Los Angeles and San Francisco Proclaim April 20th to be “Dirt Day”

The cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco have issued proclamations naming April 20th to be “Dirt Day” in honor of Dirt! The Movie, the award-winning documentary airing nationwide on PBS’ Independent Lens tonight at 10 PM (check local listings). San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Councilwoman Jan Perry will sign the official Dirt! Day Proclamations in their respective cities today, to ignite the discussion about safeguarding soil and the billions of organisms it contains.

Dirt! The Movie tells the story of the underappreciated stuff beneath our feet. Narrated by award-winning actress, author and activist, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dirt!, tells the story of Earth’s most valuable and least valued source of fertility from its miraculous beginning to its current crippling degradation. Inspired by William Bryant Logan’s acclaimed book Dirt: The Ecstatic Skin of the Earth, the film deftly combines science and humor as it digs into the history and current state of the living organic matter from which we all come and where we will all one-day return. An eclectic group of passionate dirt lovers appear in Dirt! – from world-class biologists to Rikers Island convicts, from community activists to Nobel Laureates – to offer viewers answers to problems while inspiring us to clean up the mess that we have created.

Don’t miss Dirt! The Movie tonight on Independent Lens (check local listings).

Watch an interview with Jamie Lee Curtis, the narrator for Dirt! >>

Tags: Earth Day, environment, gavin newsome, Los Angeles, recycle, San Francisco

Sneak Preview of FUTURESTATES episode Fallout

It’s almost here… ITVS’s new fictional online series — FUTURESTATES — launches online March 8 and will have its theatrical world premiere at South by Southwest (SXSW) on March 14.

FUTURESTATES explores possible future scenarios through the prism of today’s global reality. America circa 2010 sits at the crux of competing and paradoxical forces of creation and destruction. Never before have we been capable of such great discovery and accomplishment, and yet our very existence hangs in balance as climate change, weapons of mass destruction, and economic collapse threaten our very existence.

Check out this sneak preview of Fallout, by Ben Rekhi. The War on Terror has escalated drastically, bringing America into conflict with countless enemies. Los Angeles has fallen victim to a nuclear attack from an unknown aggressor. In the aftermath of the bombing, a young man’s search for his girlfriend addresses the human toll of eternal war.

Join the FUTURESTATES Facebook Fan Page and watch other clips >>

Tags: Facebook, fiction, Los Angeles, online video, War on Terror

Vanessa Gould Tours Los Angeles With Her Film BETWEEN THE FOLDS

Director of the Community Cinema documentary selection BETWEEN THE FOLDS Vanessa Gould spent the past few days at a series of screening events for the film in the greater Los Angeles area. In addition to the two unique screening and folding events at the historic Aero Theatre in Santa Monica and at the Frida Kahlo Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, Ms. Gould attended a very special screening of the film at the LA County Sheriff’s Pitches Detention Center for close to 200 inmates. She shares her deeply moving visit with us. [No photographs were allowed in or near the detention center for security reasons.]

Vanessa Gould (producer/director) of BETWEEN THE FOLDS

As we walked into LA’s Pitches Detention Center, the sky was deep blue and a long flock of birds flew calmly with the wind above. The series of heavy gates and barbed wire fences ahead gave me a pit in my stomach. Behind the barriers, I soon saw men of all ages – hundreds in royal blue jumpsuits – working, standing, exercising outside.

I was there with Desiree Gutierrez, the ITVS National Community Cinema Coordinator for the Southern California region, to answer questions about BETWEEN THE FOLDS, which a group was watching as we arrived. I had strong doubts as to whether they’d connect to a film about paperfolding, worrying it was trivial in light of the gravity of their own personal situations. How would the film be relevant to them? What could I possibly say or do that could be genuinely useful?

A stock photo of a typical inmate gathering provided courtesy of the LA County Sheriff's Department

Desiree and I entered the room with Deputy Bates and a few other staff members just as they had finished the film. It was a crowded room with about 200 men seated closely, gathered around a single television.

As soon as the lights went on and I looked up – despite my insecurity – it was quite possibly the most enthusiastic reception the film has ever seen: a room brimming with almost-rowdy excitement and big smiles, a few thumbs up and hands on hearts. Even some paper hats and paper stars made out of the local county newspaper were floating around. Deputy Bates introduced us, and I filled with warmth, relieved that the film had perhaps given them an escape from their daily routine.

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Tags: between the folds, filmmaker, Los Angeles

Watch CRIPS AND BLOODS Tonight on Independent Lens

It’s a civil war that’s lasted 40 years. Passed down from son to son. Fought eye for an eye. Over 15,000 dead and counting, while the world stands by. Welcome to South Central Los Angeles. But what’s at the root of this long-standing battle? Filmmaker Stacy Peralta hits the streets of L.A. to find out, and speaks with former and current members of the Bloods and the Crips, two of the most notorious and violent street gangs in America.

“CRIPS AND BLOODS: Made in America, a documentary feature airing tonight on the PBS series Independent Lens, begins with the arresting picture––not a picture of an arrest, although those come soon enough––of downtown Los Angeles hanging upside down in the sky,” Los Angeles Times.

Check out the trailer below:

CRIPS AND BLOODS: Made in America airs tonight at 10:00 PM on Independent Lens on PBS (check local listings)

Tags: African American, gangs, Los Angeles

Video Feature: Tavis Smiley Show Looks at CRIPS AND BLOODS

On Tuesday, May 12 at 10:00 PM (check local listings), Independent Lens will present CRIPS AND BLOODS: Made in America, which examines the conditions that have lead to the devastating gang violence among young African Americans growing up in South Los Angeles.

Following the broadcast, be sure to watch the Tavis Smiley Show with CRIPS AND BLOODS Producer Baron Davis, Director Stacy Peralta and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Learn more about the film as well as the latest efforts to stop gang violence in Los Angeles and around the country.

Get a preview of next week’s Tavis Smiley Show and watch the special excerpt below:

Tags: African American, Baron Davis, gangs, Los Angeles

ITVS and WHYY Present CRIPS AND BLOODS: Made in America

CRIPS AND BLOODS: Made in America, which examines the conditions that have led to the devastating gang violence among young African Americans growing up in South Los Angeles, played to a full house at The Rotunda, an arts and culture space in West Philadelphia. The event was co-presented by ITVS and WHYY, in partnership with the Philadelphia Anti-Drug Anti-Violence Network, Scribe Video Center and the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Following the film, Cliff Akiyama, a former deputy sheriff and currently a lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Nursing, led a panel discussion. Akiyama opened the Q&A with an impassioned plea to the audience––to look at the issue of gang violence with “open hearts and minds” and consider multiple approaches to a solution, beyond just law enforcement.

Other panelists included Darryl Coates, executive director of the Philadelphia Anti-Drug Anti-Violence Network; Everett Gillison, deputy mayor of public safety; Dorothy Johnson-Speight, executive director of Mothers In Charge; and Jack Stollsteimer, Pennsylvania Safe Schools advocate and former federal prosecutor of drug gangs in Philadelphia.

Each of the panelists discussed the impact of violence in Philadelphia and in their personal lives. They stressed the importance the film played for being a tool to bridge a serious conversation about prevention and alternatives.

Questions came from teachers, who had been assaulted by students and wanted practical information about how to identify gang signs and symbols, and youth involved in community service on school grounds, probing suggestions about more ways to fully engage others.

Statistics were presented about the number of gangs in the United States, the number of weapons that enter Philadelphia’s public schools on a daily basis and the fact that the issue of gangs exists in many ethnic groups and a far-reaching problem. One parent became emotional when sharing her frustration about the personal challenges she faces when sending her children to school every day.

There was much more to discuss after the formal program ended, and many lingered afterward to talk with panelists and each other about resources and information. The turnout and level of seriousness during the Q&A showed the widespread concern and the number of people interested in getting involved to address this problem.

The film was certainly a powerful catalyst for bringing the Philadelphia community together around a common and heartfelt concern.

Want to find upcoming screenings in your area? Community Cinema selections are screened in more than 50 locations throughout the United States. Check out the schedule and find Community Cinema in your neighborhood >>

Check out clips from the event below:

Tags: African American, gangs, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, WHYY

Video Discussion from the Community Cinema Screening of CRIPS AND BLOODS: Made in America

On Tuesday, April 14, Community Cinema, in partnership with the City of Los Angeles, screened CRIPS AND BLOODS: Made in America, which examines the conditions that have led to the devastating gang violence among young African Americans growing up in South Los Angeles.

Afterwards, Val Zavala, anchor and reporter of SoCal Connected, led a panel discussion with filmmaker Stacy Peralta, Deputy Mayor of Gang Reduction and Youth Development Rev. Jeff Carr and community organizer Skipp Townsend. This event was broadcast live on Beyond the Box Blog where visitors asked questions to the panelists via live chat and Twitter in addition to questions fielded from the audience.

Missed the live video feed from Los Angeles? Check out the recording from the event below:

Community Cinema selections are screened in over 50 locations throughout the United States. Check out the schedule and find Community Cinema in your neighborhood >>

Tags: African American, gangs, Los Angeles

CRIPS AND BLOODS Community Cinema Screenings Recaps

Join the live webcast discussion of the upcoming Community Cinema screening of CRIPS AND BLOODS on the ITVS Blog at 8:15 PM PDT (11:15 PM EDT), Tuesday, April 14. More details below.

Community Cinema selections are screened in over 50 locations throughout the United States. This month, Community Cinema presents CRIPS AND BLOODS: Made in America, a film that examines two of the most notorious and violent street gangs in America. Read some of the highlights from this month’s screenings and learn more about the live webcast discussion.

St. Louis, IL

A large and diverse audience of 425 gathered at the Missouri History Museum to view and discuss CRIPS AND BLOODS: Made in America. A common theme that ran through the discussion was “communities need to come together to fight this problem.” The discussion turned to local programs that exist to take kids off the streets and get them involved in useful projects or into athletic programs, often run by volunteer police. The audience discussed the need to focus on educating young people to help them make informed choices.

One audience member noted, “We need a holistic approach to gangs. Bring many agencies and individuals together in a community to learn to care for these kids. We need to do this despite funding so the programs don’t go away when the money dries up. We need to reach out as a community to stop this problem. When a group of people feel they don’t matter (second class citizens) gangs grow. We need to reach across economic and racial lines and come together to solve this problem. Have honest conversations like the one tonight. Then we will slow the growth of gangs.”

The discussion concluded with a former gang member sharing his experiences raising his children and developing a program aimed at helping young people empower themselves with skills and values to avoid gang life.

Grand Rapids, MI

With the largest audience of the year, CRIPS AND BLOODS: Made in America screened at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts to a full house. After the screening, panelists Jim Houston, criminal justice professor at Grand Valley State University (GVSU); Oliver Wilson, former dean of the Office of Multicultural Affairs; and Derrick Philips, a GVSU student and former gangster disciple from Chicago talked with the audience about gang-related topics, including personal experiences and the long-term sociological effects gang culture has on communities. Many audience members responded by voicing their desires to volunteer and mentor young people faced with gang violence.

Saratoga Springs, NY

Community members at the Saratoga Springs Public Library acknowledged the long-standing racism, economic hardship and blame cast upon gang members after viewing the film. Audience members discussed the filmmaker’s skill in showing the raw facts behind gangs in the United States and appreciated the idea of “treating gang members like criminals and committing them to prison merely makes them the scapegoat and doesn’t get to the heart of the problem.” Panelist Ron Barrett, gang prevention coordinator for the Capital Region of New York, explained that drugs are connected to gangs because they are the only feasible source of income and how gang life is sensationalized in popular media.

Interested in taking part of the discussion? Join us live on the ITVS Blog at 8:15 PM PDT (11:15 PM EDT), Tuesday, April 14. Find out more information about the live discussion >>

Check out the schedule and find Community Cinema in your neighborhood >>

Tags: African American, gangs, Los Angeles

CRIPS AND BLOODS Live Webcast Panel Discussion April 14

It’s a civil war that’s lasted 40 years. Passed down from son to son. Fought eye for an eye. Over 15,000 dead and counting, while the world stands by. Welcome to South Central Los Angeles. But what’s at the root of this long-standing battle? In CRIPS AND BLOODS: Made in America, filmmaker Stacy Peralta hits the streets of LA and speaks with former and current members of the Bloods and the Crips, two of the most notorious and violent street gangs in America.

On Tuesday, April 14, a live video discussion took place from the Community Cinema event in partnership with the City of Los Angeles. Val Zavala, anchor and reporter of SoCal Connected, led a panel discussion with filmmaker Stacy Peralta, Deputy Mayor of Gang Reduction and Youth Development Rev. Jeff Carr and community organizer Skipp Townsend.

Visit the blog later this week for a video recording of this event.

Tags: gangs, Los Angeles