iDc. :-)

------------------------------ The Journey to Freedom Project is a non-profit organization in Portland Oregon dedicated to educating youth on the topic of slavery. Founded by local history teacher Karanja Crews, the organization works out of local schools, primarily middle schools, with kids from all different back rounds. "Our goal is to turn reluctant readers into motivated readers and motivated readers into leaders". Special thanks to Tom Bacon and Dead Prez for their continued support. Written Directed and Produced by Jake Lyon. Filmed by Janique Robillard and Jake Lyon. Edited by Jake Lyon. Downhill Productions 2011. --------------------------- As politicians stand up and promise "change" to the nation, what are the people who need it the most doing to make a difference in their own communities with nothing at their disposal but their own creativity? Living together in a converted school bus, a wildly diverse group of artists, filmmakers, and musicians leaves Los Angeles behind looking for answers and searching for the intersection of Art and Politics in America. Behind the Wheel is a road movie truly like no other: meet everyone from guerilla poster artist Robbie Conal to controversial film director Oliver Stone; militant hip hop duo Dead Prez to Hurricane Katrina survivors in New Orleans' devastated Ninth Ward. Follow the LAFCO (Los Angeles Filmmakers Cooperative) crew as they search for, and find, pockets of change in the most downtrodden parts of America. From Venice Beach to Brooklyn, New York, through the Southwestern desert to the deep south, this is a portrait of the United States seldom seen in the mass media. "You're trying to change things by doing pure actions. In an impure world, that's a beautiful thing." -Oliver Stone ------------- A piece investigating the phenomenon of colorism and how it relates to the New Orleans Creole community. This project was the brain-child of being given complete creative license with the only obligation being to deliver 1 hour of television. I was deep into the spoken word and slam scene back then and knew I wanted the capture some of the energy of that movement. So that was kind of the spark behind this. But the desire to really get at this 'unspoken' issue was the focus. Major props to Ernest Collins, Brenda Hatfield and everyone on the Cox 10 Production TEAM.