In a world where children grow up sleeping on the floor, numerous families crammed into a two-bedroom apartment, barely receiving enough sustenance to stay alive, these kids begin life with nothing but survival instincts. TikTok video from Antonio Hernandez (@antoniohernandez517). While the gravity of their crimes is great, these young men are still simply teenagers. Cast Jarad Nava, Juan Gamez, Antonio Hernandez | See Full Cast He receives a letter from Jarad. 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). 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. Download a copy of Juan Gamezs complete handwritten letter. To others, they're monsters Juan, Jarad and Antonio, all young teens, face decades in prison. They Call Us Monsters takes viewers behind the walls of the Compound, the facility where Los Angeles houses its most violent juvenile criminals. Love does not conquer all nor is Lear suggesting this. "[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.". UPDATE 6/29/2017:They Call Us Monsters isnow streamingon Netflix. Antonio, Jarad and Juan are the subjects of the documentary "They Call Us Monsters," BMP Films The issue of juveniles tried as adults in our criminal justice system is a difficult one, and the . They Call Us Monsters. 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. Toward the end of "They Call Us Monsters," Antonio has been released. All rights reserved. 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. 14 deaths from dangerous dog breeds. 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. Premiered May 22, 2017 Directed by Ben Lear Three young violent offenders learn screenwriting in one of LA's high-security detention centers. Jarad, who will be eligible for parole in 2037, wrote in a letter to PBS that hes chosento leave the criminal lifestyle in my past and serve my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Juan is eligible for parole in 2027. The documentary "They Call Us Monsters", takes inside a segregated unit for juveniles being tried as adults in Sylmar Juvenile Hall and introduces to three teenagers awaiting trial where they spend their days and nights waiting to learn their fate for their violent and gang related crimes. Nevertheless, it proved to be very insightful because I [saw] how I was coping with pain, hurt and the fact I forfeited my freedom. (alumni participate in group gatherings called Writing Circles, where young people come together to share their work and talk). Halfway through the class, Antonio returns to juvenile court and gets released with time served. I want the film to reach those legislative buildings, those communities, to start a conversation around this population and how it should be treated.. 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. Lear, who released Lillian as an album, partnered with Plastic Pollution Coalition and 4Gyres to raise awareness for plastic pollution. Gabriel Cowan teaches a screenwriting class to juvenile offenders at The Compound. 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. Legislators debate legislation that allows for adult charges for juvenile offenders. TikTok video from Antonio hernandez (@edgar_heernadez). News and Views from the University of Redlands, Read the Notice of Nondiscrimination here. 17.9K Likes, 65 Comments. Reproduction of material from any Salon pages without written permission is strictly prohibited. ", "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. What is going on in these cities that so many young teens are being charged for gang-related murders? I saw the kids facing life and it broke my heart and changed my life, Budnick tells me over the phone. You cannot punish trauma out of somebody. They Call Us Monsters. Sitting in his white undershirt, he tries to reconcile the number of years Jarad still has left on his sentence: 162. [2] [3] Premise [ edit] What is the value of a life? 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. Theyd seem like typical teenage boys if they werent awaiting trial for violent crimes. To the system, theyre adults. Antonio admits he feels no remorse for his actions, and his promising new start sours soon after his release. In other words, Lear does not gloss over what Jarad actually did to end up at Sylmar, yet the film questions both his draconian punishment and the way the system continually punishes low-income, mostly African-American and Latinx kids with lengthy sentences, regardless of the fact that, as adolescents, they have no ability to see beyond the orbit of their own experience. Instead of facing my life I numbed myself to it and behaved immaturely.. Directed by: Ben LearThey Call Us Monsters Official Trailer 1 (2016) - Documentary In this fascinating, deeply human exploration of the blurring line between. December 21, . 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). While the film includes some touching moments, like Juans brief visits with his toddler son and a goodbye call to the girl he never expects to see again, it doesnt flinch from its subjects culpability. Juan:Yes, I saw the movie, before release. that, according to Budnick, Cowan, Lear and other prison-reform policy advocates, differentiates the young person from the adult. The problem could be stopped before it reaches this how does a teen get a gun is never questioned. I dont know if its because I was acting like a fool. TikTok video from Antonio Hernandez (@antoniohernandez5046). Juan:Yeah, Jarad and I were tripping out on how many times we came out shaking hands. To others, they're . Directors Ben Lear Starring Jarad Nava, Juan Gamez, Antonio Hernandez Genres Documentary Subtitles English [CC] She weeps as she talks about the harrowing moment in which she thought she was going to die. Moved by his friends predicament, he says that he wants to become successful for him. original sound - . All three boys have children. Jarad makes a joke of it, but Antonio says, Trust, fear of vulnerability, fear of public speaking and fear of being alone. Juan says, Fear of death, loneliness, darkness and love., The love story is the heart of the film, Lear says. The dark. Little Hope Was Arson: A Letter from a Texas Jail, Ben Lear Shows Reality and Human Face of Juvenile Justice System. Unrated Starring Allegra Acosta, Nate Corddry, Gabriel Cowan. To their critics, they're monsters. Sorry your mother did what she did to you, it seems you are better off, Im sure it still hurts. As part of the Kennesaw State University community we are committed to creating a culture of inclusion through our journalism and operations. The juvenile justice system was created to rehabilitate, not to be punitive but it became a punitive system where the kids are getting punished for their trauma.. Ive since chosento leave the criminal lifestyle in my past and serve my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Juan:Man, theres so many things the audience dont get to see, especially the fact that Im grown now. In California, the parole bill featured in Monsters ultimately passed in 2013. In California, juveniles between the ages of 14 and 17 can be tried as adults and receive sentences longer than their natural life expectancy. Jarad:Since the movie Ive been striving day after day to become a better person and hopefully re-enter society and just be a citizen, an asset, not a liability. Other stories Id like to tell I look around at the people around me and I see great stories of personal achievementsor overcoming struggles. As the Fair Sentencing For Youth organization puts it, the law holds young people responsible for the crimes they committed, but it recognizes that youth are different from adults and gives them a chance to demonstrate remorse and rehabilitation. with lengthy sentences, regardless of the fact that, as adolescents, they have no ability to see beyond the orbit of their own experience. Maybe it takes a lifetime., 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 InsideOUT Writers, a Los Angeles-based organization that teaches creative writing to kids in juvenile lockups. Sign up for our newsletter and receive the coolest updates! I was raised by the juvenile system thanks to a mother who really didnt wanna be a mom anymore and thats putting it nicely What TV and movies do you watch in there? Juan Gamez, Antonio Hernandez, and Jarad Nava. In what is then the pinnacle moment of the documentary, Juan watches from the sidelines as actors brought in by Cowan enact a scene from his own life as he wishes it had actually transpired. Our news judgments are made independently not based on or influenced by donors. We incorporated that experience, the experience of telling someone you love them and how scary that is," says Cowan. Have you seen They Call Us Monsters yet and if so what was your reaction to seeing yourself in the film? [2][3], The documentary follows three young juvenile offenders who signed up for a screenwriting class with producer Gabriel Cowan as they await their respective trials in Los Angeles County. PBS Independent Lens airs the film on Monday, May 22. 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. TALKING" while everyone blathers on regardless. I appreciate the support and open-mindedness.. When California advocates began pushing to scale back punishments for offenders like those in his film, Lear said, it seemed hopeless. Doing the numbers it appears that a child age 0-9 is 15x more likely to be killed by an aggressive dog breed than a firearm (excluding homicides). Categories Trending Tags They Call Us Monsters Leave a comment. Is They Call Us Monsters streaming? 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. Antonio was being charged for 2 attempted murders and facing 90 years to life. Another leads you on a mocking tour of his new home. 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. All three face charges of attempted (or, in Juans case, first degree) murder. Gilpin County Colorado Most Wanted. They Call Us Monsters doesnt shy from the consequences of the violence the prisoners were accused of (we meet a paralyzed victim of a shooting), even as it suggests that the system from a state senator who warns of mini-Charlie Mansons to lawyers resigned to stiff sentences proceeds almost mechanically. .tiktok-ze5eiw-SpanViews{-webkit-flex-shrink:0;-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0;padding-right:12px;color:rgba(22, 24, 35, .75);}5500 views|.tiktok-15ooo5t-H4Link{font-family:ProximaNova,Arial,Tahoma,PingFangSC,sans-serif;font-weight:400;font-size:14px;line-height:20px;display:inline;color:rgba(22, 24, 35, .75);margin-left:12px;}.tiktok-15ooo5t-H4Link a{color:rgba(22, 24, 35, .75);}, Antonio hernandez (@edgar_heernadez)s videos with sonido original - joxls | TikTok. The Los Angeles Film Festivalruns June 1-9, 2016. Whats going on inside these households, schools, and streets? 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. To pass the time, they sign up for a screenwriting class and collaborate on a short film about their lives, including . The 2016 released documentary inspects the experience of three juvenile prisoners facing life time imprisonment in Los Angeles Juvenile Detention Centre. The process of transforming real details into fiction seems to make the young men especially introspective. Read more, DIVERSITY, EQUITY and INCLUSION , would allow juveniles to become eligible for parole earlier in their sentencing, after serving at least 15 years. 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. 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. Log in to follow creators, like videos, and view comments. To others, they're monsters. All rights reserved. [1] The teenagers participate in a screenwriting class at Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Los Angeles, California with producer Gabriel Cowan. Every bit helps. They Call Us Monsters, directed by Ben Lear (Norman Lears son), might seem like a straightforward advocacy documentary. 88 Likes, TikTok video from Elena2widdit (@elena2widdit): "#theycallusthemonsters #stevenfernandez #TurboTaxAndRelax #fyp". The University of Redlands does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, They seem like typical American teenagers if they . sonido original - Antonio Hernandez. And, even if he is released, Juan faces deportation and separation from his family, including his infant son. 2023 University of Redlands. Roxanne - Instrumental - Califa Azul. She weeps as she talks about the harrowing moment in which she thought she was going to die. https://redlandsalert.com/. These are perfect examples of the way the justice system has decided to treat young men who commit violent crimes as adults. Watching this documentary would lead one to realize that the society plays an important role in the prevention of juvenile delinquency. Juan, Jarad and Antonio at "The Compound," a high-security Los Angeles facility for juvenile offenders. The film follows three juvenile offenders: Juan Gamez, Antonio Hernandez and Jarad Nava who signed up for a screenwriting class. Though not everyone would be lucky enough to benefit from this process a whole other story some people who were serving life sentences for offenses they had committed as youths suddenly found themselves eligible for release. 2023 Independent Television Service (ITVS). Another important area centers on the cognitive development and decision-making ability of minors in dangerous home environments. These people have to do their time. Juan, Jarad and Antonio, all young teens, face decades in prison. Juan was charged with murder, while Jarad and Antonio were accused of attempted murder. CC. Their stories are framed by their participation in a screenwriting class taught by Gabriel Cowan, one of the documentarys producers and by the debate among California lawmakers over a bill that would grant young offenders with lengthy terms a chance at parole after 15 years. To the system, they're adults. 1 They Call us Monsters, for me, was more than just another Netflix documentary. They Call Us Monsters is a 2016 American documentary directed and produced by Ben Lear. The proposed bill, SB 260, would allow juveniles to become eligible for parole earlier in their sentencing, after serving at least 15 years. If I learned one thing about myself Id say it is that the camera loves me. Our independent journalism on the juvenile justice system takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. goes behind the walls of the Compound, a high-security facility where Los Angeles houses its most violent juvenile criminals. Maybe it takes 15 years. To the system, they're adults. 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. As prison reform continues to be a hot topic of conversation, Ben Lears They Call Us Monsters hopes to give voice to those inside the Compound. You have to love it out of them, Cowan says. They Call Us Monsters A Documentary Film Review 'The Call Us Monsters' is a documentary film in which the filmmakers are granted access to the Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar California. Maybe that journey toward remorse and responsibility is different for everyone. I was filled with conflicting emotions throughout. Advertisement. Cowan conceptualized the idea to teach screenwriting and then produce and shoot a movie from the script the kids wrote. Read more, EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE POLICY I do not agree. 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. Thats whendirector Ben Learknew he had a film to make. Sorry your mother antonio hernandez they call us monsters what she did to you, it seems you are better off, Im sure still... ): `` # theycallusthemonsters # stevenfernandez # TurboTaxAndRelax # fyp '' to make I tripping. 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Released Lillian as an album, partnered with Plastic Pollution view comments back punishments for offenders like those his! Reproduction of material from any Salon pages without written permission is strictly prohibited leads you on a mocking tour his...

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