One of the most important props we have in our film is a crucifix. When beginning to research this product it was important that we had chosen the right religious symbol for the correct faith. This is why I researched the differences between a crucifix and a cross, as both of these are symbols of christianity. However both of them resemble a different viewpoint in christianity. I found that the crucifix is a common symbol of the Roman Catholic religion, in our film Samantha follows the faith of Catholicism. It is also important to understand the reason of which why Catholics prefer the crucifix to the cross in order for a more in depth understanding of our characters. As well as this, using something as important as religion in a film is very risky in the sense that it may offend someone of that faith. This is why that during the construction of our treatment we assessed the plot by reading it to a follower of the Catholic/Christian faith. It is thought that the reason in which Catholics prefer to use the crucifix as it is a reminder of the fact that Jesus died for the sins and beliefs of his followers (the Catholics). There is also evidence in a passage that Jesus himself did in fact want people to follow him through the use of a symbol.
John 3:14-15, Jesus says in correlation: "And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."
The story behind this passage is that the Lord said to Moses to carry a bronze sculpture of a serpent, and that the people who were suffer from the bite off a serpent would look at the sculpture and be cured. Jesus references this quote to his followers, he makes comparisons between the serpent sculpture and man, meaning he wishes people to carry a symbol of man as moses carried the symbol of a snake. This is why the crucifix is used in Catholic belief instead of a cross.
Another religious prop we use in our film is Rosary beads. Rosary beads are a common Catholic devotion. The beads are used to count the prayers that make up the Rosary. The rosary is a catholic act of veneration to the blessed Virgin Mary, meaning to honour her. This comes from the scripture "In the fullness of time, God sent his son, born of a virgin". The prayers consist of repeated sequences of the Lord's Prayer followed by ten prayings of the Hail Mary and a single praying of "Glory Be to the Father". The use of rosary beads in our film will help justify the faith of our character Samantha and also add effect to the film as it intensifies the strong religious theme.
Along with the religious elements we also venture into the subject of abortion. This is another sensitive subject in which we have to be very careful when addressing, this is why I am researching into the type of information and utensils that would have been used to determine pregnancy or abortion in the 70's. These include pregnancy tests, abortion leaflets and also baby booties etc.
In the 1970's pregnancy and sexual health had began to improve greatly. abortions were now made legal and were becoming increasingly popular. contraception was being improved along with prenatal care and prenatal testing. this has significance to our film in the sense that it would not have been out of the ordinary for our character Samantha to contemplate abortion in the 70's. however her faith would not allow this still but there are no significant problems that issue sexual health or abortion. after researching into what pregnancy tests looked like in the 70's, there is no definite look, meaning we could use an ordinary non-digital pregnancy test.
Following on from the pregnancy test we have chosen to show an abortion leaflet, this has to be considered very much in depth as the subject of abortion is very sensitive. however it will add dramatic effect to our film and so have chosen to use it. we need to make sure that we use an appropriate leaflet that suits that time as it is shown in the past. on the other hand when the leaflet is shown in the film it is crumpled up, this means we really only have to show the words abortion and so could make ourselves if need be
