Beyond Bullets: Gun Violence in America

Curated by Sylvia Savadjian (A Portion of the Evening’s Proceeds Will Be Donated to Harlem Mothers S.A.V.E.)

Living for 32

Kevin Breslin, 2010, 40 min.

Living for 32 is the inspirational story of Colin Goddard, a survivor of the tragic gun shooting massacre which occurred on the Virginia Tech campus, April 16th, 2007. The winning combination of Colin's passion, charisma and optimism has commanded the attention of the American public and media since the devastating incident which left 32 dead and 17 injured. In Living for 32, Colin shares an intimate account of terror he and his classmates endured and the courageous journey of renewal and hope he chose to pursue.

Watch the trailer: http://www.livingfor32.com/home.html

Bullets In the Hood: A Bed-Stuy Story  

Terrence Fisher and Daniel Howard, 2005, 22 min.

Winner of the 2005 Sundance Grand Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking, Bullets in the Hood: A Bed Stuy Story contains frightening images that could only be captured by someone like co-director Terrence Fisher, who has spent his entire life in the projects and experienced the tragedy of gun violence as a seemingly inescapable part of life.  Says indieWIRE, "...a great example of how Guerilla film making can play an important social function by bringing forth new and intimate voices and subjects that are normally glossed over by local evening news casts."

Watch the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKGE1Hea5-k

A Harlem Mother

Ivana Todorovic, 2009, 14 min.

In 1998, 18 year old LaTraun Parker made a documentary about the difficulties of growing up in Harlem. Eights years later he was shot dead on the street. Today his mother Jean Corbett-Parker (co-founder of not-for-profit Harlem Mothers S.A.V.E.) fights youth gun violence and helps other parents survive the pain through her organization, Harlem Mothers. Weaving footage from LaTraun’s own film with scenes from Jean’s new life today, A Harlem Mother is a short documentary that tells this tragic and inspirational story from the dual perspectives of mother and son.

Watch the trailer: http://aharlemmother.com/

Post screening panel with:  

Kevin Breslin, Director, Living for 32  

Kevin's directorial credits include A Smile Gone, But Where? and Women of Rockaway.  His latest, Living for 32 premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.  

Colin Goddard, Subject, Living for 32

Shot 4 times at the Virginia Tech shootings which left 32 dead and 17 more wounded, after finishing his college degree, Colin decided to volunteer for the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the nation's largest gun control organization.  

Jean Corbett-Parker, Co-founder Harlem Mothers S.A.V.E.

A longtime resident of Harlem, Jean was moved to start Harlem Mothers S.A.V.E. after her son, LaTraun Parker, died on April 28, 2001 outside a nightclub at the corner of Seventh Avenue and 131th Street.

Jackie Rowe-Adams has lost two children to gun violence.  Along with Jean Corbett-Parker, she co-founded Harlem Mothers S.A.V.E.  She is featured in Living for 32 with Colin Goddard.

Ya Girl Nicolette, is a Harlem based rapper, spoken word artist, and anti-gun violence activist with Street Corner Resources.  She has performed all over the tri-state area in the past 3 years.  

Stephanie Skaff, Downtown Community Television

Director of DCTV’s anti-gun violence media campaign, “Beyond Bullets”. Before coming to DCTV, Stephanie worked as a producer, fundraiser and arts administrator throughout NYC.