FOLEYS FLICK FACES FLACK As most of you - TopicsExpress

FOLEYS FLICK FACES FLACK As most of you know, Ive been involved with the documentary movie #IamSantaClaus for the past two years. Well, the trailer for the movie (opening in theaters November 4th and on I-tunes, Blu Ray & DVD a week later) dropped a few days ago, and it seems that not every St Nick is jolly about it. Heres the trailer: trailers.apple/trailers/independent/iamsantaclaus/ and here is a fairly harsh reaction to it: Mick ---what you have done to the Santa Community is disgraceful. You have conned and duped all of us. And I thought wrestling fans were tough! I know many of these well-meaning men are worried that the revelation of a gay Santa, a swinging (non-monogamous) Santa, and a Santa who may have had one too many cocktails at his birthday celebration is going to tarnish the reputation of all those who take great pride in spreading joy through the portrayal of the iconic figure of Santa Claus. I respect that. I remember having a thorough conversation with Vince McMahon in 1999, and respecting his concern that the film Beyond the Mat was going to harm the wrestling fans ability to enjoy the magic in what we did as sports-entertainers, because it would pull back the curtain to expose the real-life trials and tribulations facing larger than life in-ring heroes. To this day, Ive yet to meet a Beyond the Mat viewer who walked away from their viewing experience with anything but further respect for the real men behind the heroes who put aside their personal problems and physical pain to find the best part of themselves emerge when they step into the ring. I feel the same way about the men profiled in I am Santa Claus. These are good men who find a way to put aside their personal pains and problems to find the best of themselves emerge when donning the red suit. Sure, theyre human. Remember the Rankin-Bass classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the distinct lack of compassion old Kris Kringle, shows toward the red-nosed youngster - whose only crime was having the audacity to be born different? Fortunately for all of us, Santa learned a valuable lesson about treating others with respect - and Christmas was saved for everyone. If we can forgive Santa for his decidedly dick-like demeanor, isnt it possible to embrace the men in our movie, despite their flaws? I know many Santas object to the lifestyle choices of two of the men profiled in our movie. Santa Jim, our gay Santa, is a wonderful man, and Im proud to have him in the movie. People who watch the movie are going to fall into one of two categories when it comes to Jim: 1) Those who are touched by him, and fight back tears during the movie. 2) Those who are touched by him, fight back tears, and then try to convince themselves they werent touched. I never had the pleasure of meeting Santa Rob, whose memory the movie is dedicated to. But director Tommy Avallone has mentioned many times that Santa Rob was among the kindest, most positive people hed ever met - and that his attitude in the face of great adversity and personal tragedy was deeply inspiring. Is it too much to ask those who call my involvement with the movie disgraceful to at least watch the movie before casting such harsh judgement?