Bong Hits 4 Jesus… So Can Anyone Get A Biopic Nowadays?
Back in January of 2002, a high school student in Juneau, Alaska was suspended for displaying a 14 foot banner that read “Bong Hits 4 Jesus” during a school event. For this clever and daring public display we can only assume he became a hero among his peers, but after filing a civil rights lawsuit and taking the case to the supreme court, he became a hero to us all! Now his story is being turned into a movie courtesy of Paramount Pictures and MTV Films.
To be honest, I don’t remember hearing about this when it first happened, and I’m a bit surprised that it actually became a huge battle over freedom of speech. I mean, come on… Bong Hits 4 Jesus?? I guess the main reason it ballooned so far was because the kid’s father refused to let him back down. He even lost his job over the whole thing, and apparently this heart-warming story of a father supporting his son is mainly what the movie will focus on. Still, with MTV being involved I can’t help but think they are only interested in this project because it seems funny and rebellious and easily marketable to teens. Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher (Freedom Writers, World Trade Center) will produce, while Mark Poirier (Smart People) will write the script.
Comments (4)
Can the title of the movie PLEASE be “Bong hits 4 Jesus”?
This is a good story about an innocent prank that gets wrapped up in conservatives’ fury. Could be a great film.
Posted by Phil on October 22nd, 2007I wonder if they’ll change the actual message on the banner to something else for the movie. Somehow I just can’t see anyone taking it seriously otherwise.
Posted by Sean on October 22nd, 2007MTV probably won’t shange it. What’s the point since the backstory that will be referenced everytime somebody would be talking about it to promote this thing. What a joke. Have they really ran out of actually interesting people to do a movie about at this point? Really? Have they done one about Darwin and his voyage on The Beagle? Heh, I’d like to see MTV get behind that one.
Posted by Ian on October 22nd, 2007I think it’s a great idea. Some bored kids come up with a nonsensical prank, and end up at the centre of a national controversy about free speech, threatened with expulsion as their little slogan is repeated throughout America and turned inside out looking for hidden meaning.
It’s a great story when you think about it.
Ending scene: Jesus descends from the heavens holding a sweet wizard bong. “Lets get high.”
Posted by Phil on October 23rd, 2007Leave a Reply