The Gymnast - a short fictional film

[roshinishah]

Hey..I think the actors have done a great job in the film..The story was really heartwarming!!Are you into some professional courses for filmmaking or otherwise?

I would really like to hear from you..!

[bbhouk1]

i dont get it

wat happened????

[bbhouk1]

@bbhouk1 still waiting for an answer....



[evewrites3]

I really liked this film. Wonderful writing and acting. Keep up the good work!

[CampbellScot]

I am continually fascinated by people's willingness to judge the experience of others. Did any of y'all live Jen Sey's life? Were you in her gym shoes? No. To call her a liar is a protest that comes when truth is revealed. Not ALL gymnasts have the experiences that Jen did...she never said they did. She wrote her story, not the story of others. If you ask Dominique Moceanu or Kim Zmeskal about their experiences I imagine they'd tell a very similar tale. They have in fact. Don't judge. Learn.

[jeyzi]

Kim Zmeskal claims that "nothing happened" when she was trained by Bela. Dominique Moceanu has a different "interpretation" of what Kim Zmeskal went through.

[CampbellScot]

Kim Zmeskal has certainly said that training was intense and food was restricted. That is to be expected in Elite level, Olympic year training. But just LOOK at Kim, see her white face and sunken cheeks. She was weak and sick. Whether she admits it or not, her appearance screams the truth. Don't judge. Learn.

[missjpace]

Also to consider is her performance at the Barcelona games. It seems she just fell apart.

[gullybear20]

I thought this was a great short film. I don't really understand a lot of the hostility I'm reading in these other comments. I was not an elite gymnast but did compete at a high level of women's ice hockey, and I had a lot of negative experiences (mostly with coaches) that I still think about to this day. However those experiences helped shape me into the woman I am today and I wouldn't trade most of them in for anything.

[GymMushu]

It is a great short film but most here only see it as a negative endorsement. Maybe these are just kids who only enjoy Disney style movies. :-)

[shewentoverthere]

Yes that seems to be the case. Most of the negative replies are probably from 15 year old braindead gymnasts. It is so strange that in a sport that is so critical of its gymnasts. Anyone who critisizes the sports training methods is often grilled, and burned. But yet I believe that by looking at the negative training practices of some gyms it can help the sport to improve and produce better athletes.

[apluskel]

i agree. The U.S. went through rough patches in it's years of growing into a superpower and now it seems to be on a successful track. Just look at Nastia - healthy, happy, successful and sane.

[GymMushu]

I'm really puzzled by your need to relive the past 20 years, give or take, later. I guess a few experiences are too strong to just shelf away. You may want to watch Alain Resnais's movies. The two I recall the most are Hiroshima Mon Amour and Last year at Marienbad. He has some interesting rationalization as to why the future and present are meaningless and the only thing real is the past.

[ChalkedUp]

I think many writers delve into personal experience for fodder - whether it is past, present or imagined future. I don't live there (the past, I mean). But I do look to my own experiences in the world - and then imagine them differently (better or worse) to fictionalize them. "Bad Day" is much more based in the present, and, though not true, based on some experiences in being a mom.

[gymnasticsfan1000]

Everyone deals with the trauma in different ways. I like Jennifers honest attitude toward gymnastics vs others, (ie, she knew others enjoyed it more) and describing her mothers relationship. The foundation of being a competitive athlete is being honest with not only yourself, but those around you as well. I think the real struggle was between the her and her mother. She could not talk openly to her for whatever reason. This is why her experience was so bad.

[gymnasticsfan1000]

@gymnasticsfan1000 I have kids in competitive sports, I would like to think that I am emotionally attached to them enough for them to come to me with their concerns. There are "know it all " coaches out there, where its just not a good fit. If you stay with them, and they dont think you are "up to the task" for whatever reason, they tell you so in abusive ways. Not everything is accomplished the same way. We went against all the coaches, and now my son is so much better off.

[GymMushu]

Jen,

You care too much...

The grammar on my first post is pretty messed up. Sorry about it. These blogs are not too user friendly. My daughter is a young optionals gymnast and we all hope she avoids your experience. She said she would give up on any Olympic dreams and quit if coached by Donna. Healthy attitude! It's not the mid 80's any longer and so far so good. GymMushu is actually her account.

[ChalkedUp]

I'm glad she's having a positive experience. I think so many do. I did up until the very end! I'd do it all again.

Thanks.

Jen

[GymMushu]

Hey Jen,

The grammar on my first post is pretty messed up. Sorry about it. These blogs are not too user friendly. My daughter is a young optionals gymnast and we all hope she avoids your experience. She said she would give up on any Olympic dreams and quit if coached by Donna. Healthy attitude! It's not the mid 80's any longer and so far so good. GymMushu is actually her account.

more later...

[gymnasticsbabie]

Listen I don't mean to be rude, the movie itself was okay but the plot and theme were totally off, to me this sounds like it was written by someone who has no idea about gymnastics, and then I look and it's by a formal national champion. Talking about how the girl still "survived" gymnastics. I'm sorry but I think you're overdramatic along with your first blog post on your blog. oh PS: a lot of kids do know what they want when they are young, don't generalize because you were nieve

[apluskel]

that was the dumbest thing I've ever seen. I hope her book isn't as stupid as this crap, I just bought it.

[disneydance1169]

Oh believe me her book bassically makes her look like a spoiled brat who acts like her parents forced her to do all this stuff in which they didnt she wanted to

[kradunzel]

This is awful, predictable and I can't believe a former gymnast would perpetuate such generalizations about gymnastics. It's sad.

[ApolytonGP]

Chalked up:

I would love to see you get interviewed by Blythe at Gymblog or Rick at Gymnasticscoaching. I want to know all about your story and experience. Also just like to know some basic things like what trick you are most proud of doing, if you ever still hit a handstand, etc.

[GymMushu]

This short film is fantastic. Very few American movies has this kind of depth.

I also wish "stick it" and alike had hired Jennifer Sey for a reality check.

[disneydance1169]

Jennifer Sey lies in her book shes nothing but a big fat lier( oh thats a movie :D)

[shewentoverthere]

It is spelled "liar". If you cannot spell liar then obvously you are incapable of comprehending her book. Stay in school kid. You have much to learn.

[ChildofPluto]

They hired Nadia Comaneci.

[fireneedles]

Ever see the feature film THE GYMNAST? Might resonate with you.

[memd92]

look i asked for more lesbians....... there is no problem with that. There are lesbians in gymnastics. toned bodies........sounds good to me. this is a good movie though, i look forward to reading the book.

[countingmx]

Good film. Good lead performance. Understated but telling. A story of loss and, ultimately, hope.

[ll822ll8454]

Abusive boyfriend?? I don't think so. IMO, this skit is focused upon self-pity.

[rothrock2000]

I really enjoyed this exploration of the impact our childhoods have on our adult lives. Some of us had "normal" childhoods and some of us accomplished great things, but all of us have to deal with the past. What we do with our early memories and experiences makes us who we are. This film made me think. Looking forward to the next one.

[ducksandgymnastics]

memd, you sick freak! I agree this was pretty lame but jeez! Pervert!

[guitarpwner67]

hey cool film...good job

[memd92]

this movie needs more nudity. You could have done it with the lesbian gymnast and the two skanks at the bar

[Truth2B4Me]

You are obviously a jealous, talentless, evil, vile, disturbed moron. Your comment demonstrates your lack of intelligence and your overwhelming insecurity. If you thin you can do better, than try...let's see what you produce. I shudder to think what it would be.

[glenellen2600]

I think it's a really good short movie about a woman looking back on her youth. Great job, chalked up. What's all the fuss, amber? She didn't seem to "blam" anyone for anything.

[Truth2B4Me]

Wow! This is a moving and soulful story.

It made me cry. Thanks!

You are so talented chalked up!

[mominmadison]

This is really moving and well made film. I loved it. Sey is brave storyteller with a keen eye for nuance and cinematic detail and understated emotional punch. Perhaps some of the comment makers don't know what fiction means?

[ambermarie0x3]

I think that this was horrible. Why do you need to blam others for your life? Can't take responsibility?

[ChalkedUp]

Won best actress in a short film at the NY International Film and Video Festival (LA screening) in 2004. Congrats Jen Greenhut!

[FireDannyAinge]

Stop butt kissing you website making gym stalker