| Seven
years ago today a small unassuming film with a very big heart, lead by a small
unassuming young actor with a very big heart, was first released to embrace the
world. You will notice I said that the film was released to embrace the world,
and not for the world to embrace it, because this film had a big idea that it
wanted to share. It takes a very big heart to stand in the face of a very cynical
world and think that whatever you have to offer will be anything more than a drop
in a bucket, but when the heart of the film is so much like the heart of the amazing
young actor leading it, then anything becomes possible. Because this film embraced
the world with a big idea, and that message was essayed with such heartfelt clarity
and compassion by the only young actor capable of being open and honest enough
to break down the walls of cynicism to relay such a simple message, the world
was then able to embrace the pay it forward movement. It
is all well and good for me to say these things, but some might wonder if I am
not using a bit of artistic license, or perhaps even just waxing poetic about
a seven year old film... so let's let the words of that incredible young actor
speak for his personal experience with the effect the film has had in the seven
years since it was released, (with many thanks and much respect to homeofthegiants.com
for the recent and amazing Haley
Joel Osment interview that made it possible for information like this
to be revealed):
Quote:Haley
Joel Osment:
"It is very inspiring to continually hear about
the positive things that film has helped to create. I think Pay It Forward might
be a film that I hear almost the most vignettes about from people in public. When
I speak to people at events or just out in public sometimes, that's a film I hear
almost constantly, because I think it's something that really touched people who
saw that film, and this is the reason for me wanting to do that film, because
I thought that it was important for people to see. Film is a unique marriage of
art and entertainment, and that film had a compelling story that's artistic merit
would inspire people to take stock of themselves and their own lives, and whatever
good that film has done was very rewarding for me to have done it for." 17-July-2007 |
There is
no artistic license used in those words, but are simply his open and honest
experiences that resulted from this one unassuming film. With everything that
Haley Joel Osment has achieved, the many laurels and accolades, Pay It Forward
remains the film that many are able to identify with the most. Because Haley has
such a kind and wonderful heart himself, it is almost poetic that most want to
share their Pay It Forward experience with him at every encounter. Such
a grand testament to the film and the power of the big idea to be revealed seven
years later. To have this film be so remembered when it is bookended by two other
amazing films from Haley's incredible filmography speaks highly of the importance
of the message, and the true depth of his performance. Trevor McKinney was not
just one of many random characters in many altruistic films, his was a character
that we deeply cared about. If an idea like pay it forward was important to him,
then Haley's performance made us care enough that it became important to us. There
is no greater compliment to him or to the film than for us to take the idea of
pay it forward into our own hearts and apply it in the real world. That
is what Pay It Forward has achieved, and the legacy it leaves, in the seven years
since it was released. Although I could write pages devoted to the endearing influence
of that legacy, Haley's few words encapsulate everything that needs to be said
on this seventh anniversary... and that is a far greater tribute than anything
I could ever hope to say. Thanks Haley for giving us such an everlasting character
with a spirit that will forever reside in our hearts. 
Just
like Haley, paying it forward is the best.  |
