1. Use Your Words for Good
By Kate Farrell
Pieces of a reflection essay I wrote three years ago (for more about the short film, head
over to my About Me page here):
She has a big nose. Her eyes are spread out weird. I don’t like her face.
Sweetheart, don’t even try to be Katniss.
Seeing the comments appear on the previously innocuous page, like angry bees
whose honey had been stolen, a similar buzzing swarmed to my ears, and I felt heat
swimming to my forehead.
It is only natural for viewers to measure other interpretations against that of the
official cast. I’d hoped fans would be able to see the effort that had gone into each and
every frame. I had auditioned for and landed the role of a character I related to and
admired. I had spent countless hours working with a professional team and meeting
artists and actors who threw themselves into their work and perfected every minute detail.
I had flown all the way to Tennessee to shoot the film with original costumes and props
that had been carefully planned, and afterwards helping the team plan out how they could
publicize the film to best reach fans. Another comment pulled me back to reality: “This
kid is ugleee”.
The shocking part of the audience’s reaction was not the extent to which they
attacked my physical features. Instead, it was the rate at which they whipped these
comments at the computer, attempting to dismiss months of hard work in a few seconds
of mean-spirited typing. There were a few good comments too, but the ones that
resonated with me were the ones whose venom was meant to sting. One bitter comment
stuck with me: “Sweetheart, don’t even try to be Katniss”. This random Internet user was
condescendingly telling me to stop reaching for my goals and that this experience had
been a waste, and I had a problem with that.
Every situation gives others the opportunity to judge and tell you it can’t or
shouldn’t be done. There will always be someone who wants to stand in the way of your
dreams, but it’s how you respond to these obstacles that carves the path to your future
and makes a statement about your essence. Watching the finished short film, I didn’t see
the “ugleee” face of a girl who would be stopped by others. Instead, I saw a girl who took
risks regardless of the chance that others might disapprove. I saw a girl whose hope
would open doors that would leave her satisfied that she hadn’t (and would never) let
anyone else determine what she could accomplish in her life.
The sting of these comments has gone away as the years have passed. I learned
pretty quickly not to read comments about my acting, and to take constructive criticism
from people I trusted but not be tempted to find it in less moderated, anonymous
locations. I’m so grateful that I’ve always had the support system to be able to deal with
the type of comments that I received without it affecting my happiness or motivation.
Brad McCrary, who played Gale in the video and remembers the negative comments,
says,” People… should never approach fights or arguments through a screen…. (it)
leaves everything emotionless and then nothing comes across the way you want;
everything is read the way the person wants it to sound and grossly misinterpreted”.
Jonathan Parris, the creator of the short film, says, “It’s interesting that the negative
comments almost stopped after Mockingjay Part One came out. In fact, the Facebook

2. page for it (The Mockingjay Propo) has received over 800 likes in just the past week
alone. From what I’ve seen, it (the quick negativity) appears to be mostly late Elementary
through Junior High kids. Right there in the prime ages where kids are the most insecure
about themselves. Granted, adults can do pretty well insulting one another online too, but
that age range is what seems to be doing most of it. Again, based just on my
observation”.
I don’t think people are genuinely, inherently mean or bad- in fact, that’s what
makes it so much easier for them to choose to comment online instead of pursuing
aggression in person. They can elect to not see the hurt that they cause.
I’m also not saying my acting was great or top notch in this short film. I did the best I
could, wholeheartedly. I worked really hard to maintain professionalism and pick up on
cues from the talented people working with me on the short film as I transitioned from
theater to film acting. I like to think I’ve grown since then, and I’m trying to continue to
learn and grow as an actress and a person as I am exposed to more diverse people and
experiences. Regardless of any negative comments, I’m so proud of the work the entire
cast and crew did on the propo. We were all really passionate about the books and the
short film that we made, and we all love the movies that Lionsgate has made. I am
extremely thankful to have had the experience and the opportunity to work on the short
film and interact with the trilogy in so many ways.
As users of the Internet and people with the power to lift or to harm, please think
about the impact your words will have on someone or what you’re actually trying to
express before you comment negatively and/or shallowly. Don’t perpetuate hate;
perpetuate love. You never know how whether your words may come at a time or in a
way that cracks someone’s armor when they’re most vulnerable. Choose to crack that
armor with light instead of carelessly causing destruction.