Entertainment: G-Force Movie

[Myspoiltpiggies]

I understand how this film is bad in 'promoting' guinea pigs because kids will want guinea pigs and stupid parents will get them on a whim. But I find it really immature that people are getting thumbed down for being excited about this film. The film is out and we can't do anything about it so why give people a thumbs down for wanting to see it!?

[QuackXP]

I'm sure this film will increase guinea pig sales, and as a byproduct dumps and rescues. Are the filmmakers to be at fault. No. Are the moviegoers to be at fault. No. Adults who cave into there kids desires without doing the proper research are at fault.

If you want to really help don't protest against the film. You will just come off as some zealot. Try harder to educate people you come in contact with about the realities of GP care. Also since the rescues will be overloaded consider working with them and fostering some of the overflow until the surge passes.

[MOMof3Kidz]

I agree about kids wanting to run out and get one after seeing the movie! And that's not good! BUT my kids already have a piggie soon to be more and I think for them it will make them even more in love with Gizmo and our soon to be new additions! And that excites me. I just love movies with talking animals too cute!

[Slave to the Wheek]

First off, I need to confess, I've been a bit of a lurker lately. I haven't been on the site much in the last year but I do come in on occasion. We adopted a puppy and having 3 pigs and a dog along with fighting Fibromyalgia now for about a year has pretty much kept me from getting involved in much of anything.

However, now all my 'spidey-senses' are tingling with the upcoming movie. I would like to see if we can take advantage of an opportunity and a challenge that will be presented to GPC.

I might be overthinking it..but it would be really super if GPC as a community was prepared for the onslaught of people who will be researching guinea pigs after this movie launches. Now that GPC appears in the first of nearly every search for Guinea Pigs.. (YAY!!!) I think it is a great opportunity for teaching. I think the chance for the community to show it's 'true quality' (Lord of the Rings reference) is here.

IMHO..it would be a huge opportunity (and Challenge!) to keep them from turning to to certain other breeder forums with questionable motives and as well as information. It would be nice to see a bit of a 'welcoming' approach to those seeking information for the first time with some kind of a filtering method to get the information dissemenated without constantly repeating ourselves, or forcing them to dig for it.

Does anyone know if the mods might consider opening up a special forum just for those who researching whether to get a guinea pig or not and have questions or some kind of a way to sort of 'flow' the newbies into a general area that is closely monitored by the more experienced folks?

As cool as the site has become, it's almost information overload when you first get here. It would be nice if there was some kind of a pop-up that recommended they go to an 'introduction' page for GPC before posting or upon arrival or something. I don't know..I'm just brainstorming here.

Of course, there will be a lot of people looking to dump their pigs a few months to a year after the movie opens. I'd love to see a place where people can talk about options for those who feel they have to get rid of their pigs for dumb reasons that are easily fixed..you know..like 'I'm allergic to hay" or "they stink" or whatever...

Have T or the mods, considered talking to Disney's people about having a referral link from their movie page...or writing an informational page for them on their own site?

[MOMof3Kidz]

That sounds awesome! My Daughter is Allergic to hay too! She breaks out in a rash. But she just don't feed the hay or touch it! Hers is more of a contact thing.

[NicholsS10]

I was thinking that after people see the movie and come here looking for information, we can direct them to this link: http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...heir-care.html

It's about common misconceptions about guinea pigs. It has a lot of good information that is straight to the point.

Also, maybe members on here should read through the misconceptions thread, and if they can think of something that is good or valuable to add to the thread that has not been added yet, to PM Ly with their suggestion.

[Wheek Weak]

Originally Posted by Myspoiltpiggies

I understand how this film is bad in 'promoting' guinea pigs because kids will want guinea pigs and stupid parents will get them on a whim. But I find it really immature that people are getting thumbed down for being excited about this film. The film is out and we can't do anything about it so why give people a thumbs down for wanting to see it!?

I'm not personally thumb-downing anyone, but I believe your first sentence answers the third.

[tattooyu]

I am an avid cavy slave, but I have to admit, the movie looks cute (my friend did some of the voices). I have all the same concerns you do.

Assuming the movie does generate interest in real piggies...

And, assuming people end up on this site (hopefully)...

Perhaps a huge red sticky post at the top of the forums that mentions "G-Force" and directs them to the proper care may be a good idea. Maybe even something on the front page of this site, so when people search "G-Force" this site (GuineaLynx should follow suit) has a chance of coming up.

Just my thoughts.

[pigsmakemesmile]

OK, I'll probably be hammered for this but here goes....acutally, I'm looking forward to seeing G-force and it's my husband who wants to take me. I'm very curious to get the writers' perspective and take on guinea pigs plus, it just looks too cute to miss. The movie is out, there's no point in freaking out about the inevitable. Of course it's to be expected that a lot of young kids, and some older as well, may want to rush out and get a pig. However, this is an opportunity not to be missed in properly educating the public about "guinea pigs." I like Slave to the Wheek's idea and propose that we develop an easy intro to guinea pigs with simple links to help people easily navigate to the information they're seeking.

[tattooyu]

This is a copy of a letter I sent to a few KTLA news people on Facebook as well as CC'ed Teresa.

Dear KTLA crew,

I would like to start this letter by saying that I am not a zealot, but rather a concerned pet owner who believes in the respectful treatment of all animals. My wife, Marie, and I are in our thirties and are guinea pig owners. The Disney movie “G-Force” looks to be a fun, well-made family movie about a commando guinea pig force that we are both excited to see.

(The commercials for the movie do show a shot of a guinea pig in an exercise ball, which can really injure their spines. Guinea pigs spines are not made to bend backward.)

However, I am not here to protest the movie but rather to try to inform and educate.

My concern, and the concern of a lot of other guinea pig owners out there, is that the movie will spark a trend in breeding, purchasing and, ultimately, the dumping of neglected or unwanted guinea pigs at rescues and shelters which are already overflowing.

Pets are not disposable regardless of how small they might be.

Guinea pigs are loving, sensitive animals that have a lot of personality and bring much joy. However, they are very high maintenance and can become ill easily (they can heal just as quickly). Most people are not prepared to take care of them for their lifetime, which is 5-7 years on average, and do not consider proper diet, housing, veterinary costs, etc.

If I had to boil down my main concerns, it would be:

1) Before deciding to get a guinea pig (or any animal), parents should educate themselves on the care, housing and diet they require.
2) PLEASE DO NOT BUY FROM PET STORES. Pet stores normally buy their animals from breeders, only contributing to the overpopulation. Moreover, breeders may not be aware that breeding certain guinea pigs can result in “lethals” that have horrible health problems, including blindness.

The following website is a portal site that links to three other websites with great information on how properly care for guinea pigs: http://www.guineapigs.info.

It’s not the movie or the production studios I think are the issue. It is the parents that need to act responsibly when a child whines, cries or screams that they want a certain pet that they saw in a movie or on TV. I don’t know what, if anything, you can do to help get the word out, but I wanted to give it a shot before the movie is released on Friday, July 24, 2009.

Sincerely,



Kenny

[pigsmakemesmile]

It's excellent, well written and right to the point!

[tattooyu]

My pleasure! I'm not sure anything will come of it, but I thought I'd try.

[gooberific]

While I know that showing a piggie in an exercise ball is going to make people think they are okay (and they aren't), I just wanted to mention that the balls in this movie are part of a "shield" for the vehicle inside it that the pigs are actually sitting on and "driving." They even point out how the entire cage is the bathroom... I have gone to the website and checked out every piece of video available, and I saw the preview for this movie when I saw Transformers 2 the other night, and it still looks good for entertainment. I agree that there is going to be an onslaught of piggy questions after the movie, but it really hinges on how mature the adults of the begging children are, or how much research adults who suddenly want pigs actually do.

[eschimpf]

Personally I agree and think movies like this should not be allowed due to the effect on the animals due to weak parents caving into their children. If that wasn't a problem then it would be great but as it stands that is the problem.

[Seonta]

The animals will be over bred due to keeping up with the demand. Then when the kids lose interest the animals will be ditched at shelters and rescues... some will be put down because they don't have enough room... others will find new homes. Some small rescues will hit bad times in affording the animals.
I do not give any of my money to the production of movies where animals are the main theme of the movie. I will give it to animal documentaries. The more popular they see these "animal" movies the more of them they are going to make and the more animals are going to be effected by them.
But that's just my take.

[piggylove3]

i liked this movie, even though it displayed that guinea pigs run on exersise wheels

[Dr Doughnut]

I feel that as long as they have a message at the beginning or end of the film about how you should think carefully before adopting, or something like that, it would be fine.

To be honest, my take on 'Should children's animal films be allowed', here is my take:

Don't Prevent children's animal films to be made.

Do Impose restrictions on petstores on selling certain live animals. Such restrictions include forcing background checks on customers, or banning the sale of certain live animals all together. This I feel can be good for the economy because all these dumped animals go into shelters, and since most of these shelter are run by the city or government, this is your taxpayer dollars going to work. Sure you feel its good to be supporting your shelter, but it would be better if their usage was lowered though education.

Through the regulation of the pet industry, you would achieve much more instead of restricting an entertainment medium that standalone is unharmful and may even if done right present a good message to the public.

[Ly&Pigs]

Movies like this encourage impulse buying. Not only that but they encourage the use of dangerous accessories like wheels and balls, bad diet, bad treats, too small housing, etc.

Even if they put a disclaimer in the beginning or in the end about resesarch first or about adoption, who's going to say that someone wouldn't go out and adopt a pig and still not properly take care of that pig because of what is portrayed within the movie.

I don't think they should stop making movies for kids but I do think that they could portray those movies in a different light and show what to do instead of all the "what not to do" things.

[Skeetersmom]

I posted the information above on craigslist today in my area. Someone had actually posted in items wanted. The title of the ad was "Wanted - G Force Guinea Pig" The ad went on to say it needed to be trained to come when called, run in a wheel and a ball, and also be litter trained! Crazy! I posted the information in reply above the post. I got 2 thank you emails within about 10 minutes!

[Cocoa'sClover]

I love childrens movies but it's things like this this just make me question what people are thinking. I was looking into Oxbow pellets and this is what popped up for me instead.


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