Everything was at stake: Bloods sat with Crips, police with victims, clergy with a mother beaten by the gangs. Within a year, homicides declined 90% And gang-related homicides fell to 0 What happened in that room is our story.
“In a world that often seems too divided, the Watts community chose another path and achieved what no one thought possible.”
What people are saying.
- TIME
“A playbook for how communities can reclaim their streets by telling their own stories.”
— Terry McDonell
Read → - Forbes
“The film represents a radical experiment in storytelling and social change.”
— David Hochman
Read → - The Boston Globe
“A moving and compelling documentary created in an unconventional way.”
— Odie Henderson
Read → - DEADLINE
“One of the most remarkable documentaries of the year… bold, unapologetically real, and socially impactful.”
— Matthew Carey
Read → - The Hollywood Times
“One of the most remarkable accomplishments that the medium of film has contributed to society.”
— Sarah Spitz
Read → - USC ANNENBERG MEDIA
“Watts isn't just being seen — it's finally being understood.”
— Danielle Hughes
Read →
Where we have been.
Peacock Theater
The King Center
Coolidge Corner
The Penn Theatre
Aspen Ideas Festival
Aspen Action Forum
What viewers have said.
“Almost too emotional to even respond. What a powerful testimony to the need for change — and not just in Watts.”
— Audience member, Los Angeles
“The deep care and affection members from the Watts peace effort showed each other, reflecting the lived results of their efforts to stop the killing in their community.”
— Audience member, Detroit
“It was raw and honest. Lived experience always trumps assumptions and ideas.”
— Audience member, Chicago
“Everyone should see this film! Such raw power!”
— Audience member, Los Angeles
“Very powerful, very moving. Equally heart-wrenching + triumphant. Well done to all involved!”
— Audience member, Los Angeles
“What a PHENOMENAL story told BRILLIANTLY”
— Audience member, Chicago
“The transformation of bringing strangers and long time feuding enemies together for change. So powerful! Thank you for your stories.”
— Audience member, Chicago
“The film was absolutely exceptional but hearing the personal stories live after the screening made the film's impact even more dramatic and real.”
— Audience member, Detroit
“It is all about community - the group on stage live at the end was so beautiful - let’s spread that love and light far and wide 💖”
— Audience member, Los Angeles
“Amazing way to bring a community together. Blessings to everyone involved.”
— Audience member, Los Angeles
“The most moving, raw, and real event that I have been a part of. So moving and inspiring!”
— Audience member, Los Angeles
“Very raw, emotional, and inspiring. I hope to see this on more screens, accessible to many, youth connected to this amazing film, wider distribution.”
— Audience member, Los Angeles
“The event was so impactful! I left feeling excited for Watts, empowered to continue to “Do Good” and make a difference. Thank you for this film!!”
— Audience member, Los Angeles
“It brought tears to my eyes!”
— Audience member, Los Angeles
“Watching the community begin to heal from within for the next generation was so moving!”
— Audience member, Los Angeles
“I cried, laughed and ached for every single person impacted by the trauma and tragedy occurring in Watts. What an incredible, realistic account of a multi-layered story.”
— Audience member, Los Angeles
“Real. Raw. Inspiring. Heartwarming. As an Angeleno, so proud of the community of Watts. I hope this is the beginning of meaningful change and endless possibilities for the beautiful humans who shared their stories, and that these endless possibilities spread like wildfire for their community and their children. ♥️”
— Audience member, Los Angeles
“Riveting documentary. And what an outstanding and unexpected outcome. And the music was spectacular. That choir!!”
— Audience member, Los Angeles
“Phenomenal. Mind-bending. Life changing. Hard hitting. Reality check. So well done. I hope hope hope that this documentary stays the course and continues to change lives the way it clearly did for those involved. Thrilled and humbled to have been there.”
— Audience member, Los Angeles
“This is an important film, and the atmosphere was electric during the entire screening, and after. People were moved to tears, moved to joy, moved to hope for a better future. This film needs to be seen by everyone. Particularly those involved in or affected by gang violence.”
— Audience member, Los Angeles
“One-of-a-kind masterpiece that was beautiful while generating huge positive impact for the Watts community.”
— Audience member, Los Angeles
“Raw, honest reality. A film that makes you feel a community's struggles, fears, pain, hope for peace, and a better future. I highly recommend it.”
— Audience member, Los Angeles
“Resilience! Resilience! Resilience! and pride of community!”
— Audience member, Los Angeles
“Phenomenal night. Inspiring and joyous. The film, the music, the filmmakers/cast. All incredible!!!”
— Audience member, Los Angeles
“Moving, creative, important. Thank you all.”
— Audience member, Los Angeles
“Incredible movie with an incredible energy throughout the crowd”
— Audience member, Los Angeles
“We were so grateful to have been able to participate in this incredible community event that was geared towards so much celebration of what can be built out of our communities. Thank you for the honesty and candidness in the film, the hope but also recognition of the reality around us, and for highlighting beautiful individuals that radiated what hope and healing looks like!”
— Audience member, Los Angeles
“Hope of having peace in our community.”
— Audience member, Los Angeles
“The honest raw truth”
— Audience member, Chicago
“The rawness. Vulnerability”
— Audience member, Chicago
“The loss that each of them felt, and I am so inspired by every single person’s determination to heal their community. Transforming their pain to peace.”
— Audience member, Chicago
“This is the real FUBU - for Us By Us - compelling and moving!!!”
— Audience member, Chicago
“How everyone came together, despite all the tragedy.”
— Audience member, Chicago
“The people of Watts making their own story”
— Audience member, Chicago
“The rawness and authenticity of each story. The editing was amazing with the transitions and ease of following”
— Audience member, Chicago
“The courage and vulnerability of those filming.”
— Audience member, Chicago
“These people are all victims to violence in some way, but so am I. Although we all have our own stories and live different lives, we can all relate on one thing: the violence has to stop for our children to have a better chance, and our future can be improved. I feel they were able to give me hope for change.”
— Audience member, Chicago
“It was an inspiring story to a boy from the South Side of Chicago. It really hit home for me.”
— Audience member, Chicago
“Its raw depiction of violence and fear, as well as the glimmers of hope for the younger generation.”
— Audience member, Chicago
“ALL the personal stories hit. VERY relevant!”
— Audience member, Chicago
“My heart bleeds for the parents and siblings impacted by the violence, and my heart and spirit remain hopeful for the peace they work towards. One love.”
— Audience member, Chicago
“The power of community coming together for a better future.”
— Audience member, Detroit
“Seeing the impact that the film has had on the community. Really appreciated the panel at the end. The whole evening was very impactful.”
— Audience member, Detroit
“Storytelling was authentic and provided great insight into the travesty faced by those in the community”
— Audience member, Detroit
“Just to see the amazing stories was a very memorable experience. Meeting the actual players was even better. It really goes beyond words to see how these people’s lives have become intertwined and the peace that has been achieved through their efforts. I hope it can continue and grow to stop the senseless killings.”
— Audience member, Detroit
“This was an amazing, impactful, eye-opening experience. So well done! Kudos to ALL who made this happen and shared! Thank you!”
— Audience member, Detroit
“Having the filmmakers there in person to share their stories was extremely powerful.”
— Audience member, Detroit
“I have worked with youth gang members in the past. They are a difficult population. But watching the movie gave me a new perspective. I am so happy that this amazing and deeply thought provoking movie has made a difference.”
— Audience member
“Realizing, that when motivated, we all can be influential.”
— Audience member
“The way EVERYONE came together for the greater good of the community and for the future of the children from Watts was phenomenal! I am from a small town in WV so I won't pretend that I understand even a small portion of the fear the people from Watts go through every single day but the one thing we do have in common is the fact we are all human and we both just want our future generations to be happy, healthy, and safe. Seeing the people from your community put their differences to the side to ensure the future generations not only get to live but so that they may thrive, gives me hope for the world that I hadn't realized I had lost until I felt it again. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. This was a movie that I didn't know I needed until I watched it. God bless!”
— Audience member
“the personal stories told directly to the camera. The footage of Neci being robbed & her struggle to find housing. Sean inspired me deeply with his overcoming. Tyrone, Cornelius, Emily, Eric, Tim, LaWanda your response to unbearable situations. I am moved and hopeful.”
— Audience member
“How it mirrored my life.”
— Audience member
“The meeting between gang members.”
— Audience member, Austin
“Incredible”
— Audience member, Austin
“The raw reality and the hope that surfaces when we come together”
— Audience member, Austin
“The real people and the vulnerable sharing.”
— Audience member, Austin
“Maryland achieving her boxing dreams Young girl getting into nursing school Mom losing her son The resilience and determination The change affected despite frea”
— Audience member, Austin
“Vulnerability. Wounded healers. Change possible. Focus on humanity of the individual.”
— Audience member, Austin
“Showing the humanity of the indivuduals”
— Audience member, Austin
“Life changing eye opening”
— Audience member, Austin
“I feel seen. I feel connected to all the people telling their story. It makes me have hope for all the kids like me and my brother coming out the projects and being the change in our own community. Shout out to all the students and youth believing in their voice and being at the table.”
— Audience member, Austin
“Everything”
— Audience member, Kelowna
“The real rawness”
— Audience member, Kelowna
“Exceptional! Mind-blowing. Nothing to say here.... There are no words.”
— Audience member, Kelowna
“Hearing the stories of both the homicide detective who lost their siblings, and then the story of the girl getting her scholarship into school. Both ups and downs”
— Audience member, Kelowna
“The model and how it can heal fractured groups.”
— Audience member, Kelowna
“Incredible story. How much loss all these People endure”
— Audience member, Austin
“The entire film is impactful. It gives us hope that, by coming together as a community, we can create a better world for future generations. Thank you!”
— Audience member
“The hope and forgiveness . I will be praying for Watts. This is super impactful!”
— Audience member
“The stories”
— Audience member, Chicago
“Exceptional Work!!”
— Audience member, Chicago
“That Violence effects everyone”
— Audience member, Chicago
“I am a Substance Use clinician and group facilitator in a county jail that houses adult males. I came across this film searching for videos to show i my Victim Impact group. I showed the trailer to my group and they were very interested in watching the film. I just finished watching the film myself and loved it. I could watch a series of these clips, due to being so engaged by the stories and drawn in by the people in this community. I can relate to some of the tales told by the individuals, either by lived experience or by the lives of the men and women I have had as clients during my time working in this field. I am looking forward to showing the film in several of my groups as we have a lot of the same issues in and near our community. Thank you all for your bravery, compassion, creativity and perseverance.”
— Audience member
“Love and compassion for change despite it all.”
— Audience member, Los Angeles
“The change in violence with this project.”
— Audience member, Orange
“I'm from a white middle class family, so I didn't think I could relate. I spent a couple years in a hospital bed. Too long a story to tell here, but the pain of every breath has been excruciating for years. Too many surgeries & scar tissue I guess. Recently I went to PT and I could breathe without the pain. I didn't realize that I couldn't plan, hope, or dream when every breath hurt. I also know the grief of losing my only son, and nothing in the world makes sense. I still can't imagine what it's like in survival and grief 24/7. What I can do is empathize and hold all of you in my heart like I hold my son. The concept of love goes beyond the trauma and beyond death and beyond our differences. "We are all caught in an inescapable web of mutuality." -my favorite MLKJr quote. Thanks for moving out of fear and into love and guiding others to do the same.”
— Audience member, Orange
“The truth Is hard to witness And absorb Like abstract art”
— Audience member, Orange
“What impacted me the most was how they all came together being from different neighborhoods. I wish they can do this all over the LA county well i feel like they need to show this film every where not just LA county. I loved all the stories and to the lady who lost her son Reginald my heart goes to you the way you talked about how they murdered your son made me cry. Im truly sorry 😞 when is it going to end kids killing kids. As a mother a parent lets support our babies n be there for them. God bless!”
— Audience member, Orange
“Most impactful the openness and genuine change you saw from all the filmmakers. You can see people views, thoughts and feelings change about each other.”
— Audience member, Orange
“It was heartbreaking to see the raw pain from the victims of gang crime. This film perfectly captured the slow burn that occurs after a highly traumatic event. It is objective proof that the stress of living in survival mode destroys people. It was so tragic and so beautiful to see the change the film has already made. Thank you for creating this. I will share it with everyone.”
— Audience member, Orange
“The filmmakers conversations about their own footage, intersecting stories, and gang members taking the film to show it their active members. The entire film was powerful, emotional, and inspiring. Thank you for sharing and thank you for fighting for peace and for the future!”
— Audience member, Orange
“The honest insight. The truthful, open discussion. Another beautifully done, respectful depiction of we have more in common than differences. We can be the change one by one in every community.”
— Audience member
“I love how you actually kept it raw and show the real true side of watts I feel that this needs to be seen in all schools.”
— Audience member
“Results matter. This film hit home”
— Audience member
“Honesty, integrity each of the participants were. Real life uncut truth.”
— Audience member
“This film touched every emotion within me , I think the community is brave , coming together not even knowing they have things in common (Community) and then to put it in action was so heartfelt and so inspiring for future generations to come ❤️ I love and respect you all for being so open and raw about WATTS ! May God bless and watch over you all ! If more communities adapted this mindset ! What a wonderful world we would live in . My heart is with you 💝 Thank you for telling your story ❤️🙏❤️”
— Audience member
“It was phenomenal, uplifting, inspiring, hopeful! It shows what can be accomplished through a common goal. Keeps me proud.”
— Audience member
“Those stories are the truth ! , more stories should be told actually. Part 2 ?”
— Audience member
“The holy Spirit of Jesus Christ is alive and active 💪 Peace from the Heavenly Father to all.”
— Audience member
“All the local active gang members coming together. It would be awesome if we could get leaders in communities to do the same thing”
— Audience member
“This is a very moving film. I was on the streets in the urban northeast U.S. during the 80s and early 90s, so the film really resonated with me. I know people who didn't make it or are still in prison. Maybe the cycle can be broken one day.”
— Audience member
“I love that the stories came from the people that lived them. I wish my community could come together like y'all. This was a beautiful piece.”
— Audience member
“The individual stories demonstrated that black, white, gang, or cop or Hispanic--we're all just people. I love that each was willing to start with tiny progress and huge hopes”
— Audience member
“How everyone came together at the end and signed the treaty. I think that they were all tired of the crime, but didn't know how to begin to stop it. I look up to all of the leaders in this documentary.”
— Audience member
“Hearing from the community and allowing the community to provide the story and the solutions were the most impactful to me. Often it’s “others” giving them the “what you need to do is”, storyline which hits a brick wall and fails to deliver the necessary outcomes. I’m a retired Probation Mgr., of 40 years who spent the last 23 years in its gang unit, working countywide with all of L.A. Stations and I have to say So. East, you got it right this time. Congratulations to the community for dedicating your time and efforts and showing the world the importance and community.”
— Audience member
“The absolute power of incredible trust people were willing to risk with each other. I'm going to be holding you all in my heart - may each of you be deeply blessed and well provided for”
— Audience member
“The film was very inspirational, sad but true, moreover it became so important & hopeful. Seeing the peace and actually feeling it as I watched with tears in my eyes and my heart I pray for healing, with the utmost support and compassion one can give❤️🌹🙏🏾”
— Audience member
“The rawness of each persons story & perspective. Very emotional. Also uplifting.”
— Audience member
“The struggle is real. This film made me cry. I could feel their pain as if it was my own. I live on the other side of the country in NY I also feel glad that they are not giving up on themselves. I'm surprised at the strength and resilience of these people to keep going when the y had every to give in and give up. For that reason I WILL NOT GIVE UP on myself. Sending you all Hugs of Love”
— Audience member
“the rawness of it. nothing held back. My mind goes to a statement my pastor shared, "There's NO ONE in this world , we see at the store or will see in out neighborhood that GOD does not Love. HE loves us all. We do have a FATHER that Loves Us. WE can Love Others as HE Loves Us”
— Audience member
“Wonderful film...I grew up in Watts and this is so beautiful to me....need to see more films like this!!! Thank you!!!!”
— Audience member
“I'm from Watts born.(well technically Lywood- St Francis Hospital) . raised.. went to college..came back. Full circle..now I have kids here. This movie gave me a front row seat into other people's existence here and it was extremely enlightening. There were a bunch of faces I was familiar with and it made me very proud to see them take a look into their own footing and make steps towards tipping the perverbial scale into the right direction. I got the chance to see my community come together after the Rodney King verdict.. those treaties allowed us to walk to and from school with a different stride/cadence. I survived "Gladiator School".. as described by Tyrone in regards to Markham Intermediate School.. So many kids..we were sooo young man- didn't make it to see this time ..this moment. This movie brung it all back full circle to the immediate violent pull of my section and how I'm no where near alone in my fight to change the narrative and see my kids.. Especially my little innocent baby boy..that wears a unmistakable almost dark chocolate colored skin! I worry about him EVERYDAY. I have noticed a change between the Mexicans and the Blacks and im here for it.. I have kids with a Cholo and a Crip.. lets talk about it..lol The discussion is among us.. this movie is th chef's kiss to assist with the conversation. I also just saw "If I Go Will They Miss Me" and having the availability to catch this one on my phone just made my day thank you all for your creativity and care”
— Audience member
“Real stories, real people. Raw honest emotion”
— Audience member
“It was authentic with real people with real people problems. It gave people accountability for the problems and solutions.it would have been nice to see more of the younger kids in the film what they are doing now”
— Audience member
The filmmakers.
Rival gang members, police officers, victims of violence, children growing up in the middle of it. No outside director. No script.
