At The Crossroads: the documentary
May 2008 • TRT 15:30
This documentary journeys into the world and work of At The Crossroads, a San Francisco organization that works with homeless youth and young adults. Counselors go on outreach four nights a week in the Mission and Downtown neighborhoods and hand out supplies to the youth they meet. Through that, they form relationships with youth and work with them to build healthy and fulfilling lives.
| Watch the video (TRT 15:30)
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Credits
Producer/Director/Camera: Monica Lam
Editor/Additional Camera: Thomas Benton
Original Music by: Daoud
Interviewer: Molly Rhodes
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Winner of a 2009 Bronze Telly Award for Social Issues documentary |
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
very stirring piece. i particularly enjoyed the specific instances threaded throughout the piece where the staff were actively present, without judgement, consistently and generously. it would have been easy to go over the top with this piece, but monica’s restrained approach was all the more moving and genuine.
Really enjoyed this piece. I love that it started out talking about the individual relationships. It pulls you in and you see that’s about more than just handing out supplies on the street. You see that they are actually an active part of their lives, listening to them, being that much needed support. For me, seeing that proves that they are holding true to their mission of helping to build healthy and fulfilling lives.
And then Rob comes and breaks down those stereotypical images of homeless vs. the realty of homeless and how it leads to some being “targeted bylaw enforcement” rather than by social services. I like that he’s introduced later in the piece so you have time to get to know the staff and the clients before a message is thrown out to the audience.
Very nice work.