I've been trying repeatedly to add a Biography genre tag to Evil Angels (AKA A Cry in the Dark) (1988) but it keeps not being accepted, which is kinda baffling to me since the Azaria Chamberlain case isn't exactly obscure.
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Posted 2 years ago
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I can see why.
(1) The description of the movie itself says, "Based on a true story" Not "The true story of"
(2) The cast list uses no last names
(3) deviation from the actual facts for dramatic purposes...IE: Fiction
https://screenshots.firefox.com/jOBg6M2Va3jyOFiZ/www.imdb.com

(1) The description of the movie itself says, "Based on a true story" Not "The true story of"
(2) The cast list uses no last names
(3) deviation from the actual facts for dramatic purposes...IE: Fiction
https://screenshots.firefox.com/jOBg6M2Va3jyOFiZ/www.imdb.com

Col Needham, Official Rep
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Please provide the relevant 18-digit contribution IDs from your contribution history at https://contribute.imdb.com/updates/history/ and the team can take a look at why these have been rejected.
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The producers of this movie "Could Not" use the last names because the material was inaccurate in many areas. They had intended to use the surnames, but after a final cut was presented, the people involved nixed the seal of approval so to speak to classify it as an authentic representation of the facts.
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Do you even have a source for this? Because I've never heard of any such complaints about it from the Chamberlains.
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When last names are omitted it is so they can't be sued for not presenting fact as it actually happened. This is common practice when producers embellish a real life story that is essentially "boring". Quit beating the proverbial dead horse here. I won't respond further after this, as there IS nothing new TO SAY!
Michelle, Official Rep
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Hi Tobias -
I can see that the most recent Genre submission is pending review by our editors, however, the previous two submissions were not accepted. The 'Biography' genre is objective and should depict activities and personality of real people through reenacted events, or events described in a documentary style. As this is a fictional title based on a true story, it doesn't qualify to be listed as a Biography on the site.
For further details and definitions of our Genres, please see the following guide: https://help.imdb.com/article/contribution/titles/genres/GZDRMS6R742JRGAG?ref_=helpsrall#biography
I can see that the most recent Genre submission is pending review by our editors, however, the previous two submissions were not accepted. The 'Biography' genre is objective and should depict activities and personality of real people through reenacted events, or events described in a documentary style. As this is a fictional title based on a true story, it doesn't qualify to be listed as a Biography on the site.
For further details and definitions of our Genres, please see the following guide: https://help.imdb.com/article/contribution/titles/genres/GZDRMS6R742JRGAG?ref_=helpsrall#biography
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My question stands, how is this movie different to any of the dozens of accepted Biographies that have taken drastic liberties with the facts and been criticised for it by their subjects or other people familiar with them? Patch Adams immediately comes to mind.
And what are you claiming is even "fictional" about it? None of the names of the family or the relevant authorities (eg, police, barristers, judges) are changed. None of the dates of the important developments in the case were changed.
And what are you claiming is even "fictional" about it? None of the names of the family or the relevant authorities (eg, police, barristers, judges) are changed. None of the dates of the important developments in the case were changed.
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No last name! No Non Fiction Status! No Documentary Genre!
Nowhere does it claim "A True Story"
It says "Based on a True Story"
End of Story.
Thanks, Cheers.
Nowhere does it claim "A True Story"
It says "Based on a True Story"
End of Story.
Thanks, Cheers.
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CliffJ, what's your explanation for the 5700+ Biography Feature Films that aren't also Documentaries, and which, again, often take greater liberties with the facts than anything in Evil Angels, which you still have yet to go into detail on.
Will, Official Rep
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Hi Tobias,
It is difficult for me to comment as I haven't seen the film but I guess the problem is trying to establish how much of the plot and characters within the film resemble the real-life events and people who were involved without becoming straight fiction.
"Primary focus is on the depiction of activities and personality of a real person or persons, for some or all of their lifetime. Events in their life may be reenacted, or described in a documentary style. If re-enacted, they should generally follow reasonably close to the factual record, within the limitations of dramatic necessity. A real person in a fictional setting would not qualify a production for this genre. If the focus is primarily on events, rather than a person, use History instead. Objective."
Regards,
Will
It is difficult for me to comment as I haven't seen the film but I guess the problem is trying to establish how much of the plot and characters within the film resemble the real-life events and people who were involved without becoming straight fiction.
"Primary focus is on the depiction of activities and personality of a real person or persons, for some or all of their lifetime. Events in their life may be reenacted, or described in a documentary style. If re-enacted, they should generally follow reasonably close to the factual record, within the limitations of dramatic necessity. A real person in a fictional setting would not qualify a production for this genre. If the focus is primarily on events, rather than a person, use History instead. Objective."
Regards,
Will
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Tobias Clark
Col Needham, Official Rep
Wherever possible, we list character names as they appear in on-screen credits, i.e. the end titles cast listing.
and: