MovieChat Forums > Devil's Playground (2002) Discussion > Cast Update?

Cast Update?

posted 19 years ago by TaBre215
20 replies | jump to latest

I was so fascinated by this documentary. The kids featured in the film were so interesting, almost haunting. I was just wondering if anyone knows what the main characters are up to currently. I did listen to the director's commentary on the DVD. I know that Faron went back home to Indiana without Emma, got back into drugs, and went to prison. I went to the Indiana Department of Corrections website and found out that he served two years for handgun possesion and was released in 3/2003 into court supervised work release. What has he been up to in the last two and a half years? I know that Gerald went back home, but was not ready to join the church. Did he ever join? I know that Velda went to college in Dallas and had a poem published. Is she still in school? I know that Joann joined the church and is happy. How is she doing? I know that Emma lives in San Diego and likes to travel. Does she still want to be an actress/model? Does she talk to Faron anymore? Any info that you could give me would be greatly appreciated because I am really curious about what has happend to all of them. Thanks!

[–] hppg 18 years ago

Wow, that's pretty interesting. The most I'd heard was from the director's commentary. I tried a teensy bit of googling one day a while ago, but didn't come up with much. I'm guessing Jo-Ann is just happy in the church, living a regular Amish life, probably married by now. That's pretty good research you did on Faron - interesting how it was a handgun crime, not drugs, although it seemed like a tough sentence - and I'm guessing that either he went running back to the church (if they accepted him) or is doing his supervised work and going well or is living a life of sin somewhere. Sorry I can't be of more help, but I am also interested and don't know much.

[–] highlyoverpaid 18 years ago

I too wonder what has happened to these people. I just finished watching the documentary and thought to myself that its a wonder that an update hasn't been posted or a follow up hasn't been done on these people. I think too, it would be interesting to see how those who chose to take on the "english" life have faired and if they regret not joining the church.

[–] shoshona19 18 years ago

Wikipedia has a bit of info and links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil%27s_Playground

This page has a great supplement from the director: http://www.21cmagazine.com/issue1/devils_playground.html

[–] Treefingers80 18 years ago

Emma, appeared on Oprah...

http://www.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/tows_2002/tows_past_20021121_c.jhtml

[–] binnie55 18 years ago

A book was published in May 2006.
"Rumspringa - To Be or Not to Be Amish"
by Tom Shachtman

One reviewer of the book says, "Shachtman interviewed more than 400 Amish youth and their parents during a six-year period, out of which came Lucy Walker's 2002 documentary film Devil's Playground. He then conducted more interviews and more follow-up in 2002-04."

I found this here:
http://www.holtzbrinckpublishers.com/academic/book/BookDisplay.asp?BookKey=2267509

[–] peekaboochic1 18 years ago

Just to let you know.....Faron went back to prison in may for Burglary and will now be serving two more years...

[–] leighsummerfield 18 years ago

go to this link for farons record
http://www.in.gov/serv/indcorrection_ofs;jsessionid=aoRd0bQghYI-?lname=yoder&fname=faron&search1.x=0&search1.y=0

[–] hppg 18 years ago

Faron has really screwed up. :-(

[–] suspiria1966 18 years ago

I guess the lesson learned there is don't get mixed up with hot Amish chicks

[–] ewmgreendawg 17 years ago

hah. his girlfriend was reallllllllllly hot. tell me you wouldn't turn amish to hit that?

[–] arkif1 17 years ago

Absolutely correct.

Faron's problem is with fate.

First he tempted God with the "wire", but he survived it.

Then God tempted him with Emma. He interpreted it as fate again. But it wasn't, at least not in the way he told himself, though I don't believe that he fully believed it anyway. Faron certainly seeks drama. His reason is desperation, see below.

Emma is bright, the Amish are anti-intellectual, natural enemies thus.

So? Well, no coming together there, plus, it's easier for an uneducated woman to survive outside Amish-country than for an uneducated man.

Really easy to analyse.

Of course, the Amish do this to their 16 year olds because they know that at this age their ability to analyse isn't particularly well developed.

Though Faron would be bright enough... actually, he's too bright... he understands the wrong of the two alternatives he has to choose from too well... and is too self indulgent to choose the lesser evil, instead wrapping himself in the notion that it's all fate anyway.

[–] Shoregirl72 17 years ago

I really hope that Faron gets on the right path in life. i agree, he is a very bright guy.
I would love to find out some updates on most of them.

[–] rosie8675 16 years ago

Wow, that's really too bad. I hope Faron gets his s**t together soon. I'll have to look up those links about Emma, and I'd truly be interested about Joanna, how happy she really is.

[–] cristalle1 16 years ago

Just watched the doc and it was fascinating. I do wonder if they chose only one segment and this is not indicative of the "usual" rumspringa. It is tragic about Faron, I think he went downhill whenever he wasn't with Emma. If she had joined the church- he would have as well. I really feel if they will have him it is his best chance for redemption and a better life. Would love to hear how the cast is doing...

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ryanmorrison-1 16 years ago

Do you guys really think that Emma was ever in love with Faron? I think she heard about the film, and came out of the wood work to make her debut. You can never trust a hottie like that, especially from Indiana (speaking from experience). That's funny she lives in San Diego though. That's the exact opposite of Amish country, although the Amish seem about as closed minded as some hippies I've encountered in SD.

But that doesn't mean she's responsible for Faron's dillema. He just a meth head, no doubt about it. I think I knew a couple of those kids in that documentary from back in the day. Faron's a fool and a pussy, puttin kids in jail and *beep* I don't care how introspective you are, don't snitch, especially in my home state.

[–] dirtybeatles 15 years ago

I just watched this film and my heart broke for this kid. He was incredibly bright, articulate, and seemed like a genuine person. I feel so bad for him and I really hope he can turn things around. I think he would make a great Amish preacher, and probably an even better one considering the mistakes he made before joining the church.

[–] jaskmackey 15 years ago

His speech impediment sounded familiar, and then I realized he talked just like Forrest Gump.

I've fallen for you like a blind roofer.

[–] ave2em 16 years ago

Is there any recent update on these kids. I know that Faron went to prison a couple of times. I hope he has gotten help. He was a cute kid. Felt bad for him.

Being 16 year old and being made to decide how you want to live your entire life is hard. It hard for some 20 years old to decide what career they want to pursue; imagine being 16 and trying to figure out your whole future. I felt bad for all the kids.

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An eye for an eye would make the whole world blind.

[–] lattar1 12 years ago

I feel a strong urge to interject here. I think the idea of the film was fascinating, I just think the film suffered greatly from spending its main focus on an addict.

Now, I'm a former addict myself. I have a copy of that guy Faron as a childhood friend. An aimless, spineless, hedonistic person who has some mystery qualities (like his eyes) that makes him an obsession to certain type of women, who feel a strong urge to protect and cater to him. While there is nothing admirable in crime or especially drug trafficking, I can't help but feel contempt for people like him who are willing to step on anything or anyone in order to avoid responsability. Its not unlikely in a situation like his, that the family is later targeted for financial restitution. Looking at his conviction at the Indiana correction's site it seems that he got sentenced for two years for burglary, yet his date of release was set a week after the sentencing. Did he pass on the bill again?

From the films point of you, what we got was human interest instead of an examination of a topic. A critic in rottentomatoes brilliantly compared this to Jerry Springer. If you would shoot secular finnish addicts and teens you would get something very similar, in different surroundings. It was a ahame the filmmaker abandoned her subject for a marginalised, addiction possessed boy who's struggles seemed to captivate her. Yet, using and selling 'crank' had absolutely nothing to do with the rite-of-passage, even though the film suggested it might. I would have loved to hear more from the 'mainstream' amish teens instead of the social pornography she chose to depict.