COPWATCH follows WeCopwatch, an organization dedicated to filming the police. Its members captured the original videos of the deaths of Eric Garner in Staten Island and Freddie Gray in Baltimore that ignited the entire nation.

Interview with writer, director and producer Camilla Hall

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Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

Coming from the UK, I was completely shocked by the number of people being killed by the police in America. I was interested to know what people were doing to try to prevent it. That's how I discovered WeCopwatch.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

The film shows the bravery of those standing up to police brutality. It shows the struggle of activism and how community and friendship can support you along the way.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

The film is intensely intimate, we are with members of the group as they go through some very serious times in their lives. That intimacy is paired with their ongoing universal struggle against police brutality in America. That struggle is really a universal struggle to care for one another and value human lives equally, allowing a voice to those who often end up voiceless.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

At the start of the film, we didn't know what would happen to Ramsey Orta, who filmed Eric Garner's tragic death. I don't want to give any spoilers but - as you can imagine - it doesn't go well for him.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

The film is quite polarizing because the issue is polarizing. The U.S. is incredibly divided right now, so often people who have experienced police brutality themselves, or witnessed it around them, have really loved the film and are deeply moved by it, but there are also those who see the victims of police brutality as thugs and therefore they have tried to undermine the film. We've seen what look like attempts to lower our IMDb scores, for example. We've seen racist posts under our trailer. The film has really laid bare the divisions in US society to me on a personal level.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

Yes. Perhaps, naively, I thought the majority of people would be against the police killing people.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

Like any filmmaker, I just would like the documentary to get seen by people, to inspire people to do something and stand up to whatever struggle they are facing at that particular moment.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

I would like to see more media, especially in the US/UK. I would like to distribute the film to more European territories and English-language TV networks.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

I would like it to encourage people to join the Copwatch movement. You simply have to pick up a phone and film if you see someone in danger.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

What is the power of video in cases of police brutality?

Would you like to add anything else?

If you would like to support/learn about WeCopwatch in their work you can find them at http://wecopwatch.org/ You can also find details of how to support and donate to Ramsey Orta on their website.

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

I am producing two projects and developing a new documentary series. Black Barbie, is a new project, I'm producing with Lagueria Davis and will be sharing at the pitch forum at Big Sky Film Festival. I'm also producing a new film called Erasing Family, for an incredible female director, Ginger Gentile. My own series is top secret, but is an investigative, challenging idea that I hope will get off the ground, shortly.

Interview: February 2018

COPWATCH - writer, director and producer Camilla Hall

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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTIAQ+, scifi, 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

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COPWATCH

Length: 1 hour 38 minutes

Director: Camilla Hall

Producer: Camilla Hall Matthew Perniciaro, Michael Sherman

About the writer, director and producer:

Camilla Hall

Camilla Hall’s directorial debut, COPWATCH, produced by Bow & Arrow Entertainment, was nominated for Best Documentary at Tribeca and Stockholm in 2017 and was acquired by Gunpowder & Sky. She produced FREEDOM FOR THE WOLF, which won the Slamdance audience award in 2018 after showing at IDFA, Sheffield Doc Fest and the United Nations Film Festival. Prior to filmmaking, she was an award-winning journalist at the Financial Times, based in the Middle East and New York. She is an advocate for diversity in filmmaking and a member of Film Fatales and Cinesisters.

Key cast: Jacob Crawford, David Whitt, Ramsey Orta, Kevin Moore

Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): journalists, European sales agents, European/Asian distributors, film festival directors

Social media handles:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Copwatchfilm

Twitter: @copwatchfilm

Instagram: @copwatchfilm

Funders: Bow & Arrow Entertainment

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075VHYC8M?tag=moviefone-20

Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/copwatch/id1287888754

Festivals: Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, Byline Festival (United Kingdom)