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Making a Documentary That Has an Impact

Video
Time: 1:30 - 2:15
Location: Room 105
Presenter: Phyllisa Smith, Instructor

Phyllisa Smith, a South Florida native and doctoral student in the English Department, produced a documentary about gentrification and its effects on her hometown. The documentary added to the collection of material used in her ENGL 15A course last fall. During this session, she will show clips from the film and explain how this project began as an idea and turned into something real. If you think you have to be a techno-genius to make a film, come to this session and learn from someone who had no prior experience and in one semester produced a documentary that was featured in a local newspaper in Pompano Beach, Florida.

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April 16, 2007 - 8:16am — Elizabeth

Session Overview

About the Documentary

Phyllisa Smith is a first-generation doctoral student from the mixed African-American/Mexican neighborhood of Collier City, Florida, north of Miami. Although her discipline is the study of African-American drama, she wanted to make a documentary of the history of her neighborhood and the effects of gentrification on her friends and family.

In the 1980s, Collier City was generally a working class neighborhood which residents acknowledged had serious drug problems. However, Ms. Smith also describes it as a close-knit neighborhood with a variety of natural resources including access to a local plant known to act as a fever reducer. It is also about 5-10 miles from the beach.

As more residents have moved to Florida, Collier City was targeted by developers and local county comissioners for redevelopment. In some cases developers bought out original two-bedroom houses, but for only $8,000-10,000 each and replaced them with a smaller number of larger houses valued around $200,000-300,000. In other cases, Smith claims that eminent domain was applied to some neighborhoods forcing residents to relocate. For the remaining residents, rising property values have caused an increase in property taxes which can be difficult for residents on a fixed income to pay, thus forcing some to sell and relocate. Although crime has been reduced, the original residents are not necessarily benefiting from the changes.

It should be noted that eminent domain is no longer used because of recent changes in Florida law, so the pace of change is slowing. Ironically, Smith said a recent commissioner bemoaned that he had “such plans for this neighborhood.”

The first clip that Smith showed was a montage of local residents describing their attitudes towards Collier City - generally a mix of affection and a desire for improvement. Residents also expressed fear that the current policies would force them out, and some felt they had nowhere else to go. The second showed a conversation among residents after a zoning hearing. One lady commented that the community had been asking for sidewalks and more foliage but that the new sidewalks were so wide that people would park on them at night.

Technical Details

The film was shot with an inexpensive camcorder (< $200) and edited in Studio 204 using Final Cut Pro. The equipment was purchased from the Computer Store which Smith commented, “has everything” and praised the staff for being a great help to her. Her training and inspiration for the film came from a course on film and from assistance in Studio 204.

One issue that came up in the question was the issue of consent. The film consists of spontaneous interviews with neighborhood residents (all of whom signed release forms) and some scenes from a board zoning hearing. Although Smith’s zoning hearing footage includes speeches from local commissioners, it was not included in the final edit because “I didn’t want to risk it.” An audience member suggested that footage public forums can be used by default unless the session is designated a “closed session.”

Reflections on the Process

Once the film was made, Ms. Smith was able to show it in Collier City and distribute copies to the library, the local county commission and will also donate a copy to her high school. Her showing made the front page of the local newspaper, generating a great deal of local publicity. A member of the audience suggested posting the video to YouTube and Smith said that might be another possibility. Although she enjoyed the project, Smith commented that she was not sure she wants be a film-maker, plus she pointed out “I’m studying for comps.” Instead, she is hoping to become a writer for future documentaries and has already been contacted about a project for a documentary on African American comedian Dick Gregory.

In the meantime, she does show the documentary to her students in ENGL 15A (Rhetoric and Composition) where it generates a discussion of social class and the dangers of gentrification or development to displacing long-time residents from lower socioeconomic tiers.