Films about Homelessness

The Woman Behind “Streetwise” — Exploring the Work of Mary Ellen Mark

Michelle Dunn Marsh of Photographic Center Northwest describes the enduring legacy of her mentor at this “Streetwise Revisited” event at The Seattle Public Library

streetwise-mem-by-joni-kabana-photography-tif — **Mary Ellen Mark. Photo by Joni Kabana Photography**

By Shan Yonamine, Project Assistant, Seattle University Project on Family Homelessness

When I think of the “Streetwise” documentary, the image that immediately fills my mind is “Tiny in her Halloween costume” – the iconic photo of Erin “Tiny” Blackwell dressed elegantly in black, her stare piercing through the thin veil over her eyes. Many people will recognize this photo of Tiny, but they may not know about the photographer who made this iconic photo.

tiny-halloween-full — Tiny in Her Halloween Costume. Photo by Mary Ellen Mark

I had the opportunity to attend an art history talk on Oct. 5 by Michelle Dunn Marsh – the executive director of Photographic Center Northwest and colleague of renowned documentary photographer, Mary Ellen Mark – and I learned more about the photographer behind this classic image.

streetwise-mdm — Michelle Dunn Marsh. Photo by Sylvia Plachy.

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October 13, 2016November 16, 2016 by catherinehinrichsen Categories: Events, Family Homelessness, Films about Homelessness, Homelessness Among Schoolchildren, Journalism, Youth PovertyTags: storytelling, Streetwise, Tiny 3 Comments

Remembering “Streetwise” — Why We’re Revisiting the Classic Documentary

By Shan Yonamine, Project Assistant, Seattle University Project on Family Homelessness

streetwise-poster

When I joined this team a few months ago, I was given the chance to watch and react to films about youth and family homelessness. My favorite, by far, was “Streetwise.”

It has been over three decades since this revered documentary first stunned the American public; however, the legacy of the film lives on, as many of the social issues illuminated in the film remain extremely relevant today. After watching “Streetwise” I found that it is not only an artistic representation of youth homelessness in Seattle, but also a powerful tool for advocacy.

As a project, we recognize the historical poignancy of this film, and we will be hosting a free screening on Friday, Oct.7 at Seattle University for anyone who wants the opportunity to watch this significant documentary. This is part of The Seattle Public Library’s “Streetwise Revisited” project, and the screening is just one way we are supporting the project.

In “Streetwise,” renowned photographer Mary Ellen Mark, her husband, Martin Bell and producer Cheryl McCall take us on a journey by providing us with a firsthand perspective on what it’s like to be a homeless youth living on the streets of Seattle – a perspective that was only made possible by spending months observing, building relationships with and gaining the trust of the children they chronicled.

Erin (who goes by her street name “Tiny”) on Pike Street, Seattle, 1983. Photo by Mary Ellen Mark.

After watching “Streetwise” for the first time, I was taken aback to say the least. The film is stunning, raw, heartbreaking and beautiful all at the same time, which is not what I expected from a “documentary about youth homelessness in Seattle.” Continue reading →

October 3, 2016October 13, 2016 by catherinehinrichsen Categories: Events, Family Homelessness, Films about Homelessness, Homelessness Among Schoolchildren, Youth PovertyTags: domestic violence, poverty, seattle, storytelling, Streetwise, Tiny 5 Comments

Three Years After Inocente — Overcoming Homelessness Through Art

Editor’s Note: This week is the third anniversary of Inocente’s visit to Seattle. We asked our new team member, Khadija, to watch the documentary “Inocente” and reflect on how it relates to our current work.

By Khadija Diallo, Project Assistant, Seattle University Project on Family Homelessness

I had heard about Inocente’s story before, but this was my first time watching her documentary from beginning to end. Although homelessness is a dark and devastating situation for most people experiencing it, I was taken back by the multitude of colors that are shown throughout this Academy Award-winning documentary. These bright colors represented through her art, and through imagery, show the optimism and dedication that drives Inocente to continue to hope and dream for a better tomorrow.

“Inocente” tells the story of a 15-year-old girl experiencing homelessness but finding a will to live through her art. Her story is heartbreaking but also uplifting. At the beginning of the documentary, Inocente says “when I paint, I feel happy. It’s a good way to start my mornings.” And that’s how Inocente starts every morning, by painting what she dreams and what she hopes for her future.

inocente-painting — Inocente at work painting in the film. Credit: Sean Fine.

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September 29, 2016October 3, 2016 by catherinehinrichsen Categories: Collaboration, Events, Family Homelessness, Films about Homelessness, Homelessness Among Schoolchildren, Youth Poverty 1 Comment

A Tribute to Barry Mitzman

As our founder leaves, we reflect on what he’s taught our community about ending family homelessness

By Catherine Hinrichsen, Project Director

Sharon James_Barry at end — Barry Mitzman, delivering his lecture “A Quiet Crisis,” in which he reflects on six years leading our family homelessness projects at Seattle University. Photo by Steve Schimmelman.

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June 29, 2016August 5, 2016 by phungamy Categories: Collaboration, Events, Family Homelessness, Films about Homelessness, JournalismTags: American Refugees, Animated Films, Film and Family Homelessness Project, homeless advocacy, homelessness films, Seattle U students, StoryCorps 2 Comments

Art for Advocacy: The Face of Family Homelessness

How partners across Washington state are using art for advocacy around homelessness.

By Catherine Hinrichsen, Project Director, Seattle University Project on Family Homelessness

Inocente at SAM walking down aisle by Steve Schimmelman

Partnering with Seattle Art Museum for the screening of “Inocente” allowed us to reach a new audience of art lovers. Here, they give Inocente a standing ovation at the conclusion of the film. Photo by Steve Schimmelman.

Republished from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s “Impatient Optimists” blog, April 7, 2016.

A young woman of color takes the stage. With a quick prop change and shift of her posture, she becomes several different characters: a young military veteran, a successful business executive, a street paper vendor, all of whom have been hit with homelessness. Continue reading →

April 8, 2016July 26, 2016 by phungamy Categories: Collaboration, Events, Family Homelessness, Films about Homelessness, Homelessness Among Schoolchildren, JournalismTags: American Refugees, Animated Films, Film and Family Homelessness Project, Firesteel, Home for Sale, homeless advocacy, homelessness films, StoryCorps, Super Dads, The Beast Inside, The Smiths Leave a comment

“The Story Told Itself” — Catching Up with Tiny

Film about formerly homeless teen is screened at NAEH Conference

By Catherine Hinrichsen, Project Director, Seattle University’s Project on Family Homelessness

The revered documentary photographer Mary Ellen Mark died months ago, but we felt her presence very strongly as we watched her final work on the night of Feb. 18, 2016. Continue reading →

February 25, 2016July 26, 2016 by phungamy Categories: Events, Family Homelessness, Films about Homelessness, Youth PovertyTags: Erin Blackwell, Gates Foundation, homeless advocacy, homelessness films, Martin Bell, Mary Ellen Mark, NAEH, Streetwise, Tiny 1 Comment

A Night of Optimism About Homelessness — All Home’s “Engage-Raiser”

Erin with frame snip — Our partner **Erin Murphy** of Housing Development Consortium inspired this “Polaroid frame” designed for maximum photo sharing, complete with logo and hashtag #allhomeoptimism.

More than 200 energized community members gathered at the new Optimism Brewing Co. on Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood Tuesday night, Nov. 17, for “All Home @ Optimism.” Continue reading →

November 19, 2015 by phungamy Categories: Events, Family Homelessness, Films about HomelessnessTags: All Home, Firesteel, homeless advocacy, homelessness films, Seattle U students, Washington Low Income Housing Alliance Leave a comment

Local Story Behind Debut of “@home” on Chicago PBS Station

Photo Tiana Haley @home t-shirts — Seattle U students Haley Lewis (L) and Tiana Quitugua (R) model their new t-shirts featuring the artwork Haley created for “@home.” Photo by Catherine Hinrichsen.

Tomorrow night, a powerful new documentary will have its broadcast premiere, on Chicago’s WTTW-TV, Channel 11 (PBS), 9 p.m. Central. So, this is a great time to reflect on one of the highlights of our year: hosting the remarkable e-activist Mark Horvath for the Seattle premiere of the film about him, “@home.”

We were thrilled to bring Mark and the film’s director, Susanne Suffredin, here in May for the premiere, which kicked off another highlight of our year, the Hack to End Homelessness.

Watching the film in prep for the screening, our student Haley Jo Lewis was inspired to create an illustration about Mark. The film’s producers, the Kindling Group, liked the art so much that they used it to print t-shirts for their outreach campaign. The shirts arrived last week! Haley and our project assistant and recent SU grad, Tiana Quitugua, were happy to model the shirts; see the photo above.

@ home drawing, Haley Lewis, @hardlynormal — Haley tweeted her illustration at Mark in April, and he took notice!

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December 16, 2014 by phungamy Categories: Collaboration, Events, Family Homelessness, Films about Homelessness, JournalismTags: @home, Firesteel, Hack to End Homelessness, homeless advocacy, homelessness films, Mark Horvath, Seattle U students 1 Comment

The Stranger Genius Award Goes To Family Homelessness Film Fellow

Drew Christie drawing by Haley — Drew Christie, as seen by Seattle University student Haley Jo Lewis.

Congratulations to our Film Fellow Drew Christie, winner of a coveted Genius Award from The Stranger! At the ceremony Saturday night, Oct. 18, Drew was named as winner of the Film category for his impressive body of work, including more “op-docs” for the New York Times than any other artist.

The nominations were announced in June, just after Drew had completed his work on “The Beast Inside,” the animated short film he co-directed with Amy Enser (produced by Lindy Boustedt). That film is the main reason we were rooting for him.

In the nomination write-up, Charles Mudede of The Stranger wrote:

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October 21, 2014 by phungamy Categories: Collaboration, Events, Family Homelessness, Films about HomelessnessTags: American Refugees, Animated Films, Film and Family Homelessness Project, homeless advocacy, homelessness films, Seattle U students, The Beast Inside Leave a comment

The Smiths — The Film About Homelessness That Had To Be Made

A new animated film about family homelessness and helping neighbors

By Lisa Gustaveson, Project Manager for Seattle University’s Faith & Family Homelessness Project

As program manager for Seattle University’s Faith & Family Homelessness Project, I spend much of my time visiting local emergency shelters, churches, synagogues and mosques. During my visits, I often meet dedicated volunteers who spend countless hours providing meals, collecting clothes, back to school supplies, and hygiene items, for people experiencing homelessness (you all know who you are!).

During these visits, the question I am most frequently asked by volunteers is, does any of this make a difference? They wonder if they really are helping to end family homelessness.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and unappreciated when the number of homeless families seems to grow every day. It’s also hard to find the best way to describe the importance of each and every act of kindness, how all those little gestures make a difference.

That’s why I was so excited when I learned about filmmaker Neely Goniodsky’s plans to create the short animated film, “The Smiths,” as part of Seattle University’s Film and Family Homelessness Project.

“The Smiths” is one of four short films created through the project, collectively titled “American Refugees.”

A still from the film “The Smiths.” The vivid colors used throughout the film convey the intense emotions of a family who is homeless, as they try to make ends meet.

I was a member of the project’s advisory team, so I had the opportunity to read the proposal by Neely Goniodsky. As I read it, I knew that the film should be – no, HAD to be – made.

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August 16, 2014 by phungamy Categories: Family Homelessness, Films about Homelessness, Homelessness Among SchoolchildrenTags: American Refugees, Animated Films, Faith and Family Homelessness Project, Film and Family Homelessness Project, homeless advocacy, homeless shelters, homelessness films, The Smiths 1 Comment