#support red

Hey so Red the Short Film is finally out!

Please go and watch it!

So I don't write analysis' often, but I do feel like this film requires one. As my earlier followers know, I've been following Red for the past 2 years. I even learned how to edit for Red- which probably explains why my edits don't have much color and I don't make many "fluffy" edits.

From the very beginning, I knew Red would be angsty and it would not have a happy ending. Red was written -as a short story- when Scott was in the closet, and was his way of expressing his own struggles in a safe and more calming matter. It took a few years before he was ready to share this story with others.

And I feel like that knowledge is important. Because while it's obvious that James and Aaron are struggling with something, if you just watch it on a surface level, you may not make the immediate connection. You have to read -watch- between the lines and dig into why everything happens.

With Mikaela and Aaron, you see that Mikaela knows something is up with Aaron, but she doesn't know what. Aaron won't let her in, and so she can't even begin to try and help her brother. Instead, she has to just sit back and watch as he struggles.

The situation with Lizzy and James is similar. She knows something is up, and wants to be there for him, but he won't let her. Instead he acts distantly towards his girlfriend- who he admits is great. However, he can never love Lizzy. He wishes he could, but he can't.

With both boys, the struggle lies in being closeted in rural America. They are too scared to say or do anything. They'd rather try to hide their sexuality away. It feels easier- safer.

They were friends before hooking up and it's no wonder. They understood eachother. Even before knowing about the other being gay, they could understand eachother's emotions and actions. Acting out, partying, self-isolation, being angry, and doing all they could to try and escape their mind- both got that. Finding out that they were both gay was just entirely accidental but it did change a lot.

For James, there was this increased fear. Because now, there are people who know. He doesn't want that. He wants everyone to think of him with a specific, crafted image- a cishet teenager. His girlfriend knows he cheated with Aaron as well so he has to worry about that. He doesn't want to lose her- not as a friend, or as someone who is good for that image. Additionally, just the mere fact that there is someone else just like him would be scary. If there was a lot of people, it would have been better. He could see himself as "normal". With just one person, he still feels out of place, and now there's the added pressure of "what if people find out about Aaron being gay? Will they connect the similarities? Will they suspect me? Will he tell someone about me?".

For Aaron though, the opposite occured. It wasn't an immediate change- he was certainly still scared. He wasn't ready to come out either- not then, and certainly not in that town. But he did become more inclined to talk. That's why he went to James- he wanted a connection there. He wanted to talk about what happened, and talk to someone who understood what it was like to be gay. He couldn't feel like he could go to his sister, but with James it felt different. James could understand him in a way someone cishet never could. unfortunately for him, James is not ready for that conversation yet. Just as Aaron needs more time before coming out to others, James needs more time before he can even accept himself.

However, that being said, a part of James still knows what he wants. He wants to accept himself and be with Aaron. That's why at the end, he grasps Aaron's hand for a few seconds before pushing him away. That hesitation came from that part of him. However the bigger part, the fear, the internalized homophobia, the part that's holding him back won out- hence the last push away. Eventually that smaller part will grow, but for now, it cannot. For now, all James can do is push away any part of his life that points to being gay.

And it's a crucial story to tell. Coming out is rarely easy. There's a long process for many before they can reach that point. We talk about homophobia from others a lot- but we don't talk about the internal struggle as much, and it's especially not shown in media. But it should be.

People need to see others struggling to know they aren't alone. So people don't later on blame themselves for hating who they are. So people see that there are more sides to being gay then just pure pride. So cishets can see this and realize that many queer people beat themselves up over this already. So that people know no one's personal story is the same as well- that there are differences.

The entire caption on this- I just- sjsjsjsjsjsjjsjsjsjs.

Pst- donate to the campaign to help fund post-production costs of $8000!

(A more in depth explanation of Red in link)

(Only choose one)

$10 or more- digital download

$25 or more- Red will share your coming out story on their page

$50 or more- online viewing party

$100 or more- signed headshot of actor of your choice

Scott has helped so many of us already, and now he needs our help to not only reach others, but so Red can be completed all together. Red is filmed, but there is still post-production costs that need to be dealt with. These fee's are essential for us to see Red, and as much as Scott wants to share Red with us, he realistically can't unless enough money is raised. We won't be charged unless the amount is raised. So we won't be losing anything if Red doesn't make it either. However, we don't even need to entertain that possibility because I have faith in us. If anyone can make Red happen- it's the Andi Mack fandom (plus the support of others of course). So let's show Scott our support.

I-  just-