Actually, I did not presume to know anything about this film.
During a time that was not Mardi Gras season, I most certainly did see a rather sad-looking Mardi Gras float on Napoleon Avenue in an area barricaded off and surrounded by film equipment and those yellow movie set signs (you know the ones) that said "Mardi Gras." I don't know if they were actually filming, or doing prep work, or trying to set up the float, or doing some sort of preproduction stuff, or what. But, there was most certainly some sort of activity surrounding the movie "Mardi Gras" that caused me to see an odd-looking float and forced me to make a detour on my route to school. I did not make that up.
As far as what I said about the movie itself, I said, TO QUOTE my post, "I FEAR" (not KNOW, for I did not presume to know anything about this movie which I did not work on and which I have not seen).
"I fear that this movie is just going to be a piece of garbage, touching upon every stereotype of Mardi Gras. Actually, I have a hunch that that's exactly what it is. I mean, I'm not against the crude comedies like American Pie and Eurotrip, I really like a lot of those movies. But, because this is my city they're portraying, I really fear that this film may add to the ignorance of people who've never been to New Orleans, the same people who said that Hurricane Katrina was caused by "the wrath of God against the corrupt people of New Orleans." Still, I'm very happy that producers are shooting movies down in my wonderful city because it does wonders for our still struggling post-Katrina economy."
Again, for a third time, I did not presume to know anything about this movie. All I said was that I was afraid that this film would only touch upon all of the negative stereotypes of New Orleans in the way it portrayed my city, which I am very proud to be a part of (quite obviously since the extreme pride that citizens of this amazingly unique and free-thinking city is one of its wonderful characterizing features)and which I am very protective of.
I love New Orleans, but I am often saddened by the way that outsiders view it and us. When people picture New Orleans, they often only think of drunk people partying on Bourbon and women flashing their chests. The interesting thing about Bourbon is, however, that it is a tourist attraction that is made of tourists. There is essentially nothing on Bourbon Street but a bunch of tourists and college students from outside of NOLA partying and marveling at our lack of open container laws. Bourbon Street is not what New Orleans is all about. Obviously, we New Orleanians have a lot of fun, but it is this sort of stereotype that caused so much controversy in the wake of Katrina and the still-occurring recovery period. People said the most hateful things about my city and the people who live here, that we were all "sinful" and "deserved what we got." Thus, I think that the ordeal I've been through and the hateful comments I've heard give me the right to be fearful of a commercial film that may enhance these negative stereotypes and the right to be defensive of my city, the only home I've ever known.
Still, I am glad to know that my fears will (hopefully) not be realized. I am very glad to know that Blaine Kerne's floats were used in the movie. I've been to the warehouse many times throughout my life, and I'm glad that all of the hard work and planning and creativity that goes into those beautiful creations will be appreciated in this film.
I love New Orleans. I am proud to be a New Orleanian. And, I will defend New Orleans always and forever.
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