How to Use Documentary as a Call to Action: The Mobilization Tactics of 'Whose Streets?'

Producer Jon Fusco kicks off The No Film School Podcast's Sundance coverage with an incredibly important (and timely) discussion on how documentary film can be utilized as a powerful call to action. "Whose Streets?" picks up moments after the murder of unarmed black teen Michael Brown at the hands of Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. Through a harrowing collage of guerrilla-style filmmaking and archival footage, Co-directors Sabaah Foloyan and Damon Davis place us at the epicenter of the Ferguson community as racial tensions in the city reach their boiling point. The directors, however, don’t focus on the forensics reports or harsh statistics associated with institutionalized racism. Instead, they sifted through nearly 400 hours of footage to deliver their message through the pain and heartbreak of the city’s residents. What we get is a stark contrast to a narrative the media presented back in 2014. And while it might be uncomfortable for some, the truth is made clear as we watch the intimate stories of the men and women who rallied together to push through injustice as the protests unfolded. On this episode, activist Brittany Ferrel joins Foloyan and Davis as we dig deep into the potential of documentary film as a tool for change. Regardless of your political affiliation, giving voice to the voices that usually go unheard is an objective every documentarian should seek to achieve.

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