The Strange Name Movie Page #7

made me less prejudiced,

more understanding

of other people.

- I hope this movie

brings this issue out

more into society.

I mean, I don't think

there's ever gonna be

a Hall of Fame for us.

You know, maybe

something like this

will prevent a lot of,

more bullying

in the lives

of these people.

- I think it's really important

that it's brought to light,

because when people go around

making fun of other people

for something that is

really out of their control,

it can really affect

somebody on a deeper level

that others probably

wouldn't be aware of.

- [Narrator] So at

the beginning of the film,

we posed a question.

When people ask,

"Who are you?"

we answer with a name,

but is that who we are?

After all the phone calls,

after all the interviews,

personally, I like

the idea that a name

is not who we are,

or what we are,

it's something we have.

It belongs to us,

so we can use it in

any way we choose.

Many of the individuals

that we've met

have made a conscious

decision to use their names

in a way that

enriches their lives,

both professionally

and personally.

- My name led me to

become a stand-up comic

and a humorist.

Much of it was embracing

the peculiar aspect

of the name.

People would often use

that as a way to attack me.

But I found that as

something that I use instead.

Outgoingness and positiveness

instead of introversion.

- I don't need

business cards anymore,

because everybody

remembers my name.

- Got a lot of customers

that I had met years ago

that either moved

or had forgotten me,

and saw the commercials

and remembered me.

- I look on it as

an opportunity to be able

to make connections with people

that I would never have

had the opportunity

to make connections with.

- It kind of opens me up.

It makes me more of a person.

It makes me more alive.

- It definitely

made me a little bit

less sensitive

as I got older.

- Drawing attention, frankly,

to what I do,

which I think is important,

and where I do it,

in a cancer center that's

trying to develop

new treatments.

I think the more attention

to that, the better.

- I think it's great that

they've come through it,

and become better

people because of it.

- That's gonna build

their self-confidence,

and provide them with

a sense of strength

that they've made

it through something

that's been really

difficult for them.

- Every person should be

proud of the name they have.

- I think, you know, you're

pretty open to create

who you wanna be.

Your name really shouldn't

define who you are.

- There is no

single perfect name.

There's just the way

that you take your name,

and turn it into your life.

- When you have

an oddball name like I have,

if you do something good,

you're remembered for it.

- I would recommend

anybody out there

to change their name

to Paul McCartney.

- It's an unusual name, yes.

But we have a lot

of fun with it.

- My name is Cockburn.

The C and the K

are, indeed, silent.

- I'm proud of my name.

It is what I am.

- I will have kids, and they

will have my last name.

I don't care.

- Two to three times a week,

somebody says to me,

"That's a great name.

I wish I had that name."

I would not change this name

for anything in the world.

[upbeat bluesy rock music]

- [Automated voice]

Please enjoy this Verizon

ring-back tone while

your party is reached.

[classical music]

- I think

this is public domain.

- [Ben] It started

at an early age.

Kids were always

starting to tease me.

It started with Ben Mangina,

and then it went

to just Mangina.

And Mangina, I didn't know

that it had any

reference to, you know,

any parts of

the female anatomy.

I didn't really put

two and two together

until I started getting

more into middle school.

- And can you tell me how

you introduce yourself?

- [Ben] Yeah, just hi,

this is Ben Mangeena.

- Oh, I thought you said

it was pronounced Mangina.

- [Ben] No, it's Mangeena.

- Oh, it's Mangeena.

Okay.

- Can I say Mangeena?

- [Co-Worker] No.

- [Ben] So it's been

a lifelong correction

for people.

My kids, I tell 'em

that it's something

that they're gonna

hear probably for

the rest of their life,

and just not show other

kids that it bothers them,

and then, that way,

it'll start going away.

- Well, thank you so much

for participating in this.

We really appreciate it.

- [Ben] Well,

you're very welcome.

I'm glad I had

the opportunity to do so.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes