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.
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
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Discussion Guide
Click the button below to download our discussion guide.
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Official Poster
Click the button below to download the Street Reporter movie poster.