The Program
SHELL SHOCKED, A NEW PROVOCATIVE DOCUMENTARY,
PUTS GUN VIOLENCE ON AMERICA’S YOUTH FRONT AND CENTER
IN THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION
SHELL SHOCKED presents the testimonies from the children who live in these violent circumstances and the family and friends of victims, along with the ideas and opinions of activists, community leaders, and city officials in an attempt to identify positive solutions to an extremely negative situation.
The film will be used in an ongoing process designed to raise awareness and funding for effective anti-crime and violence youth programs in New Orleans.
The Filmmakers
JOHN RICHIE (Executive Producer, Writer, Director) began his film career after graduating with a degree in Drama/Communications in 2003 from the University of New Orleans. Over the past ten years he has worked his way up through the camera department on dozens of large-budget films, commercials, and television shows. In 2007 he began his own production company, Scrub Brush Productions, producing many music videos and short narrative and documentary films. Over the following six years, the focus of John’s production company has increasingly turned to social issues & the youth of New Orleans. He has devoted himself to educating impoverished young adults in the art of filmmaking. He has volunteered his time at high schools & youth centers, helping give these teens a creative outlet & viable skill set for their futures. John began work on Shell Shocked in 2008 when, while volunteering at a local high school, he heard firsthand accounts of these young children living with violence & murder on a day-to-day basis. His devotion & dedication to helping this situation has led him to self-finance the documentary for the past five years.
JONATHAN JAHNKE (Producer) After studying film at the University of New Orleans, Jonathan spent a year in Japan teaching English as a Second Language. Upon his return in 2005, he began working a variety of crew positions for film and television. Mainly focusing on art department positions & behind-the-scenes documentation, he then branched out with Director John Richie to form Scrub Brush Productions, an independent company focusing mainly on music videos & commercials. Along with John, Jonathan has spent most of the last five years leaning increasingly towards educating young adults in filmmaking techniques. He has taught filmmaking and claymation classes to kids ranging from ages 5 to 19. Since 2008 Jonathan has devoted his time & energy to all aspects of production of Shell Shocked, trying to ensure that the children growing up in poor, violent neighborhoods can have a better future.
BRENT JOSEPH (Editor, Co-Writer) New Orleans native Brent Joseph has worked on both documentaries and fictional films for over ten years. He co-edited MTV's True Life: I'm Living in Iraq, which won the 2005 Edward R. Murrow award for Best TV Network News Documentary and served as main editor on the film Five Time Champion, which premiered at SXSW in 2011. As an assistant editor, Joseph worked on Larry Clark's Bully and David Fincher's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Seth Rogen's This is The End. Brent has also been at the helm of many short films. He directed two short documentaries about Hurricane Katrina which screened and won awards at over two dozen film festivals from Los Angeles to Paris. A Loud Color was featured on NPR and streamed on IFC's website. It is distributed on a short film compilation DVD by Media That Matters. Holdout was included on the Best of Slamdance 2008 DVD and is distributed on another short film compilation DVD by IndiePix Films. www.brentjosephfilm.com
The Kids
SHELL SHOCKED started as a youth documentary program put on by Scrub Brush Productions in 2010. Five kids from all over New Orleans participated in a 20 month film program where they were given cameras to make short films about their lives. This lead to the interviews that make up the teen perspective seen in Shell Shocked. They have all become young adults and this is where they are now.
MATT GRAYhas recently finished boot camp with the Marine Corps. At the time of filming, Matt was in his last year of High School. He desperately wanted to go onto College to pursue his dreams of politics. New Orleans Public School system did not provide him an avenue to College. Like many, Matt is pursuing that dream through the help of the military.
CEE CEE DAVIS graduated from George Washington Carver High School with top honors. Throughout her academic career she lead her classmates in clubs, athletics, and student government. On top of all this, she consistently held two jobs while going to school. Cee Cee has lost many friends to gun violence including her best friend Katie Hill. Cee Cee now lives in Metairie and does training around the country for a national restaurant chain. She plans to go back to school soon.
JOSH STUDYVIANT comes from a large New Orleans family who has deep ties to the community. Josh is the first male in his family to graduate High School which made his family proud. Like many people who have grown up in New Orleans, Josh has lost family to gun violence and prison. Josh is now at Delgado Community College studying Emergency Medical Service. He plans on staying in New Orleans.
DAYLIN BOLDING is pursuing a career in music and film. Daylin continues to live in New Orleans in the neighborhood he grew up in. New Orleans can be a constant struggle for young people with these ambitions.
IMANI SIMS is currently preparing to get her GED. She wants to go into the military. Imani married Matt Gray back in December. They are making preparation to live together as soon as she gets her diploma. Imani lives with Matt's parents currently.
