A New Film From Director Robert Greenwald TRAILER

The film

PRESENT DAY STORIES

Faylita Hicks

During a period of homelessness, Faylita Hicks was arrested after the car in which she was living broke down. The police discovered there was a warrant for a bounced check at a Texas grocery store, worth $25. Because she was homeless, she never received the notice to appear in court. Unable to cover bail, she spent 45 days in jail. Since her release, she has been dedicated to changing the system and helping others raise their voices through her activism, writing and oral performances. Faylita is a Black poet, essayist, and interdisciplinary artist. The former Editor-in-Chief of Borderlands: Texas Poetry Review, author of HoodWitch (Acre Books, 2019), a finalist for the 2020 Lambda Literary Award for Bisexual Poetry. Her creative work has been featured in American Poetry Review, the Cincinnati Review, Huffpost, Longreads, Poetry Magazine, Slate, Texas Observer, Texas Monthly, and others. Faylita received an MFA in Creative Writing from Sierra Nevada University and she is currently at work on a multimedia project about pretrial incarceration and immigrant detention in the Southwest.

Fernando Martinez

Contractor and Owner of Build Austin, LLC Fernando Martinez’s first traffic stop at the age of 19 became an endless cycle of fees and license suspensions that would cost him almost $20,000 during a cycle that would go on for over 10 years. He is from Austin, TX and where he resides with his wife and two children and runs his contracting business Build Austin LLC. Fernando is a board member of the Texas Fair Defense Project, the organization that helped him get out of the cycle of arrest, jail and fines/fees, that started with a misdemeanor vehicle violation. His testimony of what he experienced over 15 years, helped pass reform bill HB 162 that decreased the penalty from driving with a suspended license from an additional 2 years to just 90 days.

Brad Haggard

Brad Haggard was arrested for possession of a small amount of marijuana before many states adopted a more lenient stance. His arrest created a snowball effect where he lost his job, his home and had to live in his car with his children. He’s dedicated his life to making sure others do not suffer the same fate. Brad currently works at the Harris County Public Defender’s Office as an Assistant Public Defender and also as a Bar Prep Coach at South Texas College of Law. Brad passed the Texas Bar Exam 2019 and works to help people overcome adversity in the courtroom and succeed in their personal lives with a fresh start. In order to introduce the justice system in a positive light to young people, Brad is taking steps to establish a high school mock trial program in his home city of Cincinnati. Brad is indebted to his incredible wife and five children for the tremendous support.

Chris Lollie

Chris Lollie was waiting to pick his children up from daycare in St. Paul Minnesota when he was arrested for questioning why he was being detained. The egregious charges brought against him became the subject of a lawsuit that was decided in his favor. He continues to use his platform as an advocate for change and youth. Chris is a loving father of 4 children, an avid lyricist, youth advocate and an activist for civil liberties and rights for all Americans especially descendants of formerly enslaved people. One of Minnesota’s unsung heroes, Chris has been making music for 15 years and has consistently created conscious content geared toward the fight for understanding and freedom.

Michael Robinson

When a call for an ambulance was not responded to, Michael set out on his own and was pulled over a block away from his Joliet home. He was charged with a DUI and was sent home with an ankle monitor. An avid athlete since his youth when he was a Track and Field State Champion and High School Hall of Fame inductee. He went on to serve in the U.S. Navy for three years and after honorable discharge, studied science and earned an A.A. and B.S. in Electrical Engineering. Michael donated a life-saving kidney to a friend, and soon after became ordained as Clergy, founding the A-1 Corporation; a non-profit ecclesiastical community development corp. Michael recently graduated from Flint Bible Institute with a certificate in Religious Studies. He currently works as an Electrician (Reliability Technician) at Ecolab, Joliet Illinois.

DeMario Davis

Demario is a professional All-Pro linebacker for the New Orleans Saints. Demario was raised by a single mom and the only way he could afford college was on a football scholarship. During his first year, he and a college roommate were caught taking food from a Walmart. They were arrested and the the bail was $10,000. If it weren’t for his coach, he would have not gotten out of jail and his life would be very different. He works with the NFL Players Association to bring attention to criminal justice.

Faylita Hicks

During a period of homelessness, Faylita Hicks was arrested after the car in which she was living broke down. The police discovered there was a warrant for a bounced check at a Texas grocery store, worth $25. Because she was homeless, she never received the notice to appear in court. Unable to cover bail, she spent 45 days in jail. Since her release, she has been dedicated to changing the system and helping others raise their voices through her activism, writing and oral performances. Faylita is a Black poet, essayist, and interdisciplinary artist. The former Editor-in-Chief of Borderlands: Texas Poetry Review, author of HoodWitch (Acre Books, 2019), a finalist for the 2020 Lambda Literary Award for Bisexual Poetry. Her creative work has been featured in American Poetry Review, the Cincinnati Review, Huffpost, Longreads, Poetry Magazine, Slate, Texas Observer, Texas Monthly, and others. Faylita received an MFA in Creative Writing from Sierra Nevada University and she is currently at work on a multimedia project about pretrial incarceration and immigrant detention in the Southwest.

Fernando Martinez

Contractor and Owner of Build Austin, LLC Fernando Martinez’s first traffic stop at the age of 19 became an endless cycle of fees and license suspensions that would cost him almost $20,000 during a cycle that would go on for over 10 years. He is from Austin, TX and where he resides with his wife and two children and runs his contracting business Build Austin LLC. Fernando is a board member of the Texas Fair Defense Project, the organization that helped him get out of the cycle of arrest, jail and fines/fees, that started with a misdemeanor vehicle violation. His testimony of what he experienced over 15 years, helped pass reform bill HB 162 that decreased the penalty from driving with a suspended license from an additional 2 years to just 90 days.

Brad Haggard

Brad Haggard was arrested for possession of a small amount of marijuana before many states adopted a more lenient stance. His arrest created a snowball effect where he lost his job, his home and had to live in his car with his children. He’s dedicated his life to making sure others do not suffer the same fate. Brad currently works at the Harris County Public Defender’s Office as an Assistant Public Defender and also as a Bar Prep Coach at South Texas College of Law. Brad passed the Texas Bar Exam 2019 and works to help people overcome adversity in the courtroom and succeed in their personal lives with a fresh start. In order to introduce the justice system in a positive light to young people, Brad is taking steps to establish a high school mock trial program in his home city of Cincinnati. Brad is indebted to his incredible wife and five children for the tremendous support.

Chris Lollie

Chris Lollie was waiting to pick his children up from daycare in St. Paul Minnesota when he was arrested for questioning why he was being detained. The egregious charges brought against him became the subject of a lawsuit that was decided in his favor. He continues to use his platform as an advocate for change and youth. Chris is a loving father of 4 children, an avid lyricist, youth advocate and an activist for civil liberties and rights for all Americans especially descendants of formerly enslaved people. One of Minnesota’s unsung heroes, Chris has been making music for 15 years and has consistently created conscious content geared toward the fight for understanding and freedom.

Michael Robinson

When a call for an ambulance was not responded to, Michael set out on his own and was pulled over a block away from his Joliet home. He was charged with a DUI and was sent home with an ankle monitor. An avid athlete since his youth when he was a Track and Field State Champion and High School Hall of Fame inductee. He went on to serve in the U.S. Navy for three years and after honorable discharge, studied science and earned an A.A. and B.S. in Electrical Engineering. Michael donated a life-saving kidney to a friend, and soon after became ordained as Clergy, founding the A-1 Corporation; a non-profit ecclesiastical community development corp. Michael recently graduated from Flint Bible Institute with a certificate in Religious Studies. He currently works as an Electrician (Reliability Technician) at Ecolab, Joliet Illinois.

DeMario Davis

Demario is a professional All-Pro linebacker for the New Orleans Saints. Demario was raised by a single mom and the only way he could afford college was on a football scholarship. During his first year, he and a college roommate were caught taking food from a Walmart. They were arrested and the the bail was $10,000. If it weren’t for his coach, he would have not gotten out of jail and his life would be very different. He works with the NFL Players Association to bring attention to criminal justice.

Faylita Hicks

During a period of homelessness, Faylita Hicks was arrested after the car in which she was living broke down. The police discovered there was a warrant for a bounced check at a Texas grocery store, worth $25. Because she was homeless, she never received the notice to appear in court. Unable to cover bail, she spent 45 days in jail. Since her release, she has been dedicated to changing the system and helping others raise their voices through her activism, writing and oral performances. Faylita is a Black poet, essayist, and interdisciplinary artist. The former Editor-in-Chief of Borderlands: Texas Poetry Review, author of HoodWitch (Acre Books, 2019), a finalist for the 2020 Lambda Literary Award for Bisexual Poetry. Her creative work has been featured in American Poetry Review, the Cincinnati Review, Huffpost, Longreads, Poetry Magazine, Slate, Texas Observer, Texas Monthly, and others. Faylita received an MFA in Creative Writing from Sierra Nevada University and she is currently at work on a multimedia project about pretrial incarceration and immigrant detention in the Southwest.

Fernando Martinez

Contractor and Owner of Build Austin, LLC Fernando Martinez’s first traffic stop at the age of 19 became an endless cycle of fees and license suspensions that would cost him almost $20,000 during a cycle that would go on for over 10 years. He is from Austin, TX and where he resides with his wife and two children and runs his contracting business Build Austin LLC. Fernando is a board member of the Texas Fair Defense Project, the organization that helped him get out of the cycle of arrest, jail and fines/fees, that started with a misdemeanor vehicle violation. His testimony of what he experienced over 15 years, helped pass reform bill HB 162 that decreased the penalty from driving with a suspended license from an additional 2 years to just 90 days.

Brad Haggard

Brad Haggard was arrested for possession of a small amount of marijuana before many states adopted a more lenient stance. His arrest created a snowball effect where he lost his job, his home and had to live in his car with his children. He’s dedicated his life to making sure others do not suffer the same fate. Brad currently works at the Harris County Public Defender’s Office as an Assistant Public Defender and also as a Bar Prep Coach at South Texas College of Law. Brad passed the Texas Bar Exam 2019 and works to help people overcome adversity in the courtroom and succeed in their personal lives with a fresh start. In order to introduce the justice system in a positive light to young people, Brad is taking steps to establish a high school mock trial program in his home city of Cincinnati. Brad is indebted to his incredible wife and five children for the tremendous support.

Chris Lollie

Chris Lollie was waiting to pick his children up from daycare in St. Paul Minnesota when he was arrested for questioning why he was being detained. The egregious charges brought against him became the subject of a lawsuit that was decided in his favor. He continues to use his platform as an advocate for change and youth. Chris is a loving father of 4 children, an avid lyricist, youth advocate and an activist for civil liberties and rights for all Americans especially descendants of formerly enslaved people. One of Minnesota’s unsung heroes, Chris has been making music for 15 years and has consistently created conscious content geared toward the fight for understanding and freedom.

Michael Robinson

When a call for an ambulance was not responded to, Michael set out on his own and was pulled over a block away from his Joliet home. He was charged with a DUI and was sent home with an ankle monitor. An avid athlete since his youth when he was a Track and Field State Champion and High School Hall of Fame inductee. He went on to serve in the U.S. Navy for three years and after honorable discharge, studied science and earned an A.A. and B.S. in Electrical Engineering. Michael donated a life-saving kidney to a friend, and soon after became ordained as Clergy, founding the A-1 Corporation; a non-profit ecclesiastical community development corp. Michael recently graduated from Flint Bible Institute with a certificate in Religious Studies. He currently works as an Electrician (Reliability Technician) at Ecolab, Joliet Illinois.

DeMario Davis

Demario is a professional All-Pro linebacker for the New Orleans Saints. Demario was raised by a single mom and the only way he could afford college was on a football scholarship. During his first year, he and a college roommate were caught taking food from a Walmart. They were arrested and the the bail was $10,000. If it weren’t for his coach, he would have not gotten out of jail and his life would be very different. He works with the NFL Players Association to bring attention to criminal justice.

THE EXPERTS

Alexandra Natapoff

Alexandra Natapoff is an award-winning legal scholar, a criminal justice expert, and a professor at Harvard Law School. Her book “Punishment Without Crime: How Our Massive Misdemeanor System Traps the Innocent and Makes America More Unequal,” is the inspiration for this film. She writes about criminal courts, public defense, plea bargaining, wrongful convictions, and race and inequality in the criminal system. Professor Natapoff is a 2016 Guggenheim Fellow, a member of the American Law Institute, and a graduate of Yale University and Stanford Law School. Prior to joining the academy, she served as an Assistant Federal Public Defender in Baltimore, Maryland.

Douglas A. Blackmon

Douglas is a Pulitzer Prize winning Author of “Slavery by Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II” and co-executive producer of the acclaimed PBS documentary of the same name. Blackmon has written extensively over the past 25 years about the American quandary of race — exploring the integration of schools during his childhood in a Mississippi Delta farm town, lost episodes of the Civil Rights movement, and, repeatedly, the dilemma of how contemporary societies grapple with a troubled past. Blackmon is Professor of Practice in Georgia State University’s Creative Media Industries Institute.

Kahlil Gibran Muhammad

Kahlil Gibran Muhammad is a Professor of History, Race & Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. He’s also the author of “The Condemnation of Blackness: Race, Crime, and the Making of Modern Urban America.” Muhammad is at the forefront of scholarship on the enduring link between race and crime in the United States that has shaped and limited opportunities for African-Americans. Muhammad is working on his second book, “Disappearing Acts: The End of White Criminality in the Age of Jim Crow,” which traces the historical roots of the changing demographics of crime and punishment so evident today.

Irene Joe

Professor Irene Oritseweyinmi Joe joined the faculty at UC Davis School of Law in 2016. Her research focuses on how the design of the criminal process affects the ability of institutional attorneys to manage overwhelming caseloads and comply with ethical requirements. Prior to joining the UC Davis faculty, Professor Joe served as a fellow for the Equal Justice Initiative (Bryan Stevenson) of Alabama where she represented indigent defendants in capital post-conviction litigation and children sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Gaye Theresa Johnson

Gaye Theresa Johnson is an Associate Professor of Chicano Studies and African American Studies at UCLA. She writes and teaches on race, cultural politics, and freedom struggles. She is the author of two books: “Spaces of Conflict, Sounds of Solidarity: Music, Race, and Spatial Entitlement in Los Angeles” and “Futures of Black Radicalism,” co-edited with Alex Lubin and published with Verso Press. Johnson is finishing two new books: “These Walls Will Fall: Redefining Freedom in the 21st Century” and a co-edited volume titled “Rings of Dissent: Boxing and the Performance of Rebellion.”

Paul Delano Butler

Paul Delano Butler is an American lawyer, former prosecutor, and current law professor of Georgetown University Law Center. He is a leading criminal law scholar, particularly in the area of race and jury nullification. He is one of the nation’s most frequently consulted scholars on issues of race and criminal justice. His book “Chokehold: Policing Black Men” was published in July 2017. Professor Butler served as a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice, where his specialty was public corruption. His prosecutions included a United States Senator, three FBI agents, and several other law enforcement officials. Professor Butler is a graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School.

THE TEAM

Robert Greenwald – Director

Robert Greenwald is president of Brave New Films, a nonprofit film company that he founded after a career in commercial television and film to motivate and educate viewers on the most pressing issues of the day. Brave New Films distributes its work for free through social media and in concert with nonprofit partners and movements. The group’s movies and videos have been screened around the world and viewed over tens of millions of times and counting. At Brave New Films, Greenwald has directed and produced gripping full-length documentaries and exposés, as well as shorter documentary films and videos. His latest documentary, SUPPRESSED: THE FIGHT TO VOTE, tells the story of rampant voter suppression in Georgia’s 2018 midterm elections. Greenwald’s investigative documentary shorts include Healing Trauma: Beyond Gangs and Prisons on Los Angeles’ Homeboy Industries, 16 Women and Donald Trump on President Trump’s serial abuse of women, and Immigrant Prisons on America’s system of privately-run immigrant detention centers. Previous feature-length investigative documentaries include MAKING A KILLING: GUNS, GREED, AND THE NRA, UNMANNED: AMERICA'S DRONE WARS, WAR ON WHISTLEBLOWERS, KOCH BROTHERS EXPOSED, RETHINK AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ FOR SALE: THE WAR PROFITEERS, WAL-MART: THE HIGH COST OF LOW PRICE, OUTFOXED: RUPERT MURDOCH'S WAR ON JOURNALISM AND UNCOVERED: THE WAR ON IRAQ. Greenwald and Brave New Films’ work has been featured widely in the media, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Variety, Hollywood Reporter and many more. Before launching Brave Films in 2005, Greenwald produced and/or directed more than 65 TV movies, miniseries and films as well as major theatrical releases. His early body of work includes Steal This Movie! Breaking Up, A Woman of Independent Means and The Burning Bed. Greenwald has earned 25 Emmy Award nominations, two Golden Globe nominations, the Peabody Award and the Robert Wood Johnson Award. He was awarded the 2002 Producer of the Year Award by the American Film Institute.

Casey Cooper Johnson – Producer

Prior to his work in Los Angeles, Casey lived for 10 years in post-war Kosovo, producing documentaries and television, including the internationally syndicated current affairs show, LIFE IN KOSOVO. At the American Film Institute, Johnson wrote and directed the short film UNMANNED, which screened at Tribeca Film Festival. He was Creator and EP of the Oculus VR series CAMPFIRE CREEPERS and was Director/EP of URBAN NIGHTMARES, a series on the blackpills channel. He is co-founder of Crossing Bridges Films together with his wife, Antoneta Kastrati and her sister/cinematographer, Sevdije Kastrati. Casey produced and co-wrote the feature film ZANA, directed by Antoneta, which world premiered at TIFF 2019 and was Kosovo’s submission for the 2020 Oscars. He has worked at Brave New Films since 2018, where he most recently produced the documentary SUPPRESSED: THE FIGHT TO VOTE.

Laurie Ashbourne – Producer

Laurie comes to the film industry via the feature animation world. She spent eleven years at Walt Disney Studios working on blockbusters such as THE LION KING and MULAN, while here she learned the craft and nuance of story and how to balance that with the business. After which led her into the world of documentary as a writer/director for THE CENTER OF STORY, a doc centered on the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, TN. From there she went to work with an acclaimed documentary director David Modigliani (RUNNING WITH BETO) where they collaborated on such features as CRAWFORD and 61 BULLETS, alongside several cause-focused short form docs for organizations such as NOAA and Proctor and Gamble. In addition, three feature projects written by Laurie that focus on narratives with social impact are in different stages of production, as well as a horror film with Eli Roth and Roger Birnbaum fast-tracked into production just before the pandemic. She is also a longstanding story analyst for Amazon Studios Feature Films and Austin Film Festival. Her previous projects at Brave New Films had her co-producing SUPPRESSED: THE FIGHT TO VOTE and the animated short, THE TROUBLE WITH LONG PRISON TERMS.

Deborah Correa – Co-Producer

Deborah Correa is an award-winning Colombian-American director and producer who recently directed Re/Collection (Josh Kelly), a short film that premiered at the Sun Valley Film Festival. Deborah was chosen for the prestigious AFI Directing Workshop for Women. Her work spans television, film and podcasts with both narrative and documentary projects. Her credits include PBS, History Channel, Spotify, Hulu, iHeartRadio and Travel Chanel. While working on Peter Berg’s Film 45/History Channel series, The Warfighters, Deborah worked with over 90 US Spec-Ops Veterans in front of and behind the camera and she continues to work with veterans in telling their stories. Her earliest work documented the return of a displaced village from the narco-wars in her father’s homeland of Colombia. While re-visiting her childhood memories of a misunderstood country, she travelled with this community back to their homes. That experience continues to shape her direction in her work.

Bill Dill, ASC – Director of Photography

Bill Dill is an award-winning cinematographer and a renowned professor at Chapman University and the American Film Institute. His first feature film, SIDEWALK STORIES (1989), premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and won the Prix Du Public. Among his many credits are THE FIVE HEARTBEATS (1991), B.A.P.S. (1997), the American Playhouse production of FIRES IN THE MIRROR (1993), a Pulitzer Prize finalist, and the Showtime TV series SOUL FOOD (2000). He has filmed for many TV channels and shows, such as 60 MINUTES. He teaches courses on cinematography for Lynda.com and for the Sundance Collab Masterclass program. Bill is a member of the prestigious American Society of Cinematographers.

Kiana Wilson – Editor

Kiana Wilson is a video editor based in Los Angeles. An HBCU graduate, with a degree in broadcast journalism, Kiana began her career creating lifestyle shorts and promotional content for luxury brands, before turning her skills toward television development. As a development editor, Kiana has worked on numerous docu-series pilots for networks such as HGTV, A&E, History, Lifetime, Bravo and WE. Throughout her professional career, Kiana has been driven to provide accurate representations of people of color and women in media. Her professional experience ranges from scripted series, commercial/branding, music video, web series, and more recently, documentary.

Will Rosati – Sound Designer & Re-Recording Mixer

Will Rosati is a Sound Designer/Composer from Brooklyn, NY. He has built up his sound design chops in the advertising industry working with major brands like Verizon, Adidas and Hennessy and winning AICP awards for his work. He is also a classically trained musician who writes and produces music for artists, brands, and agencies around the country. He brings these experiences to film in a unique way by blurring the line between music, sound design and mix to create impactful soundtracks that help support the emotion of a story.

Besnik Krivanjeva – Motion Graphics Designer

Besnik Krivanjeva is a versatile motion graphics designer based in Kosovo. He is the chief of Graphic Design at Radio Television Kosovo, the country’s national public broadcaster. In addition to designing graphics for documentaries and commercials, Besnik created the graphics for the internationally syndicated current affairs program, LIFE IN KOSOVO. He is a regular collaborator on Brave New Films projects.

Noely Mendoza – Assistant Editor/Associate Producer

Noely Mendoza is an emerging editor and producer. She was selected for the 2019 Brave New Films Fellow program where she produced and edited a series on youth activism and worked on the film Suppressed: The Fight to Vote. She graduated with honors from Amherst College with a degree in Film and Media Studies. She is originally from Santa Barbara, California. Her work focuses on uplifting the voices of those unheard, and creatively expanding the limits of nonfiction storytelling. She has a strong background in documentary and enjoys the intellectually grueling process of editing.

Mahershala Ali – Voiceover

An Oakland native, Ali won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performances as Juan in the film “Moonlight” (2016) and for his portrayal of Don Shirley in the film “Green Book” (2018). In 2019, he played the lead role of a troubled police officer in the third season of the HBO anthology crime series “True Detective” and in 2020, he starred in the second season of the Hulu series “Ramy.” He received Primetime Emmy Award nominations for both performances. Time magazine named Ali one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2019.

Robert Greenwald – Director

Robert Greenwald is president of Brave New Films, a nonprofit film company that he founded after a career in commercial television and film to motivate and educate viewers on the most pressing issues of the day. Brave New Films distributes its work for free through social media and in concert with nonprofit partners and movements. The group’s movies and videos have been screened around the world and viewed over tens of millions of times and counting. At Brave New Films, Greenwald has directed and produced gripping full-length documentaries and exposés, as well as shorter documentary films and videos. His latest documentary, SUPPRESSED: THE FIGHT TO VOTE, tells the story of rampant voter suppression in Georgia’s 2018 midterm elections. Greenwald’s investigative documentary shorts include Healing Trauma: Beyond Gangs and Prisons on Los Angeles’ Homeboy Industries, 16 Women and Donald Trump on President Trump’s serial abuse of women, and Immigrant Prisons on America’s system of privately-run immigrant detention centers. Previous feature-length investigative documentaries include MAKING A KILLING: GUNS, GREED, AND THE NRA, UNMANNED: AMERICA'S DRONE WARS, WAR ON WHISTLEBLOWERS, KOCH BROTHERS EXPOSED, RETHINK AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ FOR SALE: THE WAR PROFITEERS, WAL-MART: THE HIGH COST OF LOW PRICE, OUTFOXED: RUPERT MURDOCH'S WAR ON JOURNALISM AND UNCOVERED: THE WAR ON IRAQ. Greenwald and Brave New Films’ work has been featured widely in the media, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Variety, Hollywood Reporter and many more. Before launching Brave Films in 2005, Greenwald produced and/or directed more than 65 TV movies, miniseries and films as well as major theatrical releases. His early body of work includes Steal This Movie! Breaking Up, A Woman of Independent Means and The Burning Bed. Greenwald has earned 25 Emmy Award nominations, two Golden Globe nominations, the Peabody Award and the Robert Wood Johnson Award. He was awarded the 2002 Producer of the Year Award by the American Film Institute.

Casey Cooper Johnson – Producer

Prior to his work in Los Angeles, Casey lived for 10 years in post-war Kosovo, producing documentaries and television, including the internationally syndicated current affairs show, LIFE IN KOSOVO. At the American Film Institute, Johnson wrote and directed the short film UNMANNED, which screened at Tribeca Film Festival. He was Creator and EP of the Oculus VR series CAMPFIRE CREEPERS and was Director/EP of URBAN NIGHTMARES, a series on the blackpills channel. He is co-founder of Crossing Bridges Films together with his wife, Antoneta Kastrati and her sister/cinematographer, Sevdije Kastrati. Casey produced and co-wrote the feature film ZANA, directed by Antoneta, which world premiered at TIFF 2019 and was Kosovo’s submission for the 2020 Oscars. He has worked at Brave New Films since 2018, where he most recently produced the documentary SUPPRESSED: THE FIGHT TO VOTE.

Laurie Ashbourne – Producer

Laurie comes to the film industry via the feature animation world. She spent eleven years at Walt Disney Studios working on blockbusters such as THE LION KING and MULAN, while here she learned the craft and nuance of story and how to balance that with the business. After which led her into the world of documentary as a writer/director for THE CENTER OF STORY, a doc centered on the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, TN. From there she went to work with an acclaimed documentary director David Modigliani (RUNNING WITH BETO) where they collaborated on such features as CRAWFORD and 61 BULLETS, alongside several cause-focused short form docs for organizations such as NOAA and Proctor and Gamble. In addition, three feature projects written by Laurie that focus on narratives with social impact are in different stages of production, as well as a horror film with Eli Roth and Roger Birnbaum fast-tracked into production just before the pandemic. She is also a longstanding story analyst for Amazon Studios Feature Films and Austin Film Festival. Her previous projects at Brave New Films had her co-producing SUPPRESSED: THE FIGHT TO VOTE and the animated short, THE TROUBLE WITH LONG PRISON TERMS.

Deborah Correa – Co-Producer

Deborah Correa is an award-winning Colombian-American director and producer who recently directed Re/Collection (Josh Kelly), a short film that premiered at the Sun Valley Film Festival. Deborah was chosen for the prestigious AFI Directing Workshop for Women. Her work spans television, film and podcasts with both narrative and documentary projects. Her credits include PBS, History Channel, Spotify, Hulu, iHeartRadio and Travel Chanel. While working on Peter Berg’s Film 45/History Channel series, The Warfighters, Deborah worked with over 90 US Spec-Ops Veterans in front of and behind the camera and she continues to work with veterans in telling their stories. Her earliest work documented the return of a displaced village from the narco-wars in her father’s homeland of Colombia. While re-visiting her childhood memories of a misunderstood country, she travelled with this community back to their homes. That experience continues to shape her direction in her work.

Bill Dill, ASC – Director of Photography

Bill Dill is an award-winning cinematographer and a renowned professor at Chapman University and the American Film Institute. His first feature film, SIDEWALK STORIES (1989), premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and won the Prix Du Public. Among his many credits are THE FIVE HEARTBEATS (1991), B.A.P.S. (1997), the American Playhouse production of FIRES IN THE MIRROR (1993), a Pulitzer Prize finalist, and the Showtime TV series SOUL FOOD (2000). He has filmed for many TV channels and shows, such as 60 MINUTES. He teaches courses on cinematography for Lynda.com and for the Sundance Collab Masterclass program. Bill is a member of the prestigious American Society of Cinematographers.

Kiana Wilson – Editor

Kiana Wilson is a video editor based in Los Angeles. An HBCU graduate, with a degree in broadcast journalism, Kiana began her career creating lifestyle shorts and promotional content for luxury brands, before turning her skills toward television development. As a development editor, Kiana has worked on numerous docu-series pilots for networks such as HGTV, A&E, History, Lifetime, Bravo and WE. Throughout her professional career, Kiana has been driven to provide accurate representations of people of color and women in media. Her professional experience ranges from scripted series, commercial/branding, music video, web series, and more recently, documentary.

Will Rosati – Sound Designer & Re-Recording Mixer

Will Rosati is a Sound Designer/Composer from Brooklyn, NY. He has built up his sound design chops in the advertising industry working with major brands like Verizon, Adidas and Hennessy and winning AICP awards for his work. He is also a classically trained musician who writes and produces music for artists, brands, and agencies around the country. He brings these experiences to film in a unique way by blurring the line between music, sound design and mix to create impactful soundtracks that help support the emotion of a story.

Besnik Krivanjeva – Motion Graphics Designer

Besnik Krivanjeva is a versatile motion graphics designer based in Kosovo. He is the chief of Graphic Design at Radio Television Kosovo, the country’s national public broadcaster. In addition to designing graphics for documentaries and commercials, Besnik created the graphics for the internationally syndicated current affairs program, LIFE IN KOSOVO. He is a regular collaborator on Brave New Films projects.

Noely Mendoza – Assistant Editor/Associate Producer

Noely Mendoza is an emerging editor and producer. She was selected for the 2019 Brave New Films Fellow program where she produced and edited a series on youth activism and worked on the film Suppressed: The Fight to Vote. She graduated with honors from Amherst College with a degree in Film and Media Studies. She is originally from Santa Barbara, California. Her work focuses on uplifting the voices of those unheard, and creatively expanding the limits of nonfiction storytelling. She has a strong background in documentary and enjoys the intellectually grueling process of editing.

Mahershala Ali – Voiceover

An Oakland native, Ali won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performances as Juan in the film “Moonlight” (2016) and for his portrayal of Don Shirley in the film “Green Book” (2018). In 2019, he played the lead role of a troubled police officer in the third season of the HBO anthology crime series “True Detective” and in 2020, he starred in the second season of the Hulu series “Ramy.” He received Primetime Emmy Award nominations for both performances. Time magazine named Ali one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2019.

Robert Greenwald – Director

Robert Greenwald is president of Brave New Films, a nonprofit film company that he founded after a career in commercial television and film to motivate and educate viewers on the most pressing issues of the day. Brave New Films distributes its work for free through social media and in concert with nonprofit partners and movements. The group’s movies and videos have been screened around the world and viewed over tens of millions of times and counting. At Brave New Films, Greenwald has directed and produced gripping full-length documentaries and exposés, as well as shorter documentary films and videos. His latest documentary, SUPPRESSED: THE FIGHT TO VOTE, tells the story of rampant voter suppression in Georgia’s 2018 midterm elections. Greenwald’s investigative documentary shorts include Healing Trauma: Beyond Gangs and Prisons on Los Angeles’ Homeboy Industries, 16 Women and Donald Trump on President Trump’s serial abuse of women, and Immigrant Prisons on America’s system of privately-run immigrant detention centers. Previous feature-length investigative documentaries include MAKING A KILLING: GUNS, GREED, AND THE NRA, UNMANNED: AMERICA'S DRONE WARS, WAR ON WHISTLEBLOWERS, KOCH BROTHERS EXPOSED, RETHINK AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ FOR SALE: THE WAR PROFITEERS, WAL-MART: THE HIGH COST OF LOW PRICE, OUTFOXED: RUPERT MURDOCH'S WAR ON JOURNALISM AND UNCOVERED: THE WAR ON IRAQ. Greenwald and Brave New Films’ work has been featured widely in the media, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Variety, Hollywood Reporter and many more. Before launching Brave Films in 2005, Greenwald produced and/or directed more than 65 TV movies, miniseries and films as well as major theatrical releases. His early body of work includes Steal This Movie! Breaking Up, A Woman of Independent Means and The Burning Bed. Greenwald has earned 25 Emmy Award nominations, two Golden Globe nominations, the Peabody Award and the Robert Wood Johnson Award. He was awarded the 2002 Producer of the Year Award by the American Film Institute.

Casey Cooper Johnson – Producer

Prior to his work in Los Angeles, Casey lived for 10 years in post-war Kosovo, producing documentaries and television, including the internationally syndicated current affairs show, LIFE IN KOSOVO. At the American Film Institute, Johnson wrote and directed the short film UNMANNED, which screened at Tribeca Film Festival. He was Creator and EP of the Oculus VR series CAMPFIRE CREEPERS and was Director/EP of URBAN NIGHTMARES, a series on the blackpills channel. He is co-founder of Crossing Bridges Films together with his wife, Antoneta Kastrati and her sister/cinematographer, Sevdije Kastrati. Casey produced and co-wrote the feature film ZANA, directed by Antoneta, which world premiered at TIFF 2019 and was Kosovo’s submission for the 2020 Oscars. He has worked at Brave New Films since 2018, where he most recently produced the documentary SUPPRESSED: THE FIGHT TO VOTE.

Laurie Ashbourne – Producer

Laurie comes to the film industry via the feature animation world. She spent eleven years at Walt Disney Studios working on blockbusters such as THE LION KING and MULAN, while here she learned the craft and nuance of story and how to balance that with the business. After which led her into the world of documentary as a writer/director for THE CENTER OF STORY, a doc centered on the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, TN. From there she went to work with an acclaimed documentary director David Modigliani (RUNNING WITH BETO) where they collaborated on such features as CRAWFORD and 61 BULLETS, alongside several cause-focused short form docs for organizations such as NOAA and Proctor and Gamble. In addition, three feature projects written by Laurie that focus on narratives with social impact are in different stages of production, as well as a horror film with Eli Roth and Roger Birnbaum fast-tracked into production just before the pandemic. She is also a longstanding story analyst for Amazon Studios Feature Films and Austin Film Festival. Her previous projects at Brave New Films had her co-producing SUPPRESSED: THE FIGHT TO VOTE and the animated short, THE TROUBLE WITH LONG PRISON TERMS.

Deborah Correa – Co-Producer

Deborah Correa is an award-winning Colombian-American director and producer who recently directed Re/Collection (Josh Kelly), a short film that premiered at the Sun Valley Film Festival. Deborah was chosen for the prestigious AFI Directing Workshop for Women. Her work spans television, film and podcasts with both narrative and documentary projects. Her credits include PBS, History Channel, Spotify, Hulu, iHeartRadio and Travel Chanel. While working on Peter Berg’s Film 45/History Channel series, The Warfighters, Deborah worked with over 90 US Spec-Ops Veterans in front of and behind the camera and she continues to work with veterans in telling their stories. Her earliest work documented the return of a displaced village from the narco-wars in her father’s homeland of Colombia. While re-visiting her childhood memories of a misunderstood country, she travelled with this community back to their homes. That experience continues to shape her direction in her work.

Bill Dill, ASC – Director of Photography

Bill Dill is an award-winning cinematographer and a renowned professor at Chapman University and the American Film Institute. His first feature film, SIDEWALK STORIES (1989), premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and won the Prix Du Public. Among his many credits are THE FIVE HEARTBEATS (1991), B.A.P.S. (1997), the American Playhouse production of FIRES IN THE MIRROR (1993), a Pulitzer Prize finalist, and the Showtime TV series SOUL FOOD (2000). He has filmed for many TV channels and shows, such as 60 MINUTES. He teaches courses on cinematography for Lynda.com and for the Sundance Collab Masterclass program. Bill is a member of the prestigious American Society of Cinematographers.

Kiana Wilson – Editor

Kiana Wilson is a video editor based in Los Angeles. An HBCU graduate, with a degree in broadcast journalism, Kiana began her career creating lifestyle shorts and promotional content for luxury brands, before turning her skills toward television development. As a development editor, Kiana has worked on numerous docu-series pilots for networks such as HGTV, A&E, History, Lifetime, Bravo and WE. Throughout her professional career, Kiana has been driven to provide accurate representations of people of color and women in media. Her professional experience ranges from scripted series, commercial/branding, music video, web series, and more recently, documentary.

Will Rosati – Sound Designer & Re-Recording Mixer

Will Rosati is a Sound Designer/Composer from Brooklyn, NY. He has built up his sound design chops in the advertising industry working with major brands like Verizon, Adidas and Hennessy and winning AICP awards for his work. He is also a classically trained musician who writes and produces music for artists, brands, and agencies around the country. He brings these experiences to film in a unique way by blurring the line between music, sound design and mix to create impactful soundtracks that help support the emotion of a story.

Besnik Krivanjeva – Motion Graphics Designer

Besnik Krivanjeva is a versatile motion graphics designer based in Kosovo. He is the chief of Graphic Design at Radio Television Kosovo, the country’s national public broadcaster. In addition to designing graphics for documentaries and commercials, Besnik created the graphics for the internationally syndicated current affairs program, LIFE IN KOSOVO. He is a regular collaborator on Brave New Films projects.

Noely Mendoza – Assistant Editor/Associate Producer

Noely Mendoza is an emerging editor and producer. She was selected for the 2019 Brave New Films Fellow program where she produced and edited a series on youth activism and worked on the film Suppressed: The Fight to Vote. She graduated with honors from Amherst College with a degree in Film and Media Studies. She is originally from Santa Barbara, California. Her work focuses on uplifting the voices of those unheard, and creatively expanding the limits of nonfiction storytelling. She has a strong background in documentary and enjoys the intellectually grueling process of editing.

Mahershala Ali – Voiceover

An Oakland native, Ali won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performances as Juan in the film “Moonlight” (2016) and for his portrayal of Don Shirley in the film “Green Book” (2018). In 2019, he played the lead role of a troubled police officer in the third season of the HBO anthology crime series “True Detective” and in 2020, he starred in the second season of the Hulu series “Ramy.” He received Primetime Emmy Award nominations for both performances. Time magazine named Ali one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2019.

Additional Video Content

Additional Past stories

Past racial terrorism

  1. The Atlanta Constitution

    Chief of Police Kills Negro; shoots George Harris in the head as he resists arrest. There was question as to whether the bullet entered the back or the front of his head. Chief was found justified in the killing as it was considered “self-defense”. (This reminds me of Rayshard Brooks).

  2. The Gazette

    Harrisburg Police Beat Negro to Death. W. J. Thomas was clubbed to death while resisting arrest. (Michael Brown, Eric Garner)

  3. Los Angeles Herald reporting on Shreveport

    Tom Jackson was lynched for stealing a dollar. He had been arrested and his body was found riddled with bullets about ½ a mile from where he had been chained by local authorities.

  4. The Muskogee Cimeter

    Police Helped to Lynch Negro.

  5. Indianapolis News

    Police Brutally Beat John Shobe as he walks home from work. They tried to charge him with drunkenness and vagrancy and he was beaten almost to death. The judge later dismissed the charges they tried to pin on him as there were eyewitnesses who testified against the police. Reminds me of our jaywalking and loitering stories (Nandi, Chris, Emilio and Johnny).

  6. The Journal and Tribune

    Deputy Sheriff Kills Negro. This was allegedly an accidental discharge of his weapon.

  7. The Oklahoma News

    Police Shoot Negro Alleged to Be a Chicken Thief.

  8. 2. The New York Age

    Police Brutality Leads to the death of 18-year-old Herbert Dent. This one is gruesome and I attached a very detailed article about it with Herbert’s picture. He was being held on an alleged robbery and assault charge. As he was beaten to death, his cries could be heard by the neighbors, one woman kept calling the police to sound the alarm but they told her he deserved it. The police had their autopsy of Herbert done first where they removed all his vital organs. The family had another autopsy performed that showed severe blows to the back of the head.

  9. The Winston County Journal

    Sheriff Kills Negro. Mercer Stewart was shot and killed by Sheriff Walker for allegedly stealing a turkey.

  10. The News

    Mob Overpowers State Police to Lynch Jailed Negro. This article has a photo of George Armwood, the 24-year-old victim.

  11. Fort Worth Star Telegram

    Police Shoot Negro to Death During Robbery. Oscar Riley was shot and killed when he failed to comply with their orders to raise his hands. (Philando Castile)

  12. Spokane Chronicle

    Police Shoot and Kill Negro Accused of Attack.

  1. The Atlanta Constitution

    Chief of Police Kills Negro; shoots George Harris in the head as he resists arrest. There was question as to whether the bullet entered the back or the front of his head. Chief was found justified in the killing as it was considered “self-defense”. (This reminds me of Rayshard Brooks).

  2. The Gazette

    Harrisburg Police Beat Negro to Death. W. J. Thomas was clubbed to death while resisting arrest. (Michael Brown, Eric Garner)

  3. Los Angeles Herald reporting on Shreveport

    Tom Jackson was lynched for stealing a dollar. He had been arrested and his body was found riddled with bullets about ½ a mile from where he had been chained by local authorities.

  4. The Muskogee Cimeter

    Police Helped to Lynch Negro.

  5. Indianapolis News

    Police Brutally Beat John Shobe as he walks home from work. They tried to charge him with drunkenness and vagrancy and he was beaten almost to death. The judge later dismissed the charges they tried to pin on him as there were eyewitnesses who testified against the police. Reminds me of our jaywalking and loitering stories (Nandi, Chris, Emilio and Johnny).

  6. The Journal and Tribune

    Deputy Sheriff Kills Negro. This was allegedly an accidental discharge of his weapon.

  7. The Oklahoma News

    Police Shoot Negro Alleged to Be a Chicken Thief.

  8. 2. The New York Age

    Police Brutality Leads to the death of 18-year-old Herbert Dent. This one is gruesome and I attached a very detailed article about it with Herbert’s picture. He was being held on an alleged robbery and assault charge. As he was beaten to death, his cries could be heard by the neighbors, one woman kept calling the police to sound the alarm but they told her he deserved it. The police had their autopsy of Herbert done first where they removed all his vital organs. The family had another autopsy performed that showed severe blows to the back of the head.

  9. The Winston County Journal

    Sheriff Kills Negro. Mercer Stewart was shot and killed by Sheriff Walker for allegedly stealing a turkey.

  10. The News

    Mob Overpowers State Police to Lynch Jailed Negro. This article has a photo of George Armwood, the 24-year-old victim.

  11. Fort Worth Star Telegram

    Police Shoot Negro to Death During Robbery. Oscar Riley was shot and killed when he failed to comply with their orders to raise his hands. (Philando Castile)

  12. Spokane Chronicle

    Police Shoot and Kill Negro Accused of Attack.

FACTS

In Film

What does 13 Million look like? 

80% of America’s criminal court cases are for misdemeanors*

There are so many misdemeanor cases in our courts that they have to be handled quickly:

In New York, two-thirds of arrests are for misdemeanors.

What does 13 Million look like? 

80% of America’s criminal court cases are for misdemeanors*

There are so many misdemeanor cases in our courts that they have to be handled quickly:

In New York, two-thirds of arrests are for misdemeanors.

* Punishment Without Crime, Alexandra Natapoff, Basic Books

Everyday over 730,000 people are in our 3,000 jails – in some 50% are for misdemeanors. 60% (nearly half a million people are held pre-trial) Pre-trial detainees spend at least a month in jail before they are convicted of any crime. Two thirds of the jail population, nearly a half a million people, are held in jails pre-trial everyday Pre-trial detainees spend at least a month in jail before they are convicted of any crime.

Duration of pre-trial detainment is between 50-200 days

On average (pre-covid) 1,000 people die in jail every year, 30% within the first few days.

Reconstruction (4 million freed from bondage)

Many Black men elected to positions of power.

265

African-American delegates were elected, more than 100 of which had been born into Slavery.

700

African American men served in elected public office

2

United States Senators

14

members of the United States House of Representatives

1300

African American men and women held appointed government jobs

Everyday over 730,000 people are in our 3,000 jails – in some 50% are for misdemeanors. 60% (nearly half a million people are held pre-trial) Pre-trial detainees spend at least a month in jail before they are convicted of any crime. Two thirds of the jail population, nearly a half a million people, are held in jails pre-trial everyday Pre-trial detainees spend at least a month in jail before they are convicted of any crime.

Duration of pre-trial detainment is between 50-200 days

On average (pre-covid) 1,000 people die in jail every year, 30% within the first few days.

Reconstruction (4 million freed from bondage)

Many Black men elected to positions of power.

265

African-American delegates were elected, more than 100 of which had been born into Slavery.

700

African American men served in elected public office

2

United States Senators

14

members of the United States House of Representatives

1300

African American men and women held appointed government jobs

Everyday over 730,000 people are in our 3,000 jails – in some 50% are for misdemeanors. 60% (nearly half a million people are held pre-trial) Pre-trial detainees spend at least a month in jail before they are convicted of any crime. Two thirds of the jail population, nearly a half a million people, are held in jails pre-trial everyday Pre-trial detainees spend at least a month in jail before they are convicted of any crime.

Duration of pre-trial detainment is between 50-200 days

On average (pre-covid) 1,000 people die in jail every year, 30% within the first few days.

Reconstruction (4 million freed from bondage)

Many Black men elected to positions of power.

265

African-American delegates were elected, more than 100 of which had been born into Slavery.

700

African American men served in elected public office

2

United States Senators

14

members of the United States House of Representatives

1300

African American men and women held appointed government jobs

Over 200,000 Black Americans were forced into convict leasing as profitable way to replace the free labor that slavery used to provide, in Alabama alone; it is impossible to know how many were pushes through this system throughout all Southern states..[1]

[1] Slavery By Another Name, Douglas Blackmon, Anchor Books

In the 1850s

in Alabama, the small number of people incarcerated were ninety-nine percent white. By the 1870s, the prison population was 85 percent black.

At the end of the Civil War

Confederate states of America owed $1.7 Billion. Confederate currency lost 90% of value

Slavery

was so profitable, it sprouted more millionaires per capita in the Mississippi River valley than anywhere in the nation

Pelicula

A modern theme for the film industry & video production
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