THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 10, 1995 TAG: 9502100058
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CRAIG SHAPIRO, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 110 lines
WHEN HIS biology teacher announced the school's annual science fair, Josh Boone didn't think about projects such as measuring water consumption or seeing how long it takes cottage cheese to mold.
He thought about the movies.
It's something Boone does a lot, but in this instance, he had in mind that gray chicken-or-the-egg area that has mystified psychologists, sociologists and criminologists for decades: Does violence in the movies reflect or dictate the headlines making news today?
Ambitious, for sure. But one thing Boone doesn't hurt for is ambition - or salesmanship. A 15-year-old sophomore at Atlantic Shores Christian School, he first had to convince his teacher that the idea, one he knew didn't exactly comply with the curriculum, had scientific merit.
That done, Boone knocked out a 30-page draft for ``Violence Used as a Form of Cathartic Release in Martin Scorsese's `Taxi Driver' and the Use of Violence in Cinema in Regard to Behavioral Science.'' The finished paper was half that size.
Accompanying it was a survey asking students and adults when violence in films is acceptable, how it affects audiences and if it accurately represents society. Boone listed 10 titles, a wide range encompassing ``Pulp Fiction,'' ``Platoon'' and ``The Wild Bunch.'' Classmates, parishoners at London Bridge Baptist Church and Virginian-Pilot/Ledger-Star film critic Mal Vincent rated their violence content from 1 (little) to 10 (gut-churning).
Boone wasn't surprised by the results: that the effect of the violence depends on the individual.
``The (science fair) judges hated the fact that I defended violence,'' Josh said, ``but I find it acceptable on any level except in `Friday the 13th' slasher films.
``Look at the Bible. It's a really violent book, and just as sexual as any movie I've ever seen. When you look at a movie, you have to look at it from the characters' perspective. It's a personal conviction if you can watch an R-rated movie, so the violence doesn't bother me.''
The bookshelves in the bedroom of Boone's comfortable Virginia Beach home are crammed with reference books, screenplays (``Homicide,'' ``JFK'') and videotapes (``Miller's Crossing,'' ``It's a Wonderful Life''). A box under his bed is filled with newspaper clips, film magazines and a notebook devoted to writer/director Quentin Tarantino.
One wall is dominated by a poster for ``Reservoir Dogs,'' Tarantino's auspicious 1992 debut film. On another is a bulletin board with pictures of Al Pacino, Jeff Bridges, Bruce Willis and Boone's favorite actor, Jack Nicholson.
A conversation is sprinkled with references to Travis Bickle, the psychopath played by Robert De Niro in ``Taxi Driver,'' and J.J. Gittes, Nicholson's private detective in ``Chinatown.''
For his science project, Boone was in his element. He read a biography of Scorsese and ``The Nature of Human Aggression'' by Ashley Montagu. He watched the laserdisc of ``Taxi Driver'' because it includes commentary from the director and read the original reviews by Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert.
The first half of the paper expertly dissects the movie. It was an ideal choice because the psychopath Bickle, who is spurned by society and comes to see himself as a sort of avenging angel, is a product of his environment.
But reconciling that with science and Christianity was difficult.
``I promised her (his science teacher) I would pull it off the way she wanted us to,'' Boone said. ``I wasn't real pleased with it. I'm a Christian, but most of the films I watch others would have a hard time watching.
``I struggle sometimes with being Christian, but God's always kicked me back into it. He can help us learn not to be so violent. Maybe it's part of a bigger thing. Right now, Christianity makes things a lot easier. It lays it out for you straight.''
If the project fell short of his expectations, (he got a B-plus) it was still a good idea. Boone doesn't hurt for good ideas, either.
He's 62 pages into a screenplay called ``Stalking Baxter,'' about a grizzled Private investigator on the trail of a man who stole money from the mob. It's not that simple, though. Saul Hatcher was thrown off the police force, and Richard Baxter isn't the completely bad guy he's made out to be. Before it's over, Hatcher has to decide between revenge and redemption.
``I want to be a screenwriter,'' Boone said. ``It's film noir. I wrote it in a week just during school when I was bored. Right now, I'm at a block, waiting for the door to open up. I don't how it's going to end, but I have a pretty good idea.''
Boone and his best friend, Nathan Gwaltney, have partly filmed - actually partly videotaped - another movie called ``The Rapture.'' Set in the post-apocalyptic future, it's about two kids who haven't accepted Christ and are left behind when the Antichrist rises to power.
``We want to get a real camera bad,'' Boone said. ``When Nathan and I see a new film, we procrastinate big time. We just get a new idea and want to start something else.''
Like their music, which they write and record. Boone likens it to a cross between Nine Inch Nails and Nirvana.
And they want to adapt a Stephen King story called ``Rage.'' In it, a student takes his high school class hostage. As the authorities muster, the class spends the day talking and learning from each other.
King is special to Boone. A pen pal of sorts, King has sent Boone autographed copies of his books, including the hard-to-find short story ``My Pretty Pony.'' It's inscribed: ``Here's a book for you . . . and keep an eye on your pretty pony!''
``It's symbolism for the passage of time,'' Boone said. ``It's a sentimental story about a grandfather passing on wisdom to his grandson - unlike anything he's ever written. I wrote asking him where I could get a copy.''
Meantime, Boone is waiting to turn 16. Come April, he plans to apply for a job at a nearby movie theater.
``I mean, you can watch movies for free,'' he said. ``A lot of my friends are into sports, but movies . . . I don't know if it's one certain thing. There are so many different stories. So many perspectives.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by Paul Aiken, Staff
Josh Boone...
by CNB