Positivity-Crushing Photographers

'School Portrait' by Nick Scott, director from Crossroads Films, is a funny video showing how even a true cynic has hope.

Produced by Michael Berliner, this short and charming comedy, which received 700,000 in four days, centers on a jaded school portrait photographer who cruelly bombards his little subjects with negative "reality checks." He tells one little boy to repeat after him, "The banking crisis means I'll never afford a home." He then goes on to tell a little girl the crushing news that "there isn't a pet heaven." At the end of School Portrait by Nick Scott, a little red-headed girl just won't stop smiling, no matter what terrible things the photographer dishes out.

Director Scott had this to say about the film: "Sadly, much of what is said to the kids is indicative of the pretty gloomy future facing their generation. But hopefully the film shows that no matter how cynical you are, there are always things that can give us hope."

The success of School Portrait has inspired Scott to create a social media contest seeking subjects to be part of a School Portrait remake. To enter, just Tweet your school photo along with the hashtag #schoolportrait.