Lights, Camera…Activism!

(Written by Sheehey)  Wednesday was the first day where our student filmmaking groups had different experiences–at least in the morning.  One group got off to an early start at Holy Cross School for an interview session there; the rest headed into New Orleans proper to film “B-roll” for their movies (that is, background of the city).  The folks I was with took the Canal Street ferry to Algiers, and for most of us it was our first time on the Mississippi River (though only a brief ride).  Some had the chance to walk around there,  while another filmmaking group stayed on board the ferry in order to go to their pre-filmming meeting at the New Orleans Science Math Charter school.   Most of us had lunch in the French Quarter, famous for Jackson Square, historic houses, creole restaurants, and the beignets and chickory coffee of Cafe du Monde. By 1:00 we were due back at NOCCA, and for our afternoon “class” we joined the NOCCA writing students to hear a reading of the experiences of two death row exonerees.   Gregory Bright and John Thompson stood trial for crimes they did not commit and spent 27 1/2 years and 18 years (respectively) in prisons … Angola/Louisiana State Pen.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_State_Penitentiary.    The men had written of their experiences with our host teacher, Lara Naughton.  After their reading, there was a Q & A  session where questions ranged from the writing process to the pointlessness of revenge to the  corrupt justice system that incriminated them.   I can’t imagine anyone leaving the room unchanged.  When we drove away, it was the first time the students in my van turned off the tunes and tried to get to the bottom of the problems of the world. Then dinner.   We split up, giving the students some choices of restaurants along a park, and by 9:00 we were back at the Ramada for the pool, t.v., rest.  Striking to me is how genuinely flexible and wonderful the students are being, despite the driving (occasional lost drivers, the traffic of the President’s being in town), the food (always good but sometimes not in time) and the schedule (filled).  The four filming groups will have different experiences again tomorrow afternoon.  If it helps our readers, those groups are referred to as NOCCA (a film on the school itself), the Schools, Exiles,  and Behind the Scenes.