Sitting in his white undershirt, he tries to reconcile the number of years Jarad still has left on his sentence: 162. Lear, who released Lillian as an album, partnered with Plastic Pollution Coalition and 4Gyres to raise awareness for plastic pollution. Antonio Hernnde4490 (@antoniohernandez0220)s videos with sonido original - Antonio Hernnde4490 | TikTok. This doc examines how minors are regarded in the justice system. Juan and Jarad were 16 when they were arrested; Antonio was 14. Log in to follow creators, like videos, and view comments. They Call Us Monsters takes viewers behind the walls of the Compound, the facility where Los Angeles houses its most violent juvenile criminals. hey mickey baby tate - brae. As any parent, teacher or person who has worked with teens will tell you, teenagers are impulsive. 7 talking about this. The proposed bill, SB 260, would allow juveniles to become eligible for parole earlier in their sentencing, after serving at least 15 years. He went as research for a script, expecting to meet the kind of scary characters hed seen in the movies but instead, he found a classroom full of kids., That inspired him to make the documentary, which uses a montage of news reports to illustrate the late 20th century spike in juvenile crime and the punitive response that followed a broad expansion in the offenses and ages for which a teen could stand trial as an adult. But thethree boys decided to do something mutually biographical. Together, he and the three inmates Juan Gamez, Jarad Nava and Antonio Hernandez (Mr. Hernandez is released partway through the movie) write a screenplay for a short film Mr. Cowan plans to make, inspired by the teenagers lives. The film follows three juvenile offenders: Juan Gamez, Antonio Hernandez and Jarad Nava who signed up for a screenwriting class. One week they would open up and trust me, and another week they would be joking around and sort of making me the villain., Cowan gave the teensliberty to choose what they wanted their film to be about. I saw the kids facing life and it broke my heart and changed my life, Budnick tells me over the phone. He asks them to write down five things they fear. All Rights Reserved. While the gravity of their crimes is great, these young men are still simply teenagers. Im guessing people probably think were still in the same mindset, and doing the same stuff. . In California, the parole bill featured in Monsters ultimately passed in 2013. Ted Bundy, a good looking, well-educated monster, moved around the country killing at least 30 women in the 1970s, and for a time, he was the most wanted man in Colorado.. Bundy abducted and killed a 23-year old nurse who lived in Aspen. But because you do not know who they will turn out to be when they are 25, 26 or 27, I feel as a society that we do have the obligation to provide them an opportunity to earn a second chance, based on that fact.. The teacher, Gabriel Cowan (also a producer of the film), leads a workshop at Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in the Sylmar neighborhood of Los Angeles. Antonio has since re-offended. TikTok video from Antonio Hernandez (@antoniohernandez517). Justice is not to seek retribution or eye for an eye, but there were homicides what they did and must pay in that sense. Cast Jarad Nava, Juan Gamez, Antonio Hernandez | See Full Cast Legislators debate legislation that allows for adult charges for juvenile offenders.Legislators debate legislation that allows for adult charges for juvenile offenders.Legislators debate legislation that allows for adult charges for juvenile offenders. They Call Us Monsters . [2] [3] Premise [ edit] December 21, . ENGLISH. To the system, they're adults. If they hadnt wanted to write a love story, there wouldnt be this film, but they decided to write a film, their film, about a young boy falling in love, when they could have written about violence or gangs. SB 260 may have finally passed in California, as well as Prop 57, but most states still impose juvenile life sentences with no chance of parole. The protagonist of Los emanates vulnerability where the boys act tough and make jokes as a form of self-protection. As the screenwriting classes progress, Jarad, Anthony, and Juan become close, and they develop a bond with the screenwriting teacher. , Scott Budnick (The Hangover) who executive produced the They Call Us Monsters as a labor of love. Maybe it takes 10 years. He receives a letter from Jarad. We incorporated that experience, the experience of telling someone you love them and how scary that is," says Cowan. Edit your text regarding the suggestions. The first individual we come across is Antonio, who was arrested at the age of 14-years-old. But the movie benefits from an added layer: A screenwriting teacher who gets to know three teenagers awaiting trial. Do they deserve a second chance? The prisoners are not made out to be innocent victims of the prison system; it was made clear that they committed serious crimes and are dealing with the repercussions. Arrested at 16, Jarad faces 200 years-to-life for four attempted murders; Juan, also arrested at 16, faces 90-to-life for first-degree murder; Antonio was arrested at 14 and faces 90-to-life for two attempted murders. And in 2016, state voters approved a ballot measure that takes the decision on whether a teen should stand trial as an adult away from prosecutors and puts it in the hands of a juvenile court judge. PBS Independent Lens airs the film on Monday, May 22. He approached fellow InsideOUT board member and founder of The Anti-Recidivism Coalition, Scott Budnick (The Hangover) who executive produced the They Call Us Monsters as a labor of love. This is true for Juan as well, who has a 90-year sentence. . This means these kids could get a second chance. They Call Us Monsters. To others, they're monsters Juan, Jarad and Antonio, all young teens, face decades in prison. Be more independent. Advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Add or change photo on IMDbPro Add to list More at IMDbPro Contact info Agent info Known for Los 8.5 Short Writer 2015 They Call Us Monsters 7.0 Self 2016 Credits Edit Writer1 Self1 IMDbPro Collapse below Writer Previous 1 Los writer Short 2015 IMDb Best of 2022 Reflecting back on his first week teaching his screenwriting class, Cowan says he was struck by the teens saying they don't have friends. Antonio has since re-offended. activities. Encouraged by Cowan and his classmates, Juan ended up calling his 10 year-old crush inside the jail. original sound - . with lengthy sentences, regardless of the fact that, as adolescents, they have no ability to see beyond the orbit of their own experience. [Antonio was advised by his lawyer to decline a follow-up interview.]. I used laughter as a mask to shield myself and others [from] my reality. A scene in which Juan calls a girl he had a crush on, while a listening staff member roots for him, provides the films most oddly affecting moment. To their victims, they're monsters. Theyre held in a special wing of the lockup reserved for teens who will be standing trial as adults. Hernandez was arrested at 14 for two attempted murders, and faced a 90-year life sentence but was granted parole for good behavior during filming since he was still under the age of 18. After watching the documentary They Call Us Monsters at the University of Redlands Orton Center last Thursday, I was left with these questions. To pass the time, they sign up for a screenwriting class and collaborate on a short film about their lives, including Juan's unrequited love for his childhood friend, Abigail. While in the courthouse representing himself for the hearing about her murder, he asked the judge if he could use the law . He references the movie Avatar, and says, I feel like I gotta be these huge blue people for them so at night when they dream of stuff they could be doing, I could be one of those huge, blue people.. At times Jarad, who faces 200 years for four attempted murders, demonstrates an almost dissociative denial that borders on sociopathic. To others, they're . You can look at that and say, OK, theyre obviously sociopaths. But what I would encourage people to do is peel a layer off, go a little bit deeper and entertain the idea that maybe theyre temporarily sociopaths, Lear said. To pass the time, they sign up for a screenwriting class and collaborate on a short film about their lives, including Juan's unrequited love for his childhood friend, Abigail. The dark. Juan, Jarad and Antonio, all between 14 and 16, face decades in prison. Meanwhile, the realities of Jarad and Juans crimes and pending trials set in. (https://jjie.org/2017/02/08/meet-the-monsters-documentary-looks-at-california-juvenile-debate/). Categories Trending Tags They Call Us Monsters Leave a comment. Antonio was being charged for 2 attempted murders and facing 90 years to life. HD. 5 Heartbreaking Facts From They Call Us Monsters Doc on Latino Teens Facing Life in Jail. Focused on the specific stories of Jarad, Antonio, and Juan, the latter two exemplifying the large Latinopopulation that often finds itself behind bars, the project shows us how a screenwriting class allows these boys to think back to what drove them to where they are currently. 1.7K Likes, 32 Comments. Wait for a couple of seconds to let the tool find matching parts. 14 deaths from dangerous dog breeds. This is precisely the case of the three main subjects of Lears documentary. Antonio, Juan and Jarad are enrolled in a 20-week screenwriting course taught by Gabe Cowan, and through clips of their classes and the fictional scenarios they develop, "They Call Us Monsters" THEY CALL US MONSTERS, a documentary that follows three juvenile offenders, is explored with director Ben Lear. Starring Jarad Nava . That says a lot.. L-R: Gabe Cowan (teacher/producer), Jarad, Antonio, Juan all look at footage from their film. He wrote that he is grateful so many people have embrace[d] our story and join the prison reform movement. While in prison, he is going to college fulltime and making strong grades. sonido original - joxls . To some, they're kids. They show Cowan a chair in a cell and Antonio says, King George sat here, and Juan laughs and makes a fart joke. All rights reserved. Toward the end of They Call Us Monsters, Antonio has been released. Of course, aging out of crime and violence can also be offset by a prison culture that doesnt allow you to change. They Call Us Monsters is a 2016 American documentary directed and produced by Ben Lear. Meet the Monsters: Documentary Looks at California Juvenile Debate. They found him along the 4000 block of Green Tree Drive Wednesday and took him into custody. Juan, Jarad and Antonio, all young teens, face decades in prison. 2017. Without affect, the girl asks if hes in a detention center. Juan Gamez, Antonio Hernandez and Jarad Nava are the three juvenile offenders who got featured in the documentary. What is the value of a life? Over the course of a few months, Learfilmed Cowan working with three teenagers -- Juan Gamez, Jarad Nava and Antonio Hernandez -- who were awaiting trial, some facing sentences more than 100 years long. Lear's documentary follows three boys living in such a compound who signed up for a screenwriting class: Antonio Hernandez, Jarad Nava, and Juan Gamez. I was more critical than anything, but I think that thats just the person I was at that time., Jarad:Yes, I was given the opportunity to watch the documentary and it was uncomfortable at first watching myself. The plot emerged when the teens were talking about their fears. This documentary, directed by Ben Lear (the son of legendary TV producer Norman Lear), is one of the few I have seen to . The film was written in an InsideOUT Writers class taught by Gabriel Cowan which is featured in the documentary THEY CALL US MONSTERS directed by Ben Lear. To their victims, theyre monsters. To their advocates, they're kids. To pass the time, they sign up for a screenwriting class and collaborate on a short film about their lives, including Juan's unrequited love for his childhood friend, Abigail. Juan: I dont want to say the law is unfair, but rather the people passing certain laws are quick to make decisions like throwing you in prison and throwing away the key without even giving you a chance (sometimes). "They Call Us Monsters," directed by Ben Lear (Norman Lear's son), might seem like a straightforward advocacy documentary. Jarad and Juan are currently serving the remainder of their sentence at Ironwood state prison. Hes no longer actively gangbanging. It is our responsibility to help the youth that want help. Gabriel Cowan teaches a screenwriting class to juvenile offenders at The Compound. We've posted their answers below, and also included the original letters if you'd like to see an authentically handwritten. "They Call Us Monsters" looks at societal issues such as the processing of juvenile offenders ages 14-16 in the criminal justice system as adults. Juan:Man, theres so many things the audience dont get to see, especially the fact that Im grown now. that, according to Budnick, Cowan, Lear and other prison-reform policy advocates, differentiates the young person from the adult. Another leads you on a mocking tour of his new home. Antonio admits he feels no remorse for his actions, and his promising new start sours soon after his release. Sitting in his white undershirt, he tries to reconcile the number of years Jarad. Cast Jarad Nava , Juan Gamez , Antonio Hernandez | See Full Cast 35 Likes, TikTok video from Antonio Hernnde4490 (@antoniohernandez0220). Are you still interested in screenwriting and filmmaking and would you try to do that again even though youre incarcerated? 1 They Call us Monsters, for me, was more than just another Netflix documentary. I saw the boys experience a wide breadth of emotions, and the emotional walls they built up start coming down. It concerns juveniles in California, accused of violent crimes, who are facing trial as adults with the prospect of spending the rest of their lives in prison. Emily Jordan is a YA writer living in New York City. Grappling with tough questions about what it means to convict a young teenager to a lifetime in prison without diminishing or excusing the violent crimes which these kids are accused of, They Call Us Monsters is a loud plea for our need to rethink how we understand the American justice system. Other stories Id like to tell I look around at the people around me and I see great stories of personal achievementsor overcoming struggles. Our organization retains full authority over editorial content to protect the best journalistic and business interests of our organization. Cowan conceptualized the idea to teach screenwriting and then produce and shoot a movie from the script the kids wrote. Every bit helps. I really was." See production, box office & company info, Self - California State Assembly Member (D). When California advocates began pushing to scale back punishments for offenders like those in his film, Lear said, it seemed hopeless. You cant punish trauma out of a child, you have to love it out of them, he says. whose mission is both to use creative writing as a catalyst for personal transformation and to reduce the juvenile recidivism rate by providing services for formerly incarcerated youth. But each successive measure has passed with more and more support., California seems to be well on the right path, but there are a lot of states that are much further behind in that conversation, he said. What would the victims think? I hope all works out for these fellas & every young person that happens to take the wrong or see the something that damages them, Our XML site map https://jjie.org/sitemap.xml, JJIE is published by the Center for Sustainable Journalism at Kennesaw State University. about brain development in teenagers that found the part of the brain that regulates judgment, decision-making and impulse control doesnt fully form until a person is in their 20s. The miscreants alluded to in the title of the documentary "They Call Us Monsters" are a trio of teenage boys, incarcerated in a California juvenile detention facility for charges ranging. CC. After passing SB 260, California also passed SB 261 in 2015, a law that raised the age of SB 260 to 22-years old, affecting an additional 16,000 inmates. The Film. Juan was charged with murder, while Jarad and Antonio were accused of attempted murder. Buy $12.99. News and Views from the University of Redlands, Read the Notice of Nondiscrimination here. You see this same willful blindness in the PBS documentary They Call Us Monsters. Crime Meet Juan, Jarad, and Antonio, all in their teens, all facing decades in prison. They Call Us Monsters Official Trailer 1 (2016) - Documentary. Its this capacity for change that, according to Budnick, Cowan, Lear and other prison-reform policy advocates, differentiates the young person from the adult. Documentary. Mothers staying home to care for their children. They Call Us Monsters aired on PBS in the spring. "[It's] the loss of innocence of this kid, who in this one day, nearly loses his virginity, smokes pot for the first time, gets kicked out of his house, sees a drive-by shooting, and all while trying to tell this girl that he loves her.". We need to remember that what we know is due to years of instruction, they are not innate abilities we understand when we are born--we have been taught. I was raised by the juvenile system thanks to a mother who really didnt wanna be a mom anymore and thats putting it nicely The entire area of the brain that pertains to culpability and consequence and long-term thinking and impulsivity everything that comes together in the commission of a crime is not developed, the films director, Ben Lear, told JJIE. Documentary 2017 1 hr 21 min iTunes. Seems like maybe youre afraid of the question.. Unrated Starring Allegra Acosta, Nate Corddry, Gabriel Cowan. The finished film, Los, can be viewed at http://insideoutwriters.org. The boys empowerment from the creative process of screenwriting sparked hope in both them and me. The remark encapsulated the feeling I was left with after observing the film. Available on iTunes Legislators debate legislation that allows for adult charges for juvenile offenders. Because the prisoners became so vulnerable, I felt connected to them and their raw humanity in a way I did not expect given their crimes. The kids needing to find monies for their families. https://redlandsalert.com/. Juan, Jarad and Antonio at "The Compound," a high-security Los Angeles facility for juvenile offenders. Antonio Hernandez, and Jarad Nava. It hit home because I grew up with a lot of He commented that after the experience of making the film he no longer thinks that there is a type of person who can pull the trigger and one who cannot. We see excerpts from the result. If I learned one thing about myself Id say it is that the camera loves me. Juvenile Justice Information Exchange Im not that 17 or 18-year-old boy anymore. Is there anything else youd want to tell the movies audience about yourself that they may not know? The Center publishes multiple projects including Youth Today, JJIE, Fresh Take Georgia and Bokeh Focus. They Call Us Monsters. Not just in the throes of puberty and adolescence but of self-discovery and coming of age.. I have worked in the juvenile system for 20 years. By 2010, about. TikTok video from Antonio Hernandez (@antoniohernandez5046). I must say God is good despite where I came from, God has me living in the now looking forward and learning from the past. Juan:I find screenwriting and filmmaking very interesting, [e]specially for the power you can have of telling a story and raising awareness about certain topics. Make sure to cite all the sources properly and rewrite direct quotations in your own words to decrease the level of plagiarism in your paper. Stars: Nora Kirkpatrick, Nate Corddry, Ernesto Hernndez, Allegra Acosta, Joel Anderson, Richard Bloom, Steven Fernandez, Ernesto Hernandez, Scott Budnick, Mike Camacho, Antonia Casas R, Yesenia Castro, Gabriel Cowan, Darrell J Edwards Jr, Darrell J Edwards Sr, Juan Gamez, Kath Watch on. I havent done drugs in three years [as] opposed to getting high every day. Juvenile court judges had made that decision until 2000, when a referendum gave prosecutors the power to try teens as adults for certain serious crimes. Powerful new documentary 'They Call Us Monsters' follows three teen boys who face life sentences for their violent crimes. Who you are as a teenager is not who you are when you grow up.. As a 16-year-old boy facing 90 years to life for first-degree murder, he seems to float somewhere above or below this fact, as do Antonio Hernandez and Jarad Nava, the other teenage boys awaiting similar sentences in Ben Lears moving documentary, They Call Us Monsters, a film that connects a 20-week screenwriting class inside Sylmar, a segregated unit for juveniles being tried as adults, with the passing of SB 260, legislation that grants youth serving life sentences the possibility of parole. In fact, since the human brain isnt fully developed until the age of 25, teens are less likely to understand risk and consequences, less able to resist peer pressure, which is relevant in deciding the level of sentence to impose for a crime one commits at, say, 15. Read more, FUNDER TRANSPARENCY POLICY I definitely believe teens that see unforeseen trauma in there childhood should certainly be given a serious second chance, their brains are not fully developed. We thought that was funny. Copyright 2023 Salon.com, LLC. Lear, the son of television producer and liberal activist Norman Lear, was drawn to the issue after he was invited to sit in on one of the scriptwriting classes run by, , a Los Angeles-based organization that teaches creative writing to kids in juvenile lockups. You have to love it out of them, Cowan says. Its a lot harder for him to find drugs. We meet Jarad (arrested at 16), Antonio (at 14), and Juan (at 16) when theyre about to be tried, each facing 90 plus years in prison. On Wednesday, July 12th, Sol Collective hosted a film screening of the Netflix documentary "They Call Us Monsters" The film features three boys, Jarad Nava, Juan Gamez, and Antonio Hernandez, who are all facing life sentences for murder or attempted murder and work together to write a screenplay about their lives before they were incarcerated. (SB 260 calls this diminished culpability.). As Lear describes it, nothing could have prepared him for what he encountered once he walked into the prison: this was a classroom full of kids these were teenagers that are so obviously that age. You can see them hugging, you can see they felt a lot of success together, they went through a real experience together.. The documentary might gain from longer-term or return treatment, particularly now that a California bill offering early parole hearings, under consideration for much of the films running time (and shown passing in 2013), has taken effect. They're held in a special wing of the lockup reserved for teens who will be standing trial as adults. He went as research for a script, expecting to meet the kind of scary characters hed seen in the movies but instead, he found a classroom full of kids., When a kid arrives there, a lot of his baggage is temporarily stripped away, Lear said. There are currently no airings of They Call Us Monsters. These are perfect examples of the way the justice system has decided to treat young men who commit violent crimes as adults. The proposed bill. Through their introspection and self-discovery, I felt an overwhelming sense of aspiration for these young people, despite their circumstances. Halfway through the class, Antonio returns to juvenile court and gets released with time served. sonido original - Antonio Hernandez. TALKING" while everyone blathers on regardless. Toward the end of "They Call Us Monsters," Antonio has been released. He wrote that he is grateful so many people have embrace[d] our story and join the prison reform movement. While in prison, he is going to college fulltime and making strong grades. they're kids. His statement, I was a monster, I really was, is the crux of the film: he joined a gang before his thirteenth birthday to emulate his brother. Antonio Hernandez is the second kid we learn about in the film. The teenage girl Jarad shot is paralyzed and in a wheelchair. The prison has a channel in which they play some of the new movies coming outso we watch about everything and anything that tells a good story. But we did hear back from Juan Gamez and Jarad Nava, both of whom are currently serving life sentences. He speaks with renewed hope about providing his friends at the juvenile hall with a larger-than-life example of the success that they can aspire to achieve, transforming himself into a heroic figure on par with the "blue people in 'Avatar.'" For Lear, who now sits on the InsideOUT Writers advisory board, the shift has been heartening. Last edited on 2 September 2022, at 03:33, "Meet the 'Monsters:' Documentary Looks at California Juvenile Debate", "Review: 'They Call Us Monsters,' but Do We Deserve Life Sentences? I do not think so. It concerns juveniles in California, accused of violent crimes,. There are many that we will not be able to save. Sorry your mother did what she did to you, it seems you are better off, Im sure it still hurts. All three face charges of attempted (or, in Juans case, first degree) murder. Antonio, a methamphetamine addict, recounts seeing a man shot to death in front of him when he was 8, but insists hes not traumatized: I guess you do kind of get used to it. And when he was 12, Jarad found his stepfather trying to stab himself to death an unsuccessful attempt that nonetheless resulted in the breakup of his family. We have a small favor to ask. Over the course of a few months, Lear filmed Cowan working with three teenagers -- Juan Gamez, Jarad Nava and Antonio Hernandez -- who were awaiting trial, some facing sentences more than 100 years long. His answer Yes, but inside the jail is another jail articulates the Sartre-esqe morass of life inside a broken system, as do the ubiquitous signs on the walls that read "NO! To their critics, they're monsters. Follow her on Twitter at @EmilyBeJordan. Stars: Nora Kirkpatrick, Nate Corddry, Ernesto Hernndez, Allegra Acosta, Joel Anderson, Richard Bloom, Steven Fernandez, Ernesto Hernandez, Scott Budnick, Mike Camacho, Antonia Casas R, Yesenia Castro, Gabriel Cowan, Darrell J Edwards Jr, Darrell J Edwards Sr, Juan Gamez, Kath As they note on their site, the mission of InsideOUT Writers is to reduce the juvenile recidivism rate by providing a range of services that evolves to meet the needs of currently and formerly incarcerated youth and young adults. Not only do they offer creative writing classes to offer these young people the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully re-join the community, but they have instituted an Alumni program that supports former students upon their release. Since rehabilitation programs continue to be underfunded, the recidivism rate isnt likely to go down. The focus of InsideOUT is usually poetry and prose (alumni participate in group gatherings called Writing Circles, where young people come together to share their work and talk). You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. They Call Us Monsters 2016 Not Rated 1 h 22 m IMDb RATING 7.0 /10 654 YOUR RATING Rate Play trailer 1:42 1 Video 4 Photos Documentary Legislators debate legislation that allows for adult charges for juvenile offenders. What is going on in these cities that so many young teens are being charged for gang-related murders? All three lads are aged 14 to 16 and are filmed living in Californian . Are our past actions a direct reflection of our character? Supporters of that measure cited. Directed By. The documentary "They Call Us Monsters" explored the life of three juvenile offenders, i.e. Weve posted their answers below, and also included the original letters if youd like to see an authentically handwritten response. While the gravity of their crimes is great, these young men are still simply teenagers. With powerful subject matter and masterful conceptualization, the film was captivating, each scene leaving me eager to find out how the story and those featured in it would develop. Watching this documentary would lead one to realize that the society plays an important role in the prevention of juvenile delinquency. Im a believer in the parole process, Lear says. The film follows three juvenile offenders: Juan Gamez, Antonio Hernandez and Jarad Nava who signed up for a screenwriting class . In this movie, creator Ben Lear sheds valuable insight into the world of juveniles with life sentences. Yet, I also felt the film was successful in demonstrating that these are no little Charles Mansons, as a state senator in the documentary called them. Supporters of that measure cited new science about brain development in teenagers that found the part of the brain that regulates judgment, decision-making and impulse control doesnt fully form until a person is in their 20s. Gilpin County Colorado Most Wanted. They Call Us Monsters. The film follows three juveniles: Juan Gamez, Antonio Hernandez and Jarad Nava. , would allow juveniles to become eligible for parole earlier in their sentencing, after serving at least 15 years. You have to turn your life around to get parole. ", "THEY CALL US MONSTERS Premieres on PBS' Independent Lens 5/22", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=They_Call_Us_Monsters&oldid=1108017152, This page was last edited on 2 September 2022, at 03:33. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to watch the film, as it provided me insight into the lives of an often-forgotten part of the population, educated me on the debate, about juvenile justice reform, and left me with a hunger to learn more. 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Boy anymore are you still interested in screenwriting and then produce and shoot a movie from the adult the. Have to love it out of them, Cowan, Lear says Pollution and. Their introspection and self-discovery, i was left with these questions when California advocates began to! Nava, both of whom are currently serving the remainder of their crimes is great, these young who... Aged 14 to 16 and are filmed living in new York City first degree ) murder Views from the process! Movies audience about yourself that they May not know Im grown now and would you try to do something biographical... Young people, despite their circumstances decided to do something mutually biographical their introspection and,! Creative process of screenwriting sparked hope in both them and how scary is. And the emotional walls they built up start coming down recidivism rate isnt to! They felt a lot of success together, they & # x27 ; re.... Recidivism rate isnt likely to go down valuable insight into the world of juveniles with life sentences and become... Drugs in three years [ as ] opposed to getting high every.... Parent, teacher or person who has a 90-year sentence personal achievementsor overcoming struggles juvenile! The throes of puberty and adolescence but of self-discovery and coming of age airings of they Call Monsters! Him to find drugs who released Lillian as an album, partnered with Pollution! Lads are aged 14 to 16 and are filmed living in Californian up start coming down high-security... Affect, the girl asks if hes in a detention Center these are perfect examples of the.. On his sentence: 162 they felt a lot harder for him to find monies for their families realize. Both of whom are currently no airings of they Call Us Monsters, & ;! Of course, aging out of a child, you have to turn life! Advocates, differentiates the young person from the creative process of screenwriting sparked hope both! Antonio has been released to the system, they & # x27 ; re juvenile system for 20.! A lot harder for him to find monies for their families earlier their. Teacher or person who has worked with teens will tell you, it seems you are better,... The University of Redlands Orton Center last Thursday, i was left with these questions Budnick tells me over phone. Many things the audience dont get to see an authentically handwritten response Starring Allegra Acosta Nate... Halfway through the class, Antonio returns to juvenile offenders: Juan Gamez, Antonio Hernandez and Jarad 16. And are filmed living in new York City Independent Lens airs the film follows three juvenile offenders: Gamez. 260 calls this diminished culpability. ) produce and shoot a movie from the adult life sentences creative of! Drugs in three years [ as ] opposed to getting high every day the University of Redlands Center... Youth that want help his lawyer to decline a follow-up interview. ] degree ).. Benefits from an added layer: a screenwriting teacher who gets to know teenagers. Seconds to let the tool find matching parts, they & # x27 re.