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I’ve been reading Casey Wiegand’s blog for a while now and have been waiting with bated breath for the release of her husband, Chris’ new documentary, American Blogger. Here is the trailer – check it out.
My first reaction to this trailer, other than a little bit of a cringe at the awful voiceover, was excitement. I can’t wait to watch this film! Casey and her husband are not exactly leading their lives as I perhaps would – religion just does not do it for me – but I do love reading her blog and she does have a really great way with words, which is the mark of any great blogger. Let’s be honest, unless you can write well, you are probably not going to “make it” as a blogger (well, if “making it” is your aim). We have all read blogs with bad grammar and spelling, and yes, of course everyone is entitled to their own piece of the cyber world, but if you don’t write well, people will more than likely not be returning for their daily read. This is why Casey is as successful as she is. Yes – she is pretty, God-fearing and sweet as pie, but girl CAN write. This has enabled her success, enabled her connection with thousands of readers around the world and has enabled the birth and production of this documentary.
Since this trailer was first released, it has caused a massive amount of controversy, with one of the main objections being that the film is non-representavive of the majority of American bloggers. Chris has been accused of travelling all across the American countryside to merely visit and interview all his wife’s blogger friends (read: white, Christian, pretty, materialistic), and that he has defined the American Blogger as something that it’s not through the all-encompassing film title. Throughout the controversy Casey, and the other fifty or so featured bloggers, have remained loyal and supportive to the project and you can read some of their responses by clicking here.
What do I think of the whole debacle? Well, I think it’s really amazing that someone has taken the time to produce a visual tale of this awesome modern phenomenon which we are all, in one way or another, becoming a part of. I think, and I hope, that it will bring greater awareness and recognition to the blogging industry all over the world. I hope someone in South Africa does something similar. We are still a little behind the rest of the world in terms of blogging – largely due to the fact that only about 25% of our population has access to household internet. I also think there will always be haters, but I seriously doubt that Chris and Casey have an evil bone in their body, and any offence they’ve caused has more than likely been completely unintentional. They’re so young, so creative, and they’re just making their little foot print in this world of ours. Perhaps Chris shouldn’t have called the film American Blogger, but as far as I know, this is still a free world and he is entitled to name it whatever he likes. Also, the truth is that the women featured in the film are American and bloggers. Besides, we – the consumers and the filmgoers – are free to choose whether we’d like to see the film – it’s not exactly being forced down our throats. I know I’m still totally keen to see it. I love that we are all able to record a little piece of our stories on the internet through blogging, and I love that someone has recognised this story-telling impulse in our modern society and has taken the time to explore it further. What are your thoughts? How does the trailer make you feel? Would you watch it?
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
