MovieChat Forums > Animals (2015) Discussion > David Dastmalchian on the personal story...

David Dastmalchian on the personal story that inspired the film

posted 9 years ago by mfrushmore
5 replies | jump to latest

David Dastmalchian, Collin Schiffli and Kim Shaw about the evolution of the film, the mentorship of "American Film" director Chris Smith, how Dastmalchian's personal details enriched it and how a change will do you good.

http://moveablefest.com/moveable_fest/2014/03/collin-schiffli-animals.html

[–] Lady_Elaine_Fairchild 9 years ago

Thank you for sharing that article.

Important film.

Glad I stayed up super late to watch it-hmm now what to do about work in the morning??lol

I hope more people get to see it now that it is on cable because its probably the truest portrait of addiction and the cycles I have ever seen.

It could/can be you or I had we taken one different turn.

Conceive Deceive or Leave
https://disqus.com/home/channel/conceievedeceiveorleave/

[–] rtw416 8 years ago

The best depiction of the struggle with addiction since Heath Ledgers "Candy"...too real-anyone walking the thin line between worlds should watch this.

[–] Thrill_KillZ 8 years ago

It could/can be you or I had we taken one different turn

I just noticed this comment, the above quote is so spot on. I was doing drugs, mostly smoking a ton of weed on the daily, started in my early teens with a few shrooms and LSD trips scattered around, the E took the forefront for a few years, but all of that, while bad for me was purely recreational, I wasn't an addict per say, the thought of sticking a needle in my arm was something I thought only dirty junkies did and heroin was a drug firmly on my DO NOT TOUCH EVER no matter what list, I still had a great job and was newly married and on top of the world.

Then I happened to be around someone not in my circle one night and I wanted a buzz, she crushed on Oxy 80 I snorted the whole thing, that singular event was my life's true butterfly effect moment. Had anything changed and had I not been no ignorant to not know the difference between a pill and heroin and the sickness involved I certainly wouldn't be here typing this, maybe I'd have the perfect life and family or maybe I would have been killed by a drunk driver the next day. Anyway back to that one slightly different turn and what life could or would have been. It's something that's enough to drive you insane if you venture down the rabbit hole too far.

My point I guess is choices, even ones that may seem insignificant at the time need to be thought out to see the possible repercussions. One simple thing can and will alter the entirety of life, it's awareness that needs to be pushed to the children because they still don't know f'k all about the real consequences of life, teens still feel invincible and they definitely don't get that only once is something no different than playing Russian roulette with 3 bullets in the gun. Didn't mean to rattle on off a simple quote, I'm trying to kill some time at the moment and typing works wonders at that.

[–] Lady_Elaine_Fairchild 8 years ago

YES I agree 100%
They say that drug use happens in cycles of 30 years (similar to inherited $ I guess -gone in 3 generations) just enough time for the negative connotations to wear off from the last 2 generations. When I was in school no one used Heroin and to use a needle was akin to murder but those negative associations are not there for the kids now and when the Govt and anti-drug groups use lies in their propaganda then the kids reject it all as untrue which of course its not all untrue -it is destructive and will ruin your life. But all the stories of people jumping off roofs after smoking a spliff...did more harm than good.
Supporting people who need support, who need coping skills, who need to learn to live a life free of chemicals, who need to know if they relapse you can try again and again-that its a learning process...is something we all need to work on instead of calling people out and further marginalizing them.
Shame is so destructive and most people internalize it.

Before the age of 25, our cognitive thinking is not fully developed so you take more risks and believe that "it won't happen to you". Bulletproof etc..I guess that is why many people experiment at that time in their life.. but experimentation is a whole different animal from the self medication that begets a full blown addiction. By the time you are at an age to know better many addicts turn their self loathing inward and it creates another stumbling block to improvement. Self hatred.

Life is so flimsy and temporary already--people are here laughing one minute and gone in another.

One decision later...(even if its just taking a left turn at a fork in the road and becoming a victim of an accident) and it is all gone. I guess its up to us as parents to (without scaring or scarring them) teach our children the responsibilities of their decisions. Each child is different and each has to be taught at their own speed. And if you are like me at all- I am always second guessing myself did I instill enough information, did I instill a good moral fiber into my children. I am always worried about their futures.

I can't hear you over the volume of my hair.

[–] mywhychromosome 8 years ago

Wow, all of the threads on this board have excellent, thoughtful people on them. Too bad there's only a few. Also, great article