Daniel Thompson wanted the spotlight. He is what I term a media whore. I think of the term in a more descriptive sense than a pejorative sense - I have dear friends who are media whores. These people crave the spotlight. Opportunity can be pretty slim in Utah, so Thompson decided on joining a controversial industry - sanitized movies.

 

Thompson wasn't the creator or owner of Clean Flicks or its successors, but he became the face for them for being willing to talk to the press.  It also didn't hurt his bottom line. Especially after he started cutting corners in duplication. Clean Flicks had a very strict policy: one sanitized version exchanged for one official version. Thompson didn't seem so picky.

Bigger people than Thompson have cracked under public scrutiny, especially when it involves strict morals. Thompson definitely did. Solicitation of a minor, and a huge stash of porn, tsk, tsk. It's "The Man Who Corrupted Hadleyburg" every time. Moderation, people.

Clearly the film industry is also at fault. If they can get directors to approve sanitized versions for airplanes, prisons, and television, they ought to be willing to make money off those who want to buy that version. If I can choose between widescreen and fullscreen views on a DVD, why not have the choice of original or sanitized as well?

 

This film was an Audience Award contender at Cinequest 20.