Locked Out
Owning a home — the cornerstone of generational wealth — is increasingly out of reach for people of color, impacting women the most. In Detroit, Black women face scammers and evictions, as they fight modern-day redlining to help make The American Dream a reality for all.
Interview with Co-Director Luchina Fisher
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I make films at the intersection of race, gender and identity. I'm interested in lifting the voices of marginalized and overlooked folks as a way of showing our common humanity. I build connection and community through storytelling.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
In 2022, 45 percent of Black Americans own a home, compared to 74 percent of white Americans – a gap wider than in 1960, when racial discrimination in housing was legal. Redlining and predatory lending are not a thing of the past; they are happening right now in Detroit, where are film takes place, and other cities across the country. If we truly want to tackle inequality, we have to look at the legacy of segregation and racism in our country and how it determines where we live and who has access to the American Dream.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
As a Black woman and mom, I have many concerns about the world that my children are inheriting. I do what I can to make the world a safer, more equitable place for me, them and others.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
We've won several awards with the film, including Best Documentary Feature at the American Black Film Festival, and opened the Double Exposure Film Festival. Reviews and coverage have been extremely positive. It's not an easy film to watch and yet it's resonating deeply with audiences.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Despite an industry that seems to be more interested in celebrity, true crime and lighter subject matters, Locked Out is finding and resonating with audiences. They do want to grapple with important and difficult issues of social justice.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Find a distributor and more outlets for this important film!
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We are still looking for distribution!
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
We have to look at housing in our country and the ways in which it perpetuates inequality.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Why are Black women the group most likely to be evicted in our country?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I'm currently working on my new feature, Hiding in Plain Sight, a music documentary about the unsung story of Black queer presence and influence in the music industry.
Interview: February 2024
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
Locked Out
Owning a home — the cornerstone of generational wealth — is increasingly out of reach for people of color, impacting women the most. In Detroit, Black women face scammers and evictions, as they fight modern-day redlining to help make The American Dream a reality for all.
Length: 1:16:00
Director: Luchina Fisher, Kate Davis
Producer: Rupert Maconick
About the writer, director and producer:
LUCHINA FISHER is the award-winning director and producer of the GLAAD Media Award-nominated feature documentary Mama Gloria; the short documentary The Dads, about five fathers of trans kids on a weekend fishing trip, executive produced by Dwyane Wade and acquired by Netflix; and the award-winning short documentary Team Dream, executive produced by Queen Latifah. She won PitchBLACK Film Forum’s top prize for her new project about the unsung history of Black queer representation in music.
KATE DAVIS was nominated for an Academy Award and won the Grand Prize at Doc NYC for her film, Traffic Stop. Her documentary, Southern Comfort won dozens of awards including The Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. She won an Emmy for Best Documentary with Jockey, and a Peabody Award for Stonewall Uprising. Davis also directed Say Her Name: The Life and Death of Sandra Bland, the HBO documentary that won the NAACP Award for Best Documentary.
RUPERT MACONICK is the founder and executive producer of the award-winning production company Saville Productions. He has produced hundreds of short and long-form projects with major brands with high-profile filmmakers, including: Martin Campbell (Casino Royale), Barry Levinson (Rain Man), Werner Herzog (Grizzly Man), and many others.
Key cast: Soummer Crawford, Geraldine Smith-Bey, Niaja Rutledge
Looking for: distributors, film festival directors
Facebook: Luchina Fisher
Twitter: @luchina
Instagram: @luchinafisher
Hashtags used: #lockedout #lockedoutfilm
Website: www.lockedoutfilm.com
Other: IMDb
Made in association with: Saville Productions
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
Virtual - available Feb 20 - Mar 31, 24-hour watch window
Location: geoblocked to US
Access: via Eventive; access is for ticket holders and pass holders only.