Student-created documentary screening sheds light on youth gun violence
Updated at 5 p.m. with new language from Dream on Purpose.
Press release from Dream on Purpose
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Dream on Purpose is proud to announce the screening of “The Life of Christopher Scott: Gun Violence is Preventable,” a powerful student-created documentary that addresses the urgent issue of youth gun violence. This documentary, a product of Filming with a Purpose, explores the life of Christopher Scott, a teenager who lost his life to gun violence three years ago, and the preventable nature of this social epidemic.
“Everything just stopped. My brain stopped, everything was in slow motion that night… it’s like I felt him when he passed over,” said Stephanie Scott, Christopher Scott’s mother, reflecting on the profound impact of gun violence on her family.
The youth of Gainesville are stepping behind the camera to address an issue that impacts their lives directly: gun violence. Through “Filming with a Purpose,” participants aged 11-18 immersed themselves in an eight-week program that combined film production education with a deep dive into the causes and effects of gun violence. Filming with a Purpose is funded in part by the One Nation One Project GNV, an initiative of the City of Gainesville.
Gainesville, Florida, saw a 30% rise in gun-related deaths, going from 10 in 2022 to 14 in 2023, according to GPD data. Stephanie Scott is not alone; these statistics reflect a troubling trend that this documentary aims to address. The program highlights the power of storytelling in fostering understanding and driving change.
The importance of Filming with a Purpose lies not only in its educational value, but also in its potential to effect change. By empowering youth with the skills to create their own narratives, Dream on Purpose hopes to inspire a new generation of advocates for gun violence prevention. The participants have engaged with high-risk communities, received mentorship from film industry professionals, and undergone group counseling sessions, allowing them to express their voices, dreams, and visions through film.
The culmination of their hard work will be showcased at a special screening event on May 18, 2024, from noon to 2 p.m. at The Hippodrome Theatre, located at 25 SE 2nd Place, Gainesville, FL. This event is free and open to the public of all ages, offering an opportunity for the community to come together, learn, and show support for our youth. Registration for free tickets is available at dreamonpurpose.org/events.
“We believe in the power of storytelling to drive change,” said Shareen Baptiste, Dream on Purpose president and co-founder. “Through Filming with a Purpose, these young filmmakers have not only honored and shared Christopher Scott’s story but also ignited a conversation about how we can prevent youth gun violence. We invite everyone to join us for this important screening and stand in solidarity with our youth.”
Here’s hoping they find some light as a result of the darkness that has enveloped Gainesville.
Just maybe, this will reach the target audience and help them avoid becoming a target.
No 13-year-old kid should be at a party at 10:30pm at night. He was gunned down in a gang-related shooting at a private party in Gainesville. At least three shooters were juveniles.
It’s a tragedy but it could have been prevented by keeping your kids home after dark. Sounds harsh but it is reasonable and true.
These groups should put some effort into parent training, as many of these parents had insane, irresponsible upbringings themselves and have no idea what is normal.
https://alachuachronicle.com/5-juveniles-shot-overnight-at-american-legion/
https://alachuachronicle.com/american-legion-shooting-victim-
dies/
https://alachuachronicle.com/charges-upgraded-in-american-legion-shooting/
Mr. Scott wasn’t in a gang nor is it a crime to allow your child to attend a party at 10:30. I was a single parent that didn’t allow kids to attend these types of events but I did. What you consider to be reasonable and true is for you.
May not be a crime but it got the kid killed now didn’t it?
Uhh, no. He was killed because he was there, not because he went there. There’s a difference.
Chris, that reckless attitude of yours is the problem and exactly what I’m talking about.
I didn’t say this kid was in a gang, and I didn’t say it was a crime for him to be there. Just because something is not illegal doesn’t mean it is good, responsible parenting.
Some people think it’s reasonable to leave loaded weapons lying around in reach of toddlers.
Some people think it’s reasonable to drop your infants off at a sleeping friend’s apartment and not even lock the door behind you.
Some people think it’s reasonable to curse and smoke weed all day long in front of their kids.
That sassy “it’s my kid, I do what I want” attitude from immature and incompetent parents leads to preventable tragedies.
These parents usually grew up like this, so they don’t even see it as abnormal. If you challenge them, they’ll probably even say something braindead like “what you consider to be reasonable and true is for you”.
The same people that think it’s okay for a 13-year-old child to attend a party with adults and known gang members of similar ages are the first ones to scream “he was just an innocent baby!” when a 19-year-old dies in a police shoot-out.
I would suggest the Alachua County school board offer this in it’s classrooms the start of the next school year. Then hold discussions on what’s causing it with the students? It might make a difference if it’s shown to the core group responsible for much of the violence currently in Gainesville? I know this makes to much sense for the leadership around the city to do this. But I bet it would make a difference in some kids lives.
Sure it will….once the parents who created them make a choice to turn their lives around and leave the government subsidized crime infested lifestyle they have embraced so willingly. Then maybe they can lead by example.
First of all this was a teenage party and why do we keep labeling every shooting as gang related? Mr. Scott was a innocent bystander that was at a teenage party. Where some known knuckle heads happen to come and shot up a party of teenagers. Can someone please explain what is wokeness?? Stop with the product of your environment nonsense. My parents didn’t smoke or drink but I do. Kids today are more influenced by peers, television, and social media. Complainers no solutions. I.was a single parent of young man that was involved in this so called gang world that we.have in Gainesville. Most of this nonsense is neighborhood kids fighting.