April Showers is one of those films that elicits a variety of responses from those who see it, however, the questions that keep arising are those pertaining to the film’s truth or parallel to my own life. While I feel I’ve been straight forward and open about where the lines of reality and fiction touch or sometimes blur it hasn’t stopped a number of you out there from surmising and coming to your own conclusions; some of which are very accurate and others…well, not so much. I will attempt to address some of the bigger questions that seem to linger out there between the web and our fan sites.
“Columbine had two shooters and took place in Colorado therefore April Showers can’t possibly be based on Columbine.”
This statement is partially correct, however, April Showers is based largely on my experiences and the experiences of my close friends following the tragedy that unfolded at Columbine High School. It was not my intention to make a film solely based on Columbine, or the Columbine Movie for that matter, for I wanted to shed light on topics and themes that seem common among those who survive acts of physical and mental violence. I used Columbine or a Columbine like event as my backdrop purely because that is what I experienced and/or knew. There have been many people who have viewed April Showers that were not present at Columbine but had experienced something similar, be it in a school or mall, which have gotten something from viewing the film and/or associated with it.
I purposely changed many details pertaining to the shooter(s) because it was not my intention to have them be “characters” but individuals that the audience learned about through the combined experiences of the main characters in the story. By showcasing two shooters, as was the case in Columbine, it was my feeling that the relationship between the two would have to be explained thus taking valuable time away from the story I wanted to tell. So, it was a conscious decision to have a solo shooter in the film knowing that it was a departure from the real life event.
The film April Showers never really says where or when it takes place. Again, this was done intentionally in order to broaden its emotional reach versus audiences sitting in the theater watching a biopic and thinking to them selves “this can’t happen to me.” Now, it is not my intention for audiences to view April Showers as something that can and will happen to them, not at all. It is my intention to show a side of a story that is becoming all to familiar in order to awaken the consciousness of a nation to do something positive about it so we don’t have to continue to make movies about it.
“Why wasn’t the film in theaters? Was it because it was to graphic?”
The film was, in fact, in theaters. April Showers enjoyed a limited theatrical release in select cities, some of which included Omaha, Brooklyn, Houston, Denver, Nashville and many more. We were fortunate enough to play in theaters for a week and in some areas longer. Our longest run was in Omaha, Nebraska at the Rave Westroads 14 Theater where we played a full schedule for four weeks.
The film was a limited release not because of violence but because of budgetary concerns and resources. It was our intention and the intention of our distributor Pure+Motive to release April Showers in select theaters in order to build upon the already growing word of mouth and parlay that audience momentum into the DVD and online release of the film.
April Showers is currently available on DVD through our website and Amazon, as well as available on iTunes, AmazonVOD and Netflix. More outlets will be coming soon as well as foreign countries.
The film is rated R not because of graphic violence, gore or language but because of intense scenes of peril and lifelike depictions of real trauma. You can read about our fight with the MPAA regarding our rating HERE.
“Everyone keeps saying this film should be shown in schools and/or is important for kids to see, why?”
I appreciate this comment more than some might think for it’s important to me that April Showers be viewed by high school aged kids and their parents the world over for I think it can have a positive effect despite the harsh reality depicted in the film. My intentions behind making April Showers was not to sensationalize the actions of those who commit these violent acts but to show a side of the story few take into consideration, which is that of a survivor. That being said, I truly wish we lived in a world where a film like April Showers doesn’t exist because the reality of a child committing violence against their fellow students is just unfathomable. However, we don’t live in that reality thus the reason of April Showers’ existence. If the film causes teens and adults to take stock of their lives and current environment and cause them to want to make a change for the better, to prevent a scenario like the one depicted in April Showers from happening in their own lives than the film is a success.
It is my dearest hope that my past and the past of so many around the world not become a universal reality. If viewing April Showers is enough to get those contemplating violence as an option to take a moment of pause or for those who see warning signs to speak up and change their situation for the better then I believe the film has helped or can help. I truly hope that upon completion of the film, teens and adults alike are able to sit down and have a truly open discussion about how they can jointly prevent the events depicted in the film through the use of communication, compassion and respect for one another instead of resulting to other means such as metal detectors, cameras and ID cards. It has been my experience that honest communication, taking into account all view points and opinions, is the best weapon for combating future violence before it has a chance to manifest into the horrors we see on the nightly news or depicted in films.
Like other films before it, April Showers exists to show a side of life that does, at times, happen, but that through it we can learn valuable lessons from those who came before us so our past doesn’t have to continue being our future.
“Was there a shooting at a Jefferson High School?”
To the best of my knowledge no. While I’m sure there are High Schools out there that are named Jefferson, the one depicted in the film is completely fictional.
“How did the filmmakers get such dramatic footage of the real events?”
I take this comment as a compliment for no real footage of any school shooting, Columbine or otherwise, was used in the film April Showers. April Showers is neither a documentary nor a point for point true story. It is a work of fiction based on actual events stemming from my life. The fact that so many of you believed what you saw as real is a testament to the actors, extras and my extraordinary crew.
“The music in the trailer, which film does it come from?”
All of the music used in the trailer or teaser trailer for the film is from the score for April Showers. Unlike most trailers, we did not use any royalty free tracks or temp score. If you buy the soundtrack on iTunes or AmazonMP3 you will have all of the music and music cues from the trailer(s).
“I thought this was a zombie film from the trailers”
Not quite sure what to say about that. Sorry? If you’re looking for a zombie film may I suggest Shaun of the Dead, it’s my personal favorite.
“Is April in the film really Rachel Scott or Cassie Burnall?”
I will be addressing this issue in a future story. Stay tuned…
“What are Andrew’s religious views? Is April Showers a Christian film?”
April Showers is what ever you, the viewer, want it to be. If you see a story about faith and identify with that then I say go with it. If you see the opposite then that is fine too. The truth of the matter is, I didn’t set out to make a film that was one way or the other. I simply wanted to show both sides for I have friends and family who sought solace in their faith as well as had a number of friends and family who all together turned away from their beliefs as a result of the events of April 20, 1999.
In terms of my personal beliefs I believe them to be irrelevant, not because I don’t have any or think it silly, not at all. I don’t think it matters because it is my belief that belief in something be it a higher power or simply yourself is important but up to the individual. It is not my place to tell anyone what he or she should or should not believe and I hope April Showers doesn’t do that, for that was not my intention. I am honored that so many of you with strong beliefs one way or another have gravitated to this film for your own reasons and I hope you continue to get what you want out of the film, but with respect to my own beliefs I will continue to keep those private.
