MINIHAN FILM FACES FRIGHTENING FACTS

PORT McNEILL - Disturbing. Violent. Real.

CHOICE, the new Colin Minihan film, created for Port McNeill RCMP Community
Justice, is all this and more.

CHOICE depicts the destructive options available for youth today from drugs
to violence.

The film opens with a brutal beating in the boys' locker room at school.
The frighteningly realistic attack leads into a maze of twisted, violent
events that come close to explaining what society has thought unfathomable
until recently. Namely why a student would walk into a school with a gun
and kill or why a victim of bullying would resort to suicide.

"It's not supposed to be an enjoyable movie," says producer Kelly Carson.

The story follows the lead character, played by Zach Pashley, as he enacts
revenge on suspected narc Seth, played by Frankie Harris. It can be
difficult to watch, but the idea, Carson says, is to invoke discussion and
thought.

"Colin says when a bully watches this they'll never bully again," she says.

Some may question the authenticity of high school students doing lines of
cocaine in the bathroom at a house party, or the severity of the locker
room beating.

However, CHOICE, written, directed and edited by Minihan, is made by Port
McNeill teens, for teens everywhere. The ideas are their own and come from
the world of possibilities, decisions and choices that they know.

"This is fictional and we've turned it into a story," Carson says. "But
this really happens."

While the mother in the film, played by Carson, picks at Seth about the
little things like a pack of felt pens, Seth deals with reality. The lesson
for parents?

"Talk to your kids," Carson emphasizes. "Really think about what's
important, what's going on in their lives."

CHOICE is the second film Minihan and Carson have worked on together to
benefit the Community Justice program. Both received funding from National
Crime Prevention and ICBC.

Similar to the first film JEt, the fast alternation of scenes, innovative
angles, and special effects keep the film active and maintains audience
involvement from beginning to end.

CHOICE, at over 60 minutes, is much longer than JEt and yet maintains the
edge that will hold teens attention.

CHOICE, has been in the works for two years, taking one year to write and
one year to film and edit.

The film is ready for distribution to school liaison officers, often RCMP
members assigned to specific schools.

"You need the youth to look at a police officer in another way," Carson
says, adding that the film should narrow the gap between youth and police.

The B.C. Crime Prevention Association has already purchased CHOICE, as well
as the B.C. Women in Action in Comox and various police and victim services
in Victoria, Saskatoon, Prince Rupert, Duncan, Kelowna and Summerland.
Schools, service groups, RCMP can order the film through Carson by calling
250-956-4441, extension 32.

To download clips, see behind-the-scenes still photos and follow Minihan's
career see www.smiley-films.com.