In August 2014 Indianapolis’ homeless population was highlighted in a documentary titled, “Uncharted: The Truth Behind Homelessness,” produced by A Bigger Vision LLC, a team of local residents looking to share the story of those in need to achieve public awareness and ultimately get legislation passed to protect those living on the streets.
While the documentary stirred up tons of conversation between residents and confronted city officials with very direct and tough questions related to assisting the homeless population, the film left the question in many residents minds, “Is the city helping or hiding the homeless?”
As a result, residents pushed for legislation and protection for the homeless, however, government officials ultimately rejected each proposal.
Proposal 291 was vetoed by Mayor Greg Ballard and Proposal 41, which would’ve made homeless people a protected class didn’t pass said Don Sawyer, team member for A Bigger Vision.
Despite their efforts, the team is back with its second film, “Under the Bridge: The Criminalization of Homelessness,” which follows the lives of those who resided at the Davidson Street Camp, a site for the homeless located under a railroad bridge on Davidson Street, just blocks from Downtown Indianapolis. The camp was closed in late August 2013 by city officials and residents were forced out.
“We did our first film, ‘Uncharted’ and we thought it was a great film but we knew we could get more out of what we experienced and what we shot,” said Sawyer, who serves as one of the film directors. “You get to know them, you get to know what their struggles are and how the Davidson Street Camp was their home and their security.”
A fundraiser screening of the film will take place Oct. 29 at Purpose of Life Ministries, 3705 West Kessler Boulevard North Drive with doors opening at 6 p.m. and the film beginning at 6:30 p.m.
“The criminalization of homelessness is an issue that isn’t going away and is nationwide. The Department of Justice just rendered a case in Boise, Idaho which would’ve made what happened at Davidson a violation of the eight amendment which is cruel and unusual punishment because the city provided nowhere for those campers to go. We simply happened to get everything portrayed on film,” stated Sawyer.
New to the film crew for A Bigger Vision is John MacGibbon, a five-time Emmy Award-winning editor from “FRONTLINE” who serves as editor and co-writer for “Under the Bridge: The Criminalization of Homelessness.” He was introduced to A Bigger Vision through his sister who arranged a screening of “Uncharted: The Truth Behind Homelessness.” Once MacGibbon found some free time in his schedule, he decided to contribute his talents.
“I liked the film (‘Uncharted’) and it had real heart to it but it had some mistakes,” said the Indiana native who grew up making films with Super 8 cameras. “I’d like to see it reach a national audience as that was the whole point of brining me in. It’s my hope this film can really humanize people in a way other films have not and I have high hopes of its ability to make change.”
According to the Indiana University Center for Health Policy (CHP), between 6,000 and 10,000 people in Indianapolis may be homeless throughout the year, however not all numbers of homelessness are reported.
“The community needs to become informed about homelessness because this is happening in their own backyards and they don’t know about it,” said Sawyer. “I believe if the average citizen of Indianapolis knew what was going on and the lack of help that chronically homeless people have, I don’t think they’d be happy with their elected officials or would stay silent.”
Tickets for the film are $10 and can be purchase at utbdoc.eventbrite.com.
To view the trailer of the group’s first documentary, “Unchartered: The Truth Behind Homelessness,” click here.
See the screening and discuss
What: Screening of “Under the Bridge: The Criminalization of Homelessness”
When: Oct. 29 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Purpose of Life Ministries, 3705 W. Kessler Boulevard North Drive
Indianapolis, IN. 46222
