He approached fellow InsideOUT board member and founder of The Anti-Recidivism Coalition, Scott Budnick (The Hangover) who executive produced the They Call Us Monsters as a labor of love. [1] The teenagers participate in a screenwriting class at Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Los Angeles, California with producer Gabriel Cowan. Three young violent offenders learn screenwriting in one of LA's high-security detention centers. Grappling with tough questions about what it means to convict a young teenager to a lifetime in prison without diminishing or excusing the violent crimes which these kids are accused of, They Call Us Monsters is a loud plea for our need to rethink how we understand the American justice system. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to watch the film, as it provided me insight into the lives of an often-forgotten part of the population, educated me on the debate, about juvenile justice reform, and left me with a hunger to learn more. Documentary 2017 1 hr 21 min iTunes. This is true for Juan as well, who has a 90-year sentence. As part of the Kennesaw State University community we are committed to creating a culture of inclusion through our journalism and operations. One week they would open up and trust me, and another week they would be joking around and sort of making me the villain., Cowan gave the teensliberty to choose what they wanted their film to be about. All three are looking at terms that could keep them behind bars for decades. You can write a science fiction, you can write an animated film, you can write about ninjas, whatever you want.. Watch on. 87 Likes, TikTok video from EL NIO DE FUEGO (@antoniohernandezoficial): "Ya disponible en todas las plataformas digitales junto @MONCHO CHAVEA @original_eliass". sonido original - EL NIO DE FUEGO. [2] [3] Premise [ edit] The film was written in an InsideOUT Writers class taught by Gabriel Cowan which is featured in the documentary THEY CALL US MONSTERS directed by Ben Lear. Sorry your mother did what she did to you, it seems you are better off, Im sure it still hurts. As we see them crafting a short film based on their experiences, Lear gives us access to their families and in one case to their victims stories, balancing the fresh faces we see at the Compound with the violent crimes that landed them there. Lear, the son of television producer and liberal activist Norman Lear, was drawn to the issue after he was invited to sit in on one of the scriptwriting classes run by, , a Los Angeles-based organization that teaches creative writing to kids in juvenile lockups. Find out where to watch online amongst 45+ services including Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video. "They Call Us Monsters," directed by Ben Lear (Norman Lear's son), might seem like a straightforward advocacy documentary. This doc examines how minors are regarded in the justice system. And, I understand theyre just trying to keep the peace in the communities, which is real good, but I do feel that our youth has so much more potential and should be deal[t] with differently.. Antonio Hernandez is the second kid we learn about in the film. All Rights Reserved. Maybe that journey toward remorse and responsibility is different for everyone. Sign up for our daily newsletter. (https://jjie.org/2017/02/08/meet-the-monsters-documentary-looks-at-california-juvenile-debate/). The film follows three juvenile offenders: Juan Gamez, Antonio Hernandez and Jarad Nava who signed up for a screenwriting class. Follow her on Twitter at @EmilyBeJordan. Read the Notice of Nondiscrimination here. The film follows three juveniles: Juan Gamez, Antonio Hernandez and Jarad Nava. Buy $12.99. The proposed bill. "They Call Us Monsters," directed by Ben Lear (Norman Lear's son), might seem like a straightforward advocacy documentary. Aiming to de-stigmatize California's incarcerated juveniles, a documentary entitled They Call Us Monsters sheds light on the lives of those incarcerated and the state's legislative debate over juvenile sentencing reform. To their victims, they're monsters. As Newt Gingrich says in a news clip at the start of Lears film, There are no violent offenses that are juvenile; you rape somebody, youre an adult; you shoot somebody, youre an adult.. Seems like maybe youre afraid of the question.. Of course, aging out of crime and violence can also be offset by a prison culture that doesnt allow you to change. In Jarads case, he'll likelycome up for parole in 20-25 years, instead of the 80 or 90 years he would have had with a 160-year sentence. They Call US Monsters Where Are They Now? They Call Us Monsters aired on PBS in the spring. Their parents grew up in identical conditions before them and know nothing of survival in an "acceptable" way because they have NEVER been given instruction. They are locked up in a separate guardhouse, where legal actions will be served on teenagers in the same way that they are served on adults. about brain development in teenagers that found the part of the brain that regulates judgment, decision-making and impulse control doesnt fully form until a person is in their 20s. Every bit helps. As the boys work with Gabe on their screenplay, their complex stories are revealed. Another leads you on a mocking tour of his new home. Nevertheless, it proved to be very insightful because I [saw] how I was coping with pain, hurt and the fact I forfeited my freedom. being generous here 7 million pit bulls and Rottweilers and other dangerous breeds. Legislators debate legislation that allows for adult charges for juvenile offenders.Legislators debate legislation that allows for adult charges for juvenile offenders.Legislators debate legislation that allows for adult charges for juvenile offenders. It is available for streaming on both Netflix and iTunes. UPDATE 6/29/2017:They Call Us Monsters isnow streamingon Netflix. All three are looking at terms that could keep them behind bars for decades. Focused on the specific stories of Jarad, Antonio, and Juan, the latter two exemplifying the large Latinopopulation that often finds itself behind bars, the project shows us how a screenwriting class allows these boys to think back to what drove them to where they are currently. Publication Information. Download a copy of Jarad Navas complete handwritten letter. Halfway through the class, Antonio returns to juvenile court and gets released with time served. Juan:We are allow[ed] to watch TV, we can have our own [set] in the cell. I was more critical than anything, but I think that thats just the person I was at that time., Jarad:Yes, I was given the opportunity to watch the documentary and it was uncomfortable at first watching myself. Before watching They Call Us Monsters, I knew little to nothing about the issue of justice for juveniles under California Senate Bill 260, a law that went into effect in 2014 that gives a second chance to most people who were under the age of 18 at the time of their crime. But if studies prove a juveniles brain is not fully developed why would you give him more time in prison than hes lived. Sitting in his white undershirt, he tries to reconcile the number of years Jarad still has left on his sentence: 162. Reproduction of material from any Salon pages without written permission is strictly prohibited. Lear, who released Lillian as an album, partnered with Plastic Pollution Coalition and 4Gyres to raise awareness for plastic pollution. To see the short film, "Los," written by Juan, Jarad, and Antonio, visit InsideOUT Writers. Unrated Starring Allegra Acosta, Nate Corddry, Gabriel Cowan. They Call Us Monsters A Documentary Film Review 'The Call Us Monsters' is a documentary film in which the filmmakers are granted access to the Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar California. Available on iTunes Legislators debate legislation that allows for adult charges for juvenile offenders. Are you still interested in screenwriting and filmmaking and would you try to do that again even though youre incarcerated? Written By. I havent done drugs in three years [as] opposed to getting high every day. What is the value of a life? As they note on their site, the mission of InsideOUT Writers is to reduce the juvenile recidivism rate by providing a range of services that evolves to meet the needs of currently and formerly incarcerated youth and young adults. Not only do they offer creative writing classes to offer these young people the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully re-join the community, but they have instituted an Alumni program that supports former students upon their release. All rights reserved. that, according to Budnick, Cowan, Lear and other prison-reform policy advocates, differentiates the young person from the adult. Upload your text file or copy the materials to the field. I definitely believe teens that see unforeseen trauma in there childhood should certainly be given a serious second chance, their brains are not fully developed. In other words, Lear does not gloss over what Jarad actually did to end up at Sylmar, yet the film questions both his draconian punishment and the way the, system continually punishes low-income, mostly African-American and Latinx kids. It is our responsibility to help the youth that want help. Meanwhile, the realities of Jarad and Juans crimes and pending trials set in. But we believe its crucial and we think you agree. Ben Lear graduated from NYU in 2010 with a degree in music composition. SALON is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as a trademark of Salon.com, LLC. with lengthy sentences, regardless of the fact that, as adolescents, they have no ability to see beyond the orbit of their own experience. See production, box office & company info, Self - California State Assembly Member (D). The Los Angeles Film Festivalruns June 1-9, 2016. All three boys have, ------------------------------------------. I have worked in the juvenile system for 20 years. Premiered May 22, 2017 Directed by Ben Lear Three young violent offenders learn screenwriting in one of LA's high-security detention centers. The juvenile justice system was created to rehabilitate, not to be punitive but it became a punitive system where the kids are getting punished for their trauma.. When the new law went into effect in January of 2014, it established a new parole process to be enacted on either the 15th, 20th or 25th year of incarceration, depending on the sentence or controlling offense for people who were under the age of 18 when they committed a crime and who had been tried and sentenced as adults. Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Wendy C. Woolcock, the Special Agent in Charge of the Special Operations Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration ("DEA"), announced today that JUAN ANTONIO HERNNDEZ ALVARADO, a/k/a "Tony Hernndez" ("HERNNDEZ") was sentenced to life in prison for cocaine-importation, weapons, and . 17.9K Likes, 65 Comments. Director Ben Lear Stars Allegra Acosta Joel Anderson (archive footage) Richard Bloom (archive footage) Ben Lear. As any parent, teacher or person who has worked with teens will tell you, teenagers are impulsive. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. While the gravity of their crimes is great, these young men are still simply teenagers. https://redlandsalert.com/. Later, he calls Abby and uses Los as a script to narrate the depth of his feelings. Antonio Hernandez (@antoniohernandez5046)s videos with sonido original - Antonio Hernandez | TikTok. TikTok video from Editorial Applehead (@appleheadteam): "Antonio Hernndez, director de "Capitn Trueno y El Santo Grial", recibe el Premio Applehead Sah-Di-A 2023 y nos enva un saludo.". I want the film to reach those legislative buildings, those communities, to start a conversation around this population and how it should be treated.. Anyone can read what you share. Antonio, Juan and Jarad are enrolled in a 20-week screenwriting course taught by Gabe Cowan, and through clips of their classes and the fictional scenarios they develop, "They Call Us. 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