has induced is more entertaining than the film itself, which will pass into oblivion and DVD a month after release," wrote Marley Greiner, a leader of the adoptees-rights group Bastard Nation, in her blog.
"The 'outrage' is an opportunistic moment for drum banging and fund raising," Greiner wrote. "What better way is there to make publicity and $$$$$ for yourself than to create a victim where none exists?""
i think this hilarious to no end!!! i can clearly see a similarity between this girl and EVERY adopted child ever....they are all evil, well at least now i will think that just because of this movie!!
I think adoption advocacy groups probably have an obligation to say *something* about it. In fact, it provides a positive platform for them to further their own objectives. This sort of controversy is possibly a win/win situation for all involved, currently. So do I begrudge them? Not really.
This film looks pretty lame, which probably means I'll love it because, well I like craptastic films. But really, I think both sides are equally as stupid in this. When it all boils down...who cares? The films will be made and rapidly forgotten by all but obsessives like me, and orphans will keep being adopted.
"The moral panic 'Orphan' has induced is more entertaining than the film itself, which will pass into oblivion and DVD a month after release," wrote Marley Greiner, a leader of the adoptees-rights group Bastard Nation, in her blog.
Sickest fucking burn.
anyone who would allow a movie to sway the decision of whether or not to adopt a child should not be allowed to own a friggin hamster let alone raise a kid
This is complete bullshit!Movies are movies...as ignorant as some people are just can't seem to grasp that concept.There just using all there complaints to squeeze money out of the movie industry.I can't wait to see "Orphan".I've already got tickets to the first showing here!
i'm adopted and i took NO offense to any part of the promotion or trailers to this movie. i think it's funny how this protesting group thinks they are speaking for adoptive/foster kids when they really aren't. this movie looks pretty good. i know what the twist is from reading the online script. it's an ok twist that will probably make many people laugh, though.
ophelia santi, is %1000000 spot on. i fully agree.
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"Often divided over policy and practice, America's adoption community has unified in dismay over "Orphan," a horror movie opening next week that its critics say will fuel negative attitudes toward real-life orphans.
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