Nope.

 

While I disagree with the MPAA’s ruling, and will be appealing it next week, April Showers must move forward with the knowledge that the final verdict may still result in an R-rating. In many ways I see this as hugely unfair, but at the same time, am done fretting over it. So the film may get an R-rating, okay, where do we go from here?

 

We go to theaters. We go to where the audiences still want to see this film, which despite the news of the MPAA’s rating still includes many younger teens (14+) who are willing to see it with their parents or guardian. The truth of the matter is, this film has never been about a rating. We need a rating in order to play in theaters across this country and we have one. It may not be the one we want, nor the one we ultimately end up with, but we have it and can move on.

 

So parents, this letter is directed at you. If you’ve been following us these past few months and have taken no issue with anything you’ve seen, read or listened to myself or others talk about and deemed it appropriate for your son or daughter then I assure you viewing the film, while difficult at times perhaps, will be no different. I hope throughout this whole process I’ve been open and honest with you all and that regardless of what label the MPAA decides to slap us with you’ll know what to expect when viewing April Showers in theaters. However, if you have not been following us, or are relatively new to the April Showers family, then first let me say welcome and second fill you in a bit on what to expect when viewing April Showers either for yourself or with your children.

 

April Showers is not a violent film in the way you may expect an R-rated film to be. If the R-rating is an attractor for you because you like to view violent or subversive content then I fear the film may be a let down for you for the film is no more violent than watching the news or viewing an episode of Law & Order. While the overall driving topic behind April Showers may be of a violent circumstance the way that it is handled on screen is anything but. It is my personal belief as a storyteller and director that the world doesn’t need to see more graphic images in order for their to be impact, again this is my personal belief and one that I do not force upon others nor do I slight other, more violent films, because of it. Instead of showing the outright violence of a school shooting, like Columbine, myself, along with my cast and crew, chose to imply the violence and chaos in many other ways.

 

Much of the highly traumatic moments are handled through editing, sound, sound editing, lighting and the actors themselves and not in the outright bloodshed or wonton graphic violence. That being said, there are characters, both large and small, that do perish in the film, however none meet their end in a vulgar or graphic way. When you do see a victim or body it is usually during a rapid camera movement or in shadow. If the victim is in frame for any meaningful amount of time with which to register or elicit an knee jerk reaction it is not accompanied by blood or gore. However, while we may not out right “show” violence because of the situation and realistic reactions given by the actors the audiences have and do believe the peril thus making the inferred violence feel more real. Truthfully, this approach is largely the reason behind the MPAA giving us an R-rating for it seems audiences are more comfortable with seeing excessive violence and bloodshed versus not seeing it and being put in an uncomfortable situation that forces them to contemplate and think about the outcome of said violence. If that mind set is what has truly earned me and this film an R-rating then I take it as a compliment for I think audience shouldn’t view violence of any kind blindly and devoid of any emotion regardless of the overall topic, theme or tone of a film. Violence is violence and while it may be accompanied with a snappy punch line or driving rock soundtrack someone or something is doing harm to another and we must be aware of that versus numb to it.

 

Beyond the violence there is no vulgar language, drug use, nudity or sexual content of any kind in April Showers. The reason for this is not because I am a prude or because I am trying to be holier-than-thou, it is because in order to film the movie in an active school using a majority of an active student body we had to tailor the script to fit within the parameters of what the school board and parents felt was a PG-13 rated film. We did this willingly and I believe the film is better for it. Now if you view the word(s) “hell” and “shit” as excessively vulgar then I do apologize but want you to know that both words are in the film a total of two times or one time per offense. However, both words fall within the realm of a PG-13 film thus were not cut from the film and not the reason for the R-rating.

 

The film deals largely with issues pertaining to the direct aftermath of school violence and the struggles students, teachers, parents and communities go through as the result. The film touches upon issues pertaining to friendship, love, loss, religion, faith and accountability to name a few. Honestly, the issues I’ve just mentioned are what most viewers come away from the film talking about more than what they physically saw on screen. This simple fact, the conversation(s) the film starts is one of the biggest reasons behind my wanting to make April Showers for everyone to see.

 

So, with that said I now ask something of you. If you are a parent and your teenage son or daughter is not of the legal age to view an R-rated film but they wish to see April Showers I urge you to make a date with your child and see the film. I truly believe, and the MPAA agrees oddly enough, that this is a film that should be seen by as wide an audience as possible for it has the ability to effect and promote positive change. I recently received word from a principal of a high school, who showed the film to his students and their parents, informing me that he has witnessed a dramatic change in the attitude, mindset and general well being the kids are expressing and showing towards one another. While this is the most recent correspondence of this nature it is not the sole one nor will it be the last. 

 

April Showers is here to show a side of tragedy many people, thankfully, don’t ever have to experience. That being said, it’s a side of the coin that when even viewed in a cinematic form can have a profound positive effect on those who may not of otherwise understood it or known of its existence. This effect is what people are taking away from the film and in subtle and not so subtle ways applying it to their everyday lives.

 

Lastly, I’d would like to say please don’t think that if we get our R-rating overturned and lessened to a PG-13 that it is still an R-rated film in sheeps clothing. If I truly believed April Showers deserved an R-rating then I would accept it wholeheartedly and without protest, it’s just that I don’t feel it’s an R-rated film. PG-13? Absolutely. But I also want to point out that while the MPAA doesn’t feel that all audiences can handle the “real subject matter” contained within the film, they don’t seem to concerned with trying to censor or protect underage eyes from the news coverage of Columbine like shootings all over the world. On the ten-year anniversary of the Columbine tragedy, which is coming up in a few weeks, we will, once again, be inundated with images from that day. Images that will depict acts of violence not only in blood shed, but in the overall handling and coverage of the event that the victims and victims families were forced to relive day in and day out. If your son or daughter has viewed any footage that was captured the day of Columbine (or any other school shooting) then they’ve already seen far worse than anything I could possibly show in the film April Showers. All I hope for, is that by viewing April Showers those real images now have real meaning and can be accompanied by discourse and understanding that promotes growth and emotional understanding of our fellow men and women that can curb these acts of violence from happening again.

 

I thank you all so very much for your time, consideration and support. I will keep you posted as to the results of our ratings appeal. Until next time, I wish you all the very best, take care and stay tuned…

 

Sincerely,

Andrew Robinson

Writer/Director

April Showers