Email From Viewers The following were written to James Ronald Whitney - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 It is hardly ever that I take time try and even contact people who touch my life. You, my friend, have done just that. I saw Telling Nicholas, and I honestly can't remember the last time I had emotions stir up in me like that. Being a mother of seven year olds myself, it took me deep into a place that was hard to go, but made me appreciate what I do have and when I make petty complaints I have nothing to complain about. I was looking at the HBO site today, when I realized that you also did Just Melvin, Just Evil, which I remember watching as well. That also had a significant impact on me as well. You are a very talented man, who touches many, many lives. I pray and think of Nicholas often, I know that the film and he being able to participate in it, will stay with him forever..May God Bless You!! I truly love your work. Sincerely, Heather my name is holly. i am an alabama transplant living in los angeles california. today i saw your movie "telling nicholas" and want to thank you for covering the essence of what september 11th truly touched in all of us. i am grateful for individuals like you who care about the souls of our children, and like you, given the choice i'd rather hang out with kids. i work as an interning therapist, and given the weight of the world's affairs, it is a tougher job than i thought. bless you for the difference that you make. gently with gratitude, holly My name is Clayton and im from Erie, PA. I saw the movie and was amazed how it showed the family in the truest form of grieving.It was a tragedy and Nicholas is a very strong young man.Well the reason why im emailing you is because i would like to be a mentor to Nicholas.Now i understand the boy doesnt need someone to talk to him about his mom.Im talking as like a big brother role. Im 21 years old and work for Coca-Cola.Even if its just writing the young man a note just to let him know I care and understand.But I feel like i should be able to help.Well thank you for your time Judy!!!! Sincerely, Clayton im not really sure why im writing you except that i was moved b your film. im a 22 year old woman surrounded by people that are so closed minded they refuse to undestand that the muslim religon is not to blame. i dont claim to have a full undestanding of the religon, but i do undestand the difference. i was fortunate to not know anyone who lost their life on 9/11. but i just cant stop thinking about the people who did. i hope that you film will help more people to undestand. my heart goes out to all the familys but the Ahmed family i know it is hard, but Shabbir's children need to be strong because there are alot of people that dont think before they speak, or they just dont know any better. know that there are also people like me who arent so quick to pass judgment. thank you for the oppotunity to write this even if you just delete it, it was helpful to me just to write it down. if you are still in contact with the familys let them know that a girl in illinois cares and wishes the best for there family. Carolyn It is a beautiful piece. I can't even write anything else about it, because as I have typed my praise, it has seen trivial. I am speechless. Amy I was so deeply moved by Telling Nicholas. I am a new mom (with a 6 month old) who was a bit sick on Mothers Day night. I did not want to put her down asleep alone, so I held her while she slept and watched your movie. As the story unfolded, I was crushed by emotion -- I was overwhelmed by what it means to be a mother -- not only by seeing the depth of Nicholas's grief at losing his mommy -- but ALSO by watching how the other mother's -- Nicholas's grandmother and Aunt -- inability to step outsisde their own grief and help others impacted everyone else. Your piece changed my life and taught me that there will be times in my life that I will have to put my child before myself. While I knew that - I never felt it. Not until I saw your piece. I think you should show this movie again on Fathers Day -- because the true heros in your piece are Nicholas's Dad and Grandfather -- both those men were tremendous with that little boy. I would love to see your piece again - please tell me HBO will re-run it. Amy I'm Togden, a Buddhist monk living on Long Island. When I saw your movie Telling Nicholas I felt a strong wish to meet with you. You have a good heart and a very beautiful mind and this is most appealing to me. I have many ideas, but at the very least would like to praise you for a job well done. May Nicholas grow up to be a good person, knowing he was loved by many when he needed it most. With very best wishes and hoping we can meet sometime, no hurry. Togden I just wanted to drop you a line and let you know how much I enjoyed the film.  I've been thinking about it constantly.  Thanks so much for sharing it with me.  Anyhow, I think you're brilliant--the film had more layers than a Napolean pastry--and I can't wait to see Just Melvin. Warm regards, Judy I wanted to thank you for your wonderful film! I did catch most of it when it aired originally (I didnt get a chance to tape a repeat). And it really broke my heart. I tell everyone about it, everywhere I go. And I am looking forward to owning a copy one day. Thanks again! Amil I worked with Michele Lanza in Virginia. Knowing her as I did, I feel the raw honesty of emotions displayed by her immediate family was real in your film. It's such a bittersweet feeling to see someone I knew on TV who has passed away in such a tragic way. The fact that the show aired on Mother's Day this year was very poignant - I was actually thinking about her and Nicholas on that day. All of us that worked with Michele e-mailed each other and I actually taped the show for some of the others who don't have HBO. Everyone commented that it was "SO Michele." She would have loved the attention, and would have been so proud of Nicholas. He looks so much like her now, and he has grown up a lot since the days when most of what I saw of him were pictures in her office. We sometimes teased that she kept a shrine on her office bookcase - it was a collection of photos and candles and knick knacks, all of Nicholas. Apart from work, Michele talked mostly about Nicholas; he truly was the center of her universe. She also talked a lot about wanting to move to New York, back to her family. Again, it's bittersweet when I think back to those conversations. I have read the updates on your website on the families. I'm very happy for Nicholas that he is excelling in school here in Virginia and that the rest of Michele's family is coping well. Further, I applaud you for bringing Thanbir and Nicholas together, in telling their stories, showing the parallels of emotions in two totally different cultures. It would be wonderful if Thanbir and Nicholas became good friends after the film. "Telling Nicholas" is a superb documentary. It's a fitting tribute to Michele and her family and gives us a rare souvenir to keep of her life. Laura What a film! I want to say wonderful but can't due to the subject matter.‡ I was told about this film by my husband who is an officer in our city. He had watched it. He told me it was hard to watch. We both sat down and watched it together and sobbed. I mean not tears escaped from our eyes. We sobbed.‡ Thank you for having the genious to create such a piece. My only regret is that I was too slow to tape it and I wanted it as a tool to be able to share with my children when they grow up along with the rest of my collection so they can learn and know how this terrible attack affected the United States. Once again...Thank you! Brilliant work! Laurie I watched "Telling Nicholas" absolutely moving. It broke my heart moved me to tears. I find that the movies you do have great research and true meaning very powerful. congratulations on another fine production..Please keep me posted when "theworkinggirl.com" is ready i'm looking forward to having this one in my collection of films..great work..look forward to your next project...great success.. charles Email From Viewers - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6     © 2001-03 James Ronald Whitney See the Web sites for the director's other films: Just, Melvin, TheWorkingGirl.com and Games People Play: New York Comments or questions about the Web site contact the WebMaster at www.SolutionsWebDesign.net