“Steroids Saved My Life” is an internet reality series that, in many ways, celebrates the positive aspects of anabolic steroid use. On the surface, this would appear to be something for which steroid users on various bodybuilding forums would be supportive. Instead, steroid users have been critical of the shockumentary format and critical of first-time steroid user Peter Brown. The criticisms range from suggestions that the purported steroid use by Peter is being faked to criticisms that Peter is not using steroids correctly to criticims that Peter is “too skinny” to start using steroids.

I have asked Nenad Barjaktarovic, the director of “Steroids Saved My Life,” about the reaction seen on various bodybuilding forums. He took the time to respond and clarifiy the goals of the video project.

We understand people think obvious scenes are scripted. We are not the be all end all. We don’t have all the answers, we are not experts nor do we ever claim to be. Is there misinformation in our show? Yes! Are the quotes taken out of context for the purpose of good TV drama? Yes!

This is not a show about steroid facts or it would be [produced] in a totally shown in a different and dry matter. Is Peter actually doing steroids? Yes! Are Peter’s gains real? Yes! In fact, it is one of the few things that is not manipulated on the show.

Most people who disagree with the show have very valid points which we do not deny it. We are merely showing Peter’s experience in a fun way that provokes thought. Peter doesn’t want to be the poster boy for steroids; he is hoping people that see him in the show take it upon themselves to do their own research and to try to learn from Peter’s experience.

We don’t really care if people think the show is real or not! It is not our goal to convince them it is. Our goal is to entertain people and to show steroids in a different light. We want to stir the pot! We want people talking! We want to put steroids more into the mainstream. We want to open the door on many people that were close minded on the topic with our series. Once people see our series and start doing their own research via the net on many steroid forums they can make much more educated guesses on what they should do if they were to start a cycle. Most steroid users opinions vary so much!

As you have seen on the series we never mention what Peter is on or what his dosage is! We purposely did this because we do not want to advise people on what to take or how much to do; we are merely introducing steroids to a new audience. Most of our audience does not do steroids. Most of our audience hates what we are doing but they love to watch. Many people think Peter is going to have huge side effects and that he has ruined his life. What are people going to say when Peter does not have any adverse effects? Some people will say ‘hey steroids aren’t as bad as I thought!’ Some people are going to say, ‘hey I want to be a lot smarter on my cycle and be much more educated before I start my own cycle after seeing this.

The bodybuilding forums have been overly critical with us and that is fine and deservedly so. They cast us as ruining the steroids image. Any educated viewer can tell when we are playing up to camera! We are not taking the legitimacy of the show overly serious. We wouldn’t be showing ridiculous skits if we did! If people want to bash us then maybe they should make their own show. No matter what you do there will always be people knocking it.

You can’t please everyone! With that said, we are making shows that we ourselves want to watch. I love looking at statistics! I love looking at before and afters! I love the juicy shots of the roids, pills, needles, injections! I love that there is sarcasm on the show! I love characters that you love to hate! I love when people say things that get under your skin! I love girls, girls, girls! I like cheesy unique graphics! I love old school retro themes! And that’s what our show is!

In the future weeks, we will be addressing most if not all of your unanswered questions. In week 12, we plan on revealing what has been embellished on the show and what was actually real. We will be addressing all of our own faults as well. It is hard to defend ourselves since the show is not over and we have kept pretty quiet about our plans. Most people don’t understand our direction with the show. We have always planned a clear path for our protagonists and antagonists since day one. We always felt that once the show is done that it will find a larger audience and if they watch the ENTIRE series that our complete message will get across.

We have a few twists and turns further down the road and we hope people stay on on this ride and have fun watching.

The most recent episode of “Steroids Saved My Life” is Episode 8: Mission Roid.