**SPOILER ALERT** As expected, I found the plot of this TV-movie reflected the typical, negative, knee-jerk reaction toward anything smacking of "child exploitation", a topic which has unfortunately been savagely overblown--particularly in the North American media--and which seems to become even more paranoic every time a child is victimized--even if such victimization had absolutely nothing to do with the internet.
First off, I always find it a stretch to see teenage characters being portrayed by actors and actresses in their twenties (in this case actress Sara Lind who was either 22 or 23 years of age--a la the hard-to-swallow "believability" of Beverly Hills, 90210).
Under the circumstances, Miss Lind did her best, I suppose, but c'mon...her school "friends" were from another dimension entirely and didn't appear to match her personality whatsoever. In reality, nothing is so black and white when it comes to accepting another person's choice of hobby or occupation. In fact, it seemed to me that most of the other girls in the plot were more jealous than "outraged" over Mia's modelling site.
Momma--played by Mimi Roger--was equally dense even when "clues" stared her right in the face. Really: how dumb are some of these parents anyway?! Worse, though, are the ones who don't seem to have a clue what their kids are doing out late at night: probably spray-painting graffiti everywhere! Wake up!
Plot holes in "Selling Innocence" were everywhere as well. If (16 or 17-year-old?) Mia was so concerned about her mother finding out about her online activities, why was she so careless to leave her $27.000 pay statement (in it's already opened envelope yet!) right under her keyboard where Momma could so easily stumble onto it?! How dumb was that? Then the notion that a modelling agency would risk exposure and/or legal action by refusing to close down a retired model's website at the model's request, is just plain ridiculous to say the least.
Yes, no doubt such a policy may indeed exist with the most hard-nosed or just plain reckless (perhaps offshore-owned) outfits, but the majority of such online modelling agencies have more than enough models to pay their bills, so the loss of one model here and there is par for the course. No model stays forever and no one should expect them to, either.
More common than not as well is the fact that many online modelling sites are managed and overseen by the PARENTS of these children, who themselves then have a stake in their earnings, and who--for better or worse--are even the main motivating factor in pushing and promoting their offspring toward what they hope will be eventual fame and fortune--whether or not it ever actually turns out that way in the end.
However, what I found most bizarre within the plot of "Selling Innocence", was the blatant way in which a member of a so-called "child assistance agency" is revealed to be Gabriel, the mysterious stalker and presumably the assailant of a previous model. Now how unbelievable would that be in real life? Okay, so truth can indeed often be stranger than fiction, but I ended up shaking my head at the end of this slice of baloney.
So, listen up, girls: if you want to be an online model--great! Go for it! But, first get your parents approval, have a plan, aim towards a specific time frame when you want to move on--or out--and, of course, check out the agency first by determining how your photos or videos will be used and that you be able to repossess your material if you decide to quit. Then get it in writing. Don't be stupid, and you won't become exploited. If Madonna and Britney could take charge of their careers, there's no reason why YOU can't take charge of yours--no matter if it's nowhere near that stratospheric altitude.
Best of all, though, is to find out from other online models how they succeeded--or didn't succeed--in the business, before you commit yourself.
Online modelling is not for everyone, of course, but, let's face it: being paid $27.000 beats flipping burgers any day.
To summarize: know what you want, keep your eyes open, and know when to say "No!"
First off, I always find it a stretch to see teenage characters being portrayed by actors and actresses in their twenties (in this case actress Sara Lind who was either 22 or 23 years of age--a la the hard-to-swallow "believability" of Beverly Hills, 90210).
Under the circumstances, Miss Lind did her best, I suppose, but c'mon...her school "friends" were from another dimension entirely and didn't appear to match her personality whatsoever. In reality, nothing is so black and white when it comes to accepting another person's choice of hobby or occupation. In fact, it seemed to me that most of the other girls in the plot were more jealous than "outraged" over Mia's modelling site.
Momma--played by Mimi Roger--was equally dense even when "clues" stared her right in the face. Really: how dumb are some of these parents anyway?! Worse, though, are the ones who don't seem to have a clue what their kids are doing out late at night: probably spray-painting graffiti everywhere! Wake up!
Plot holes in "Selling Innocence" were everywhere as well. If (16 or 17-year-old?) Mia was so concerned about her mother finding out about her online activities, why was she so careless to leave her $27.000 pay statement (in it's already opened envelope yet!) right under her keyboard where Momma could so easily stumble onto it?! How dumb was that? Then the notion that a modelling agency would risk exposure and/or legal action by refusing to close down a retired model's website at the model's request, is just plain ridiculous to say the least.
Yes, no doubt such a policy may indeed exist with the most hard-nosed or just plain reckless (perhaps offshore-owned) outfits, but the majority of such online modelling agencies have more than enough models to pay their bills, so the loss of one model here and there is par for the course. No model stays forever and no one should expect them to, either.
More common than not as well is the fact that many online modelling sites are managed and overseen by the PARENTS of these children, who themselves then have a stake in their earnings, and who--for better or worse--are even the main motivating factor in pushing and promoting their offspring toward what they hope will be eventual fame and fortune--whether or not it ever actually turns out that way in the end.
However, what I found most bizarre within the plot of "Selling Innocence", was the blatant way in which a member of a so-called "child assistance agency" is revealed to be Gabriel, the mysterious stalker and presumably the assailant of a previous model. Now how unbelievable would that be in real life? Okay, so truth can indeed often be stranger than fiction, but I ended up shaking my head at the end of this slice of baloney.
So, listen up, girls: if you want to be an online model--great! Go for it! But, first get your parents approval, have a plan, aim towards a specific time frame when you want to move on--or out--and, of course, check out the agency first by determining how your photos or videos will be used and that you be able to repossess your material if you decide to quit. Then get it in writing. Don't be stupid, and you won't become exploited. If Madonna and Britney could take charge of their careers, there's no reason why YOU can't take charge of yours--no matter if it's nowhere near that stratospheric altitude.
Best of all, though, is to find out from other online models how they succeeded--or didn't succeed--in the business, before you commit yourself.
Online modelling is not for everyone, of course, but, let's face it: being paid $27.000 beats flipping burgers any day.
To summarize: know what you want, keep your eyes open, and know when to say "No!"