“ReMoved”
This video is not easy to watch be warned.
And just to underscore the point, I’ll mention that there are times in my own life that I think, “Hey, it’s been nearly two decades since I had a drink. Surely I can manage it now…” Yeah, maybe. But I’m not going to find out. I’m loud and snappish enough as is. Why make it worse? Would it be worse? Who knows- not me, and I’m not going to find out either. I’ve never done anything like this. Never experienced anything remotely like this on either side, and there are so, so many sides. The closest I got was the year I spent working at St. Joseph Children’s Home.
The film though is about raising awareness, and the film makers want it to be shared. The about information is below the YouTube video link. The original posting was on Yimeo.com.
“ReMoved,” by Nathanael Matanick
About the film:
Published on Mar 11, 2014
We made ReMoved with the desire that it would be used to serve in bringing awareness, encourage, and be useful in foster parent training, and raising up foster parents. .
If you would like to use the film for any of these reasons, the answer is yes.
If you need a downloadable version, you can download it here: vimeo.com/ondemand/removed
Originally created for the 168 Film Festival, ReMoved follows the emotional story through the eyes of a young girl taken from her home and placed into foster care.
After winning Best Film and Audience Choice at the 168 Film Festival, as well as winning Best Film at the Enfoque Film Festival and being an official selection at the Santa Barbara Independent Film Festival, we’re extremely excited to share ReMoved online.
“It would be impossible to fully understand the life and emotions of a child going through the foster care system, but this short narrative film portrays that saga in a poetic light, with brushes of fear, anger, sadness, and a tiny bit of hope.” -Santa Barbara Independent
This short film wouldn’t be possible without the help of some of my incredible friends.
First, my wife, who schemed this project up with me, and was willing to do me the huge favor of writing and producing it. Without her partnership, this would not have happened, and definitely would not have been such a fun process. We were inspired to create this film while in foster parent training.
And then of course Tony Cruz. I asked him early on if he’d be willing to tackle this with me. I wasn’t sure if I was really going to pursue it unless he said yes. He graciously agreed and was, to me, a huge source of confidence in knowing this project would turn out well. He and i discussed everything during the pre-production, and i counted on his creative mind to keep me on the right path. He even persuaded another key creative on the project, Greg Pickard, to join us. On Set Tony was my right hand man. On set, if I just wasn’t feeling it, I had the trust in him to be able to just hand the scene off to him and know he would make it work. And he stepped in plenty of times when i just needed a break, or a separate perspective. Some of the best moments in the film are of his doing. Go check him out at tonycruz.co
We were very fortunate with Abby White, the young actress. Without her we wouldn’t have a film.
Her parents were so amazing as well. I don’t think they anticipated how much involvement it would take on their end, but they stuck with it the whole way. Abby’s dad, Andy White from Good Times Guitar, even recorded Abby’s Voice Over for us in his studio.
