Two Castle Rock, Colorado High School students, Sally and Madelyn, made a short film about scientology.
They entered it in a local competition and won first place in their category!
They were required to submit a paper, describing their planned film and why it addressed a worthy topic before they began. You can read their submission here: Context Essay
This is their description of their documentary:
“Our submission was for the 2022 National History day senior division documentary category! The theme this year is debate and diplomacy, we chose to represent this with the conflict seen between the IRS and the Church of Scientology. “
This link explains more and also explains the “debate and diplomacy” theme.
Sally and Madelyn reached out to Claire Headley to be interviewed in their film, and she graciously agreed.
I think you will find it pretty remarkable what these two high school students accomplished. And an indication of the position that scientology has in the world these days….
Here is the video — watch it and like it. It is 10 minutes long:
PS: Knowing that even high school students who include information scientology doesn’t like are clearly “Suppressive Persons,” Sally and Madelyn beat them to the punch (if you want a bracelet like theirs, they are still available at the SP Shop):
When will the fair game podcast be back?
How long before they get their very own hate website?
The cult hopes they will now go away quietly. I believe that only those who continue protesting the cult get hate websites.
I am particularly encouraged to hear that these students made this potentially life-saving, knowledge available to youngsters their own age. As Fred Haseney’s post attests, if predators have any hopes at all to derail people into their clutches it’s usually at a young age. The evil-doers’ odds greatly diminish as people achieve continued education, build life experience, reap the rewards of productive choices and hopefully develop a BS detector. It’s great to see them getting this info at such a vulnerable age when they have so many life choices still lying ahead.
Great job girls.
10 minutes of my time on this planet NOT wasted.
Keep up the good work.
Hello! As the proud mom of Madelyn, I am so amazed and proud of the work these two girls put into this project. I also want to say how amazing and gracious Claire Headley is. Madelyn reached out to her through a mutual friend and her response was immediate saying she would be happy to help them with their project. I was lucky enough to be there when the girls interviewed her, and she is one of the nicest and most sincere people I have ever had the pleasure to meet. As a self-declared SP myself, I am proud that my daughter is now a member of the “special persons” group!
Thank you so much. You should be VERY proud. They have a future in the documentary film-making world!
Here’s to all the Special Persons!
PS: We adore Claire. Just like everyone who knows her.
Just ordered a couple of those bracelets
Thank you. The profits go to the Aftermath Foundation so it is a worthy investment!
I judge for History Day here in Minnesota. The work of those kids never ceases to amaze me.
High school students Sally Pellegrini and Madelyn West are to be highly commended for winning first place with their video on Scientology.
I remember having to write an essay in eleventh grade English class in 1972; the subject I chose: “The Relationship Between Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt.” In 1972, I had never heard of Scientology, and I would continue to be Scientology-free until 1977, when a Body Router would dupe me into going to a Scientology Mission in Salt Lake City. I didn’t escape their clutches until 2014.
It’s interesting to note what caught the attention of a high school student for the subject of an essay in the early 1970s appears to have changed dramatically in 2022 for their video. There is a world of difference between an essay and a video; there’s an ever greater difference between the subjects chosen. To paraphrase a TV commercial from the 1970s: “We’ve come a long way, baby!”
Their video and success promises to have an impact on those who aren’t yet aware of how vile and volatile Scientology is worldwide.
Thank you for a wonderful blog, Mike.
P.S. Do those “SP” bracelets belong to Sally and Madelyn? If so, there’s no doubt in my mind that a Body Router will ever get those girls anywhere near a Scientology organization.
I read the young film makers paper. I have not seen the film. Sounds like they were very balanced in their,approach. Positioning Scientology as a cult is a no no. Love to see if the “cult” has responded to the film.
I love the bravery, the subject handling, and the bracelets.
I love their inclusion of the Headley’s.
They’ve written an excellent essay and pt together a marvelous documentary. My congratulations on their documentary prize.
What a happy post Mike!
I want one of those bracelets!
You can order them here: https://thespshop.com/
Very compelling. These student filmmakers did a great job.
Cool bracelets!
Mike: That might be an item if you ever get into having “mercy” to help support your humanitarian efforts. Another would be a neat, nifty Xenu T-shirt.
Wow! Can I get one of those bracelets?
I’ll pay for it with the money I got when I pawned the one the cult sold me.
YEs, you can order them here: https://thespshop.com/