In my Behind the Scenes posts for "Starfishing", I mentioned that I wanted to write a fourth part that involved the more personal elements of what my film meant to me and what I hoped it would mean to others. I've decided to take a different approach to discussing those things based on some things that have happened to me lately, so this is really as close to a Behind the Scenes of "Starfishing" Part 4 that I'm going to get.
I'll start with a question.
Have you ever been scammed?
It's a horrible feeling, and one I experienced for the first time this week. It was about 9:50pm and I was rushing to get to Publix before it closed so I could buy some groceries for the week. I had spent a little bit too much money as of late so I knew I needed to get some cheap groceries that could last me the week. I made it in time and got about $20 worth of food, feeling good about myself. On the way out the door a man stopped me and asked for $3 for a bus ticket. He explained to me that his car was broken down and he had to meet his daughter somewhere. I would have loved to help him out for the small price of $3, but I was out of cash. I told him I was sorry, and started to walk away but he continued to ask if there was anything that I could do. He said he was running out of time and that no one would help him. I really wished I could have helped him, because he seemed genuinely worried and he was only asking for $3. At this point he pulled out a Publix gift card and asked me if I would buy it off of him. I told him again that I had no money, so he offered to go into Publix with me to try to cash it out. But Publix was closed, and the door was being guarded by a police officer, so we couldn't go it. Finally he remembered that there was an ATM down the street and begged me to please buy the gift card from him. Finally I agreed and walked with him to the ATM and withdrew $20. On the way I got to know him a little better. He was from Louisiana but went to school in Illinois and got a major in political science. He was 64 years old and a middle school teacher at a local middle school. In the 70s he played two years of pro football with the Minnesota Vikings. He also told me he was a Christian and that he believed God was always looking out for him. Finally I bought the gift card from him and we parted ways. As I examined the card, I noticed some funny things. It appeared it had already been peeled off the cardboard cover. The $25.00 was sloppily written on the card in smeared ink. And then it occurred to me: this is a used card and I just paid a man who told me his sob story $20 for it. The more I thought about it the more it made sense. He was hanging around Publix at the time he knew it closed, and told me that the card was legitimate and that I could go in and check the balance knowing that Publix was closed, but pretended not to know. He didn't follow me to the door where the police officer was standing. He made sure to stress that he was a good Christian man and he knew exactly where the ATM was and what the fee was (he made sure to mention it was only a $3 fee). He also told a detailed story about his life in effort to gain my trust. As I walked back to my car, I realized that I had been had. It was a frustrating realization, and also a sad one. It makes me sad to know that there are dishonest people out there who will take advantage of the people who actually are willing to help. I called my parents and explained to them why my account would be $23 emptier then went home and called it a night.
The next day I went back to Publix and decided to check the balance of the card just incase. I knew it was going to be in vain, but in my heart I kept this small since of hope that maybe this guy was an honest man. I handed the card to the cashier and waited for the balance. Finally the receipt printed. Balance: $25.00. I was shocked. I wasn't scammed! It was such a good feeling to know that not only was I not scammed but that I was able to help someone out that was in need. Fiscally, the world seems to scream that having a good conscious can be a naive thing, and I was afraid I had learned that the hard way. But in the end my act of kindness had paid off. But that emotion got me thinking: what if I had been scammed? Perhaps I simply lucked out this time and really was being naive...
But the more I think about it, the more I come to the conclusion that if I had to go through that experience again I would do exactly the same thing. There are only two possible outcomes: I help the man out and keep my money, or I help the man out and lose my money. But there is only one possible cause: that this man needed help. Either he was in a tight situation or desperate enough to result to scamming people in the streets of West Palm Beach. Either way, I was in a position to help this man who needed help whether he was humble enough to admit it or not, and so I sit confidently knowing that even if I had been scammed I did the right thing. (Now this is not to say that everyone is in the position to help and should just fork over $20. For some people that $20 could be the difference in keeping the lights on or feeding a family, and if you are not in a position to help then I believe you should kindly move on, but I was not in that tight of a situation.)
And that brings me to the other morning. I decided to meet a friend at taco bell breakfast (PS it's really good if you haven't tried it yet) before heading into the computer lab to work some more on the visual effects of my upcoming film. As I was leaving taco bell, a homeless man rode up on a bicycle and started a long speech about the labor pool etc etc. Essentially he needed food, and unfortunately today homeless people have come to realize that without an explanation, most people won't pitch in to help them get the food they need. I didn't care for the story, I told him I would go in and buy him a meal, so I did. In this specific instance, the words of my old youth minister echoed through my head: "If a homeless man turns down a free meal from taco bell he's either not homeless or something's wrong with him." Food is a human necessity that everyone needs, and I believe buying someone a meal is a great way to show them that there are people out there that care about them... ESPECIALLY if it's Taco Bell, I mean, come on.
As a Christian, I believe that the Gospel message is abundantly clear when it comes to helping other people and showing them God's love. Jesus' story is full of examples where he helped people who, by all Jewish standards, shouldn't have been helped at all. In fact, most of the great stories in the Gospels involve Jesus helping sinners who were unworthy of the Jew's time, or let alone of God's grace. But the fact is we are all unworthy of God's grace, yet He gives it to us anyway.
That is the Gospel message, and that is a message that I want all of my films to support.
I've heard the expression before, "If you give a man a fish, he can eat for a day. But if you teach a man to fish, he can eat for the rest of his life." This is a concept I completely agree with, and I hope that someday I will be in a position to support charities and organizations that "teach men to fish." However, I believe this expression is often misinterpreted to "Don't give a man a fish, teach him to fish instead." But I don't think this can be more wrong. Sometimes, giving someone that fish can be the first step in teaching them to fish, and you never know when that fish you give them - whether it's $20 for a bus fare or a steak burrito from taco bell - could change their life forever, or even save it.
I believe that when you are in a position to help someone, there really are no negative side effects to helping them. "Starfishing" was a small film during which I tried to explore the value of selflessness and helping others, but hopefully someday I will be able to make films that explore the values of love, mercy, grace, redemption, and sacrifice in a way that is intriguing, convicting, challenging, and exciting for everyone, not just Christians. I want to make films with themes that people of all different world views will be proud to stand by and support, yet not lose the heart of the Gospel message. To me, "Starfishing" is about much more than helping others because it embodies my dreams and aspirations as a filmmaker. I hope that everyone can gather something unique from the film, but that through it all the central message of loving others and helping those in need shines through.
