Q&A WITH FILMMAKER STEPHANIE CALABRESE

Q. why did you create this film?

A. I created this film because racial bias and injustice still exist today, and I believe that a deeper understanding of our past can offer clues to help solve our problems in the present. I decided to focus my lens on the racial divide in my own hometown because I did not know, and could not find this history. I care deeply about my community. Many of the people in Monroe, Georgia impacted by the Moore’s Ford Lynching, segregation, and the integration of schools and our community are still with us. Documenting their stories, and connecting the dots through research to portray an accurate and honest reflection of who we are and where we’ve been helped me better understand how we got here and why. With this historical context, we can be better community members, and work together to untangle and solve problems we still face today. I hope this film will move hearts, open minds, and light a flame for change in you and your own community.

Q. Why not leave the past in the past? Why stir up trouble?

A. To avoid education on the construct of “race” and the critical influence and trauma it’s had in shaping our town, the state, the south, and our country is to deny our history. There can be no reconciliation and true peace along the racial divide without revealing and moving in close to examine the truth, and to help share the weight and pain of it. Much of our problems with racial bias and injustice still exist today because we haven’t dealt with our past. As white people, we’ve swept much of this history under the rug because we don’t want to feel the shame of past wrongdoings. When the subject is raised, we often get defensive. Acknowledging our active or passive role, or indifference to the perpetuation of racism is a critical first step in using our power and resources to help end it.

Q. how long did the film take to make?

A. Three years and six months. I completed the first interview and began research to define this film in June 2018. I began editing the film in March 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. At that point in time, I thought I had completed production. When George Floyd was killed triggering protests across the country, local organizers gathered at the Walton County Courthouse in Monroe, Georgia on June 1, 2020. I realized the film required more time for the narrative to continue to unfold, so I resumed shooting while also editing through September 2021. I began working with composer and musician Kwame Brandt-Pierce when the majority of the film was complete by August 2021. We completed the original musical score and final edits on December 15, 2021.

Q. How many people did you interview?

A. I conducted 40 interviews. The majority of interviews were conducted in Monroe, Georgia in contributors’ homes and porches and in my home. Each interview was a one-on-one conversation and most stretched nearly two hours. I set up my iPhone camera on a tripod, placed a microphone on my interviewee, and asked questions. I did not provide questions in advance. Not all interviews were used in the creation of the film, but each contributed to my understanding of and portrayal of the subject matter and ultimately helped shape the film. I’m grateful for all of them.

Q. beyond interviews, what were some of your sources of historical research?

A. I referenced these three books: 1. “The Last Lynching” by Anthony S. Pitch. His sources are detailed in the bibliography of that book. 2. “Black America Series: Walton County Georgia” by Lynn Robinson Camp and Jennifer E. Cheeks-Collins, and 3. “Wayfarers in Walton” by Anita B. Sams. I also reviewed and sourced information from historical deeds and legal documents found at the City of Monroe Courthouse and Georgia Archives; The Walton Tribune and other state and national newspapers; Monroe City Council meeting notes; Monroe High School yearbooks; as well as images and assets generously shared by the Monroe Museum and personal collections from interviewees.

Q. is monroe a racist town? what’s it like to live there today?

A. I love Monroe. Most people I interviewed in the film love Monroe. We can love our community and feel a sense of pride in it, and at the same, acknowledge and deeply regret the tragedies of our history and the lingering trauma impacting members of our community. I believe people here in my community want to be and do better. Do racist thoughts and behaviors exist in the minds of some people? Yes. Is racial bias often unconscious? Yes. That’s true in any hometown across our country. Are we working hard enough as a community to eliminate racial bias and injustice, to be more intentionally inclusive, and to uplift and support members of our community who still struggle today as a result of generations of racial injustice? No, I don’t think so, but I hope education and honest conversations can help fuel that.

Q. Has the film screened in Monroe, GA? How has the community received it?

A. Yes, the film had three sold-out screenings on February 11th, 12th and 18th and a fourth Encore Screening on June 4th at On Stage Community Theater in Monroe. Screenings were followed by conversations lead by guest moderators with filmmaker Stephanie Calabrese and included audience Q&A. Guest moderators included grammy-nominated hip-hop artist Fish Scales of Nappy Roots; OWN Network “Put a Ring on It” host, author and life coach Dr. Nicole LaBeach; former UGA Bulldog and NLF player, author and entrepreneur Rennie Curran; and Pastor Edwin Beckles of First African Baptist Church, a safe haven gathering place for our Black community during the Civil Rights Movement in Monroe. Audiences were receptive and post-film conversations were honest, heartfelt, and deeply moving.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes from Monroe locals:

"I'm forever changed by this film... so many emotions... so brilliantly brave... so raw and authentic..."

"While it was very difficult to watch, it’s an enormously important film. I can’t say “I enjoyed it” bc enjoy isn’t an appropriate word for the content. But I was captivated, learned a lot."

"Part of my family are Malcom’s…. As a child this was an area that was 'unspoken' of… well in adulthood too. I learned a lot."

"To tackle such a painful, but real subject is very brave of you, so thank you for putting yourself on the line for the families of the Malcolms and the Dorseys. I hope this film can be a catalyst for some much needed dialogue, and a step forward for our small town."

"I am still feeling a wide range of emotions and not only reflecting on the complexity of our community, it's history, and its present renaissance but also on the complexity of who we are as a people and as individuals. Monroe is an amazing evolving place that can only truly be seen when looked at for not only its beauty but also its' unpleasant chapters."

“It was a very moving, personal and heartfelt film. The racial divide was opened up and dissected and brought to light in plain view. Watching this film made me feel like I was reliving my mama’s life and what she endured over a 100 year lifespan.”

Following the initial screenings, with support from community volunteers, I hosted a Community Dialog Inspired by UNSPOKEN and lead by Haley Smith, Chief of Diversity and Inclusion for Berry College. We invited Walton County residents to register and attend the free three-hour event held at Grace Monroe Church in Monroe, GA on Saturday, February 25, 2023. 50 individuals participated in the event and shared positive feedback about the experience. Survey results from particpants showed that the majority of folks thought that the discussion challenged their assumptions they had or helped them understand racism in a different way. When asked how the experience made them feel, the top three answers were: 1. Encouraged, 2. Hopeful and 3. Motivated. And 100% of survey results show that attendees were very or extremely inspired to better understand racism, their neighbors, and their role in helping our community move toward healing. It was a positive step.

Q. Shot & Scored with an iphone? tell me more.

A. I wanted to keep the production of this film as lean and unobtrusive as possible. I intended to shoot it myself and wanted the set up for interviews to feel intimate and comfortable. I used my iPhone camera for video capture with a Sennheiser wireless microphone system and a pocket-size Marantz audio recorder to capture audio. I used a Manfotto tripod with a BeastClamp for most interviews, and a Manfrotto Fig Rig stabilizer with BeastClamp for b’roll capture. Mostly, I leveraged available light with support from a portable iKan LED light source when needed and possible. I also wanted to prove that important documentary work doesn’t require massive budgets, big teams, and extensive gear. I hope this approach inspires students and any documentarian to capture stories in their own hometown as I feel the best stories about a community come from within the community.

Additionally, composer Kwame Brandt-Pierce created the original score for UNSPOKEN mostly with his iPhone. We talk about that and so much more in our conversation on the collaboration.

Q. How can i see the film?

A. Check the festival screenings list for a list of in-person and on-demand viewing opportunities. To stay in the know, signup up here and we’ll keep you posted on all in-person and online screening opportunities in the future.

Q. Has the film won any awards?

A. Yes, the film has won three awards: 1. Audience Choice Award for Documentary Feature at the Macon Film Festival in Georgia (August 2022), 2. Special Jury Prize for Documentary Feature at the Rome International Film Festival (November 2022) in Georgia, and 3. Best Documentary at the Reedy Reels Film Festival in South Carolina (February 2023).

Q. HOW CAN I share THE FILM with my class or organization. Do you have a guide for teachers or facilitators?

A.  UNSPOKEN is now available to the education, institution and public library markets. Visit the Video Project > UNSPOKEN webpage to acquire a DVD or license for the film in these markets. You can access a discussion guide to support post-film introspection and dialog and a detailed timeline of significant and influential events referenced in the film in the context of national events to support your learning. You can find all learning resources here.

Q. how can I learn more about or support the zion hill cemetery restoration and preservation project?

A. This project is ongoing, and your support is appreciated. Visit the Zion Hill Cemetery Restoration and Preservation project website and follow the Friends of Zion Hill Cemetery Facebook page for latest news and opportunities to volunteer and provide support. The community project leader, Elizabeth Jones, is happy to connect with family members who have loved ones buried in the cemetery as she continues her research and documentation to help preserve this important piece of our heritage.

Q. how can I learn more about the court case that attempted to unseal the moores Ford lynching grand jury testimony documents?

A. You can read more information about this case on the Moore’s Ford Lynching Information Center on the Bell, Shivas & Bell website, including the full legal chronology here. That’s the best place to start. There’s been nationwide news coverage on this case, so a quick Google search will generate more sources of information.

Q. how can i learn more about the civil rights cold case law?

A. The Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act of 2018 was signed into law by former President Donald Trump on January 8, 2019. This law requires the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to create the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection and requires federal agencies to turn over copies of any remaining records from Civil Rights Era cold cases to NARA for inclusion in the collection and release to the public. In February 2022, the U.S. Senate approved President Joe Biden’s nominees for the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board. The board is charged with reviewing the records of Civil Rights era cold criminal cases of murders and other racially motivated violence that occurred between 1940 and 1979. Many of these records are still closed to the public.

Q. How can viewers share their feedback about the film or contact you?

I love hearing from viewers. Fill out this film feedback form or feel free to send an email to me.