RIGHT THERE
A Short Film About Tolerance
“Ten years later to the day, Buchanan returns to the school…examining their experiences and perspectives to reveal young people much like others, filled with dreams and hope and openness to what’s good in the world.”
Anath White for rogerebert.com – April, 2013
View Part 1 here:
When PS 234 invited alumni back to the school to commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11, I saw an opportunity.
I believe an education that teaches history, context and cultural differences could make someone less prone to irrational anti-Muslim prejudice. I wanted to find out if that was true by talking to former PS 234 kids, now teenagers, and filming their answers.
We filmed RIGHT THERE, A Short Film About Tolerance (16:44) inside the school on September 11, 2011. The interviews occurred in a south-facing classroom with windows facing a half-built One World Trade Center. DP Melissa O’Brien was in charge of two cameras, minimal lighting and helping the more camera-shy kids relax.
In a nearby hallway, fine art photographer Joanne Dugan filmed portraits of all fourteen kids. We set up a fourth camera in another classroom to create the stop motion tower-building sequence throughout the day.
I worked with Peter Mostert, a skilled editor I’d just met at Hooligan, to craft our limited footage. The kids were even more impressive than I’d anticipated – thoughtful, poised, and wiser well beyond their years. What they had to say still resonates today.
Florence Buchanan, Director
“Buchanan should take this on again, something like Michael Apted’s “7 Up” series, in another 10 years.”
Anath White, rogerebert.com – April 23, 2013
RIGHT THERE features photographs of Tribeca taken in the summer of 2001 by Kara Pranikoff’s 2nd grade class. The kids had disposable film cameras that were generously donated by Agfa to capturee their neighborhood.
As Kara correctly observed, “give seven-year-olds a camera and you’re bound to be surprised.”
After 9/11, the children’s poignant pictures were seen in a whole new light. The following year, a show called My Neighborhood Downtown was exhibited at the dfn Gallery in Tribeca. This wonderful book was published to accompany it.
©2001 Kara Pranikoff and her 2000-2001 2nd grade class. Courtesy Oomf, Inc. All rights reserved.
“In looking at these photographs you will recognize buildings, street corners, and landmarks of New York City. We had no idea these very same blocks would soon be seen all over the world.”
Kara Pranikoff, PS 234 2nd Grade Teacher in My Neighborhood Downtown – 2002
