By the time we wrapped our last shooting day, we had collected over 300 hours of footage. Lungs shouted for justice and moments later filled with teargas. A father baked cookies during a moment of peace. A police chief and a mayor cited lack of data. Our creative team quickly realized we had several possible movies on our hands, but our goal was singular; we wanted to communicate the story of Ferguson through the eyes of the people who lived it. As we looked for inspiration we came to understand our obstacle more clearly. We were entering a landscape where audiences were used to a particular type of journey. In historical moments like the one we are living through, we look for guidance in stories. One could argue that it is therapeutic to watch a person or group pursue a goal, and through some climactic moment succeed or fail, providing us with a lesson learned, and a sense of resolution.
The Story of Ferguson through the Eyes of the People Who Lived it
