WINNER, AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD, INDY SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL 2021

OFFICIAL SELECTION, AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL 2021

OFFICIAL SELECTION, HEARTLAND FILM FESTIVAL 2021

OFFICIAL SELECTION, ST. LOUIS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2021

Sheila White, 58, dreams of becoming a photojournalist and escaping her life of homelessness. Yearning to make this change, she studies at a local university while completing homework late into the night at the women’s shelter. As a reporter at Street Sense newspaper, Sheila and her reporting partner Reggie decide to cover the story of DC’s “Tent City.” Along the way, they meet a charismatic tent resident named Mike who, much like Sheila, longs for life outside the underpass. As the city moves to shut down Mike’s encampment, our subjects’ journeys are threatened by the COVID-19 pandemic, with unexpected results. Street Reporter is a deeply intimate, character-based film produced with community collaborators that provides a window into the power of community journalism in one woman’s life, casting a vision of the re-humanizing effects of life’s most basic need: a place to call home.

www.StreetReporterFilm.com

A few excerpts of What Critics Are Saying:  

“Hinson constructs a wholly authentic, moving, and optimistic portrait of perseverance. Furthermore, this sensitive documentary draws much-needed attention to homelessness and the importance of independent journalism.” - Andrew Stover, Film Threat 

“There are no quick or easy answers in Street Reporter, just more troubling questions raised in Hinson’s realistic and unabashedly empathetic film. At just 27 minutes, the film sends a powerful message and presents a formidable challenge to those who watch it.” - Dwight Casimere, The Times Weekly 

“Advocacy, investigative and ethnographic journalism are fused transcendently in this 26-minute film short packing the wallop of those full length, five-star documentary films … Director Laura Waters Hinson’s STREET REPORTER is a captivating documentary,” – Greggory Morris, The Word: Reel Journalism Now 

“A heartwarming and positive short film…A powerful journey takes place before our eyes here.” – Carey-Ann Pawsey, OrcaSound 

“Director Laura Waters Hinson and producer Bryan Bello's docufilm has been presented with a wonderful touch of sensitivity, sincerity, and humanity.” – Sonia McCloud, Film Business Magazine  

PARTNERSHIPS

Street Reporter is a collaborative documentary project in partnership with Street Sense Media and American University’s Community Voice Lab.

The Community Voice Lab produces documentary films that capture the voices of community storytellers too often unseen and unheard. The creative ethos of Community Voice is that of collaboration, rather than extraction, in which our filmmakers and local storytellers work together to tell stories of hope, resilience and determination for the common good. To learn more click here.

A film by Laura Waters Hinson

In association with Renga Media and Street Sense Media

Featuring Reginald Black, Sheila White and Michael Harris

Produced by Bryan Bello and Laura Waters Hinson

Executive Producers: Hilla Medalia, Nancy Schafer, John and Ed Priddy

Original music by Chanda Dancy

Edited by Richard Yeagley, Dan Sadowsky

Director of Photography: Kasey Kirby, Richard Yeagley

Color by Robbie Carman

Sound by Otthouse Audio

Sound Design by Rick Rush

Re-recording Mixer: Cheryl Ottenritter

 Impact Producers: Reginald Black, Sheila White, Heather Brumley

Coordinating Producer: Amelia Tyson

Impact Coordinator: Taylor Whittington, Courtland Sutton

Social Media and Digital Coordinator: McKenzie Yoakam, Haley Klezmer, Spencer Trinwith

In partnership with American University’s Community Voice Lab

Made possible, in part, by HumanitiesDC and Humanities Truck