Open CallOpen Call: Pitch Reels
Losing the Right to Vote (3:10)
Bess Kargman - New York, NY
The Pitch:
Google "felony, vote" and the first link that appears leads you to The Sentencing Project, an advocacy organization with the stated goal of reforming the criminal justice system. According to the organization, "an estimated 5.3 million Americans are denied the right to vote because of laws that prohibit voting by people with felony convictions...resulting in an estimated 13% of Black men unable to vote."
I find this shocking.
I am currently shooting a documentary short at Columbia Graduate School of Journalism on adolescent offenders in New York City. I am curious if these young men realize that they may have given up their right to vote even before they've had the opportunity to fill out their voter registration forms. What does it feel like to be an American citizen without the right to vote?
I recently met a convicted felon who is extremely politically active despite the fact that he will not be able to vote for the candidate he supports so strongly.
This documentary would explore felony disenfranchisement through the eyes of those affected by the law.
4 Comments [Add a comment]
The opinions expressed in the Comments Section of this website are those of the writers/ contributors and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the WGBH Educational Foundation.
- Login or register to post comments
Comments
love the pitch story
I hope you do well and get this story made and told - i will screen it for you in San Antonio and try other cities as well. Check out texasmep.org also
good luck from a fellow contest entrant subject....Seriously Green: Kat Swift
interesting protest....kat
good topic - but look and feel?
People like to talk to you - that's great. Would like to understand more the look and feel - because 3 minutes of talking heads will not satisfy the requirement of telling this important story.
important topic
It really is a disgrace, and an important issue. It has been covered by numerous documentaries and news magazine programs, though, so it will be a challenge to make something fresh and original and not overly preachy. As it, what about someone who's borderline pathological. Should they vote? What about mentally handicapped people? Should there be an IQ test for people that vote? Maybe non-violent offenders should but rapists and murderers should lose the privelege? I don't know, but make it more complex and fresh.
interesting.
would like to be informed more about this issue-history of the law, advocates on both sides, theory etc...good luck.