I used laughter as a mask to shield myself and others [from] my reality. At the start of the film, we watch as Juan, under surveillance, speaks on the phone with a girl. 5 Heartbreaking Facts From They Call Us Monsters Doc on Latino Teens Facing Life in Jail. To see the short film, "Los," written by Juan, Jarad, and Antonio, visit InsideOUT Writers. 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 Call Us Monsters is a 2016 American documentary directed and produced by Ben Lear. 2023 Independent Television Service (ITVS). As we see them crafting a short film based on their experiences, Lear gives us access to their families and in one case to their victims stories, balancing the fresh faces we see at the Compound with the violent crimes that landed them there. It concerns juveniles in California, accused of violent crimes,. 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. 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. 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. Halfway through the class, Antonio returns to juvenile court and gets released with time served. These are perfect examples of the way the justice system has decided to treat young men who commit violent crimes as adults. 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. Learhad been visiting "The Compound," a high-security facility where Los Angeles houses its most violent juvenile criminals. Juan and Jarad were 16 when they were arrested; Antonio was 14. The film follows three juveniles: Juan Gamez, Antonio Hernandez and Jarad Nava. Of course, I would like to participate in activities like those even though Im incarcerated. To others, they're monsters. Later, he calls Abby and uses Los as a script to narrate the depth of his feelings. HD. ok my sons were murdered, but the killers are children, so they deserve to be treated differently? You can see why we need to ask for your help. Juan, Jarad and Antonio, all young teens, face decades in prison. However we have to give them the opportunity to change the monster in them by teaching them that there is good in every bad situation. They're held in a special wing of the lockup reserved for teens who will be standing trial as adults. Directed by: Ben LearThey Call Us Monsters Official Trailer 1 (2016) - Documentary In this fascinating, deeply human exploration of the blurring line between. Is They Call Us Monsters streaming? "They Call Us Monsters," directed by Ben Lear (Norman Lear's son), might seem like a straightforward advocacy documentary. 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. they're kids. What other stories would you like to tell in film or writing? To some, they're kids. By 2010, about 250,000 teens were being prosecuted in adult courts every year, according to the Campaign for Youth Justice, which opposes the practice. Juans older brother drew him into gang life as a child in their native El Salvador, before they moved to California. Meet the Monsters: Documentary Looks at California Juvenile Debate. Im guessing people probably think were still in the same mindset, and doing the same stuff. 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. Premiered May 22, 2017 Directed by Ben Lear Three young violent offenders learn screenwriting in one of LA's high-security detention centers. 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). They Call Us Monsters takes viewers behind the walls of the Compound, the facility where Los Angeles houses its most violent juvenile criminals. The plot emerged when the teens were talking about their fears. 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. Written By. 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. Built with the Largo WordPress Theme from the Institute for Nonprofit News. Prior to his imprisonment, Antonio was an honor roll student and he seemed like the perfect student up until his arrest. Documentary. University of Redlands Emergency Alert System, Alert Received: . Documentary 2017 1 hr 21 min iTunes. 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. It establishes a parole process with different criteria.. CC. Cast and crew Ben Lear Director Jarad Nava Juan Gamez Antonio Hernandez Darrell Edwards Additional information Directors Ben Lear Studio The Orchard Subtitles English (CC) Released year 2017 Duration 1 h 21 min Genres Documentary Foreign/Independent Size 4.67 GB (1080p HD) 2.18 GB (720p HD) 1.65 GB (SD) But by the end of the 10 weeks, Cowan says, they were all friends. They seem like typical American teenagers if they . (SB 260 calls this diminished culpability.), Obviously, there are no easy answers. 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. 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. Sorry your mother did what she did to you, it seems you are better off, Im sure it still hurts. They Call Us Monsters. "[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.". In They Call Us Monsters, Jarad Nava, Juan Gamez, and Antonio Hernandez are teenage inmates at Sylmar Juvenile Hall in Los Angeles.What makes that such a big deal? This documentary, directed by Ben Lear (the son of legendary TV producer Norman Lear), is one of the few I have seen to . Read more, EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE POLICY The law went into effect January 1, 2014. 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 Call Us Monsters is a 2016 American documentary directed and produced by Ben Lear. Juan, Jarad and Antonio, all young teens, face decades in prison. Nevertheless, it proved to be very insightful because I [saw] how I was coping with pain, hurt and the fact I forfeited my freedom. 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. Sign up for our newsletter and receive the coolest updates! I saw the boys experience a wide breadth of emotions, and the emotional walls they built up start coming down. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/19/movies/they-call-us-monsters-review.html. Documentary 2017 1 hr 21 min iTunes. sonido original - joxls . 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. A new documentary premiering at the Los Angeles Film Festival takes us inside the Compound, a high-security facility in the middle of Sylmar Juvenile Hall, where LA County houses their high-risk juvenile offenders. Follow her on Twitter at @EmilyBeJordan. 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. 1.7K Likes, 32 Comments. Antonio, one of Jarad's inmates, is blindsided by the news that he will be a free man. Jarad Nava and Antonio Hernandez (Hernandez is released partway . Instead of rehabilitating youth who have committed serious crimes, he says, its punishing them. Are our past actions a direct reflection of our character? Juan tells Cowan and his classmates how he was going to give the real Abby a poem but he never got the chance. 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. Id love to come and speak to these kids at the possibilitys they can have Help bring programs like Independent Lens to your PBS station. There are many that we will not be able to save. 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. Next, Jarad sings a lyric from Hotel California that again captures the No Exit quality of the whole story: You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.. To pass the time, they sign up for a screenwriting class and collaborate on a short film about their lives, including . original sound - . ", Jarad: I dont like snakes, theres a fear of heights, Im not scared of heights, but theres a fear. As a result of making They Call Us Monsters, his first film, Lear sits on the advisory board of InsideOUT Writers and is an aly member within the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, teaching a weekly writing class within the Compound and mentoring former juvenile offenders under reentry. 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.. I do not think so. The documentary features three juvenile offenders: Juan Gamez, Antonio Hernandez, and Jarad Nava. Juan mostly appears contemplative, or maybe just catatonic. 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. 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. 38 deaths from fire arms not ruled homicide. Cowan, who also happens to be one of the films producers, is the first person to teach a screenwriting class with InsideOUT Writers, a non-profit organization 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. 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. TikTok video from Antonio Hernandez (@antoniohernandez5046). Director.. Monsters is a 2010 British science fiction horror film written and directed by Gareth Edwards in his feature film directorial debut. I have worked in the juvenile system for 20 years. As They Call Us Monsters hopes to broaden the conversation on juvenile offenders, here are five eye-opening facts we learned from watching Lears documentary. We incorporated that experience, the experience of telling someone you love them and how scary that is," says Cowan. If they weren’t waiting for a trial for a crime they committed, they appear to be typical American Read more. 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 . [Antonio was advised by his lawyer to decline a follow-up interview.] Three young violent offenders learn screenwriting in one of LA's high-security detention centers. He approached fellow InsideOUT board member and founder of. Juan, Jarad and Antonio, all between 14 and 16, face decades in prison. 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. This doc examines how minors are regarded in the justice system. However, he re-entered prison after being tried as an adult for two robberies. 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. But thethree boys decided to do something mutually biographical. Gabriel Cowan teaches a screenwriting class to juvenile offenders at The Compound. 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 Are we entirely the result of our environment? It's a High Security Compound in which we're introduced to four juvenile inmates: Jarad Nava arrested at 16 and facing 200 years to life for . 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. Maybe it takes 10 years. Press Check button. Love does not conquer all nor is Lear suggesting this. 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 They Call Us Monsters. It is true that they are children but they commited adult and serious crimes. Los ends up being, of all things, a love story. They Call Us Monsters goes behind the walls of the Compound, a high-security facility where Los Angeles houses its most violent juvenile criminals, to follow three young offenders who sign up to take a screenwriting class with producer Gabe Cowan as they await their respective trials. Thats why you need programs like InsideOUT and college., In the fifth writing class, Cowan introduces the topic of character motivation, telling the kids that conflict and fear are essential in driving plot. , Scott Budnick (The Hangover) who executive produced the They Call Us Monsters as a labor of love. ", "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. 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.. Each one teach one.. Categories Trending Tags They Call Us Monsters Leave a comment. . Another, Juan, who joined a gang before his 13th birthday, faces 90. Antonio has since re-offended. We see excerpts from the result. You can see them hugging, you can see they felt a lot of success together, they went through a real experience together.. All Rights Reserved. StarringJarad Nava Juan Gamez Antonio Hernandez Darrell Edwards Allegra Acosta Joel Anderson Richard Bloom Nate Corddry ENGLISH. I was filled with conflicting emotions throughout. 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. Im a believer in the parole process, Lear says. Have you seen They Call Us Monsters yet and if so what was your reaction to seeing yourself in the film? Instead of facing my life I numbed myself to it and behaved immaturely.. Justice is not to seek retribution or eye for an eye, but there were homicides what they did and must pay in that sense. Lear, who released Lillian as an album, partnered with Plastic Pollution Coalition and 4Gyres to raise awareness for plastic pollution. In many countries children are used as hitmen, mainly because they are disposable, but also precisely because legal systems work different for them and that is not right. INDEPENDENT LENS: THEY CALL US MONSTERS 10 p.m. on PBS (check local listings). , would allow juveniles to become eligible for parole earlier in their sentencing, after serving at least 15 years. In this movie, creator Ben Lear sheds valuable insight into the world of juveniles with life sentences. Juan, Jarad and Antonio, all between 14 and 16, face decades in prison. They show Cowan a chair in a cell and Antonio says, King George sat here, and Juan laughs and makes a fart joke. He receives a letter from Jarad. 14 deaths from dangerous dog breeds. Their task is to create a screenplay that will be produced outside of the prison by their teacher. You cant punish trauma out of a child, you have to love it out of them, he says. 1 Hour 21 Minutes. Reviews for January 20th, 2017 Documentary Round-Up. Publication Information. Obviously, there are no easy answers. View Notes - Film Review .docx from JS 152 at San Jose State University. Weve posted their answers below, and also included the original letters if youd like to see an authentically handwritten response. Change is possible but forgiveness is needed.. To the system, they're adults. The problem could be stopped before it reaches this how does a teen get a gun is never questioned. As Newt Gingrich says in a news clip at the start of Lears film, There are no violent offenses that are juvenile; you rape somebody, youre an adult; you shoot somebody, youre an adult.. I do not agree. To their victims, they're monsters. L-R: Gabe Cowan (teacher/producer), Jarad, Antonio, Juan all look at footage from their film. When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted. To others, they're . They Call Us Monsters - Where to Watch and Stream They Call Us Monsters Overview Cast Meet Juan, Jarad, and Antonio, all in their teens, all facing decades in prison. 2017. Read more, DIVERSITY, EQUITY and INCLUSION Juan says, I really was a monster, and the film includes surveillance video of the killing that put him behind bars. 87 Likes, TikTok video from EL NIO DE FUEGO (@antoniohernandezoficial): "Ya disponible en todas las plataformas digitales junto @MONCHO CHAVEA @original_eliass". Another leads you on a mocking tour of his new home. I saw the kids facing life and it broke my heart and changed my life, Budnick tells me over the phone. 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.. 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. Thats whendirector Ben Learknew he had a film to make. Is there anything else youd want to tell the movies audience about yourself that they may not know? UPDATE 6/29/2017:They Call Us Monsters isnow streamingon Netflix. Even if he appears remorseless, there seems to be a softness there, or maybe just a deep need for approval. They Call Us Monsters 83% HD CC Documental 1h 21 minutos 2017 Juan, Jarad and Antonio, all between 14 and 16, face decades in prison. It is available for streaming on both Netflix and iTunes. Download a copy of Jarad Navas complete handwritten letter. Antonio Hernandez & Omar Montes 01:00 220 They Call Me Monster Mike Monster Mike Welch 01:00 1 What They Call Us? He attended the Compound as part of InsideOUT Writers, an organization that uses creative writing programs as a way to aid in the rehabilitation of prison inmates. 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. They Call Us Monsters. They Call Us Monsters is a 2016 American documentary directed and produced by Ben Lear. The remark encapsulated the feeling I was left with after observing the film. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Maybe it takes 15 years. Juan Gamez, Antonio Hernandez, and Jarad Nava. By 2010, about. Rent $4.99. [1] The teenagers participate in a screenwriting class at Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Los Angeles, California with producer Gabriel Cowan. The proposed bill, SB 260, would allow juveniles to become eligible for parole earlier in their sentencing, after serving at least 15 years. All rights reserved. sonido original - PABLO CS. Yes, they have a lot of free time on their hands, but that didnt guarantee theyd be comfortable writing back to us, to answer questions about their experience making the film and what theyve been up to since. This means these kids could get a second chance. [1] The teenagers participate in a screenwriting class at Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Los Angeles, California with producer Gabriel Cowan. Review: They Call Us Monsters, but Do We Deserve Life Sentences? 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. But the movie benefits from an added layer: A screenwriting teacher who gets to know three teenagers awaiting trial. They Call Us Monsters . His story became one of the main themes in their film. But if studies prove a juveniles brain is not fully developed why would you give him more time in prison than hes lived. Ive since chosento leave the criminal lifestyle in my past and serve my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To the system, theyre adults. Antonio Hernandez (arrested at age 14) and Jarad Nava (arrested at 16) are both charged with multiple counts of attempted murder; Juan Gamez (also arrested at 16) is charged with first-degree. Jarad and Juan are currently serving the remainder of their sentence at Ironwood state prison. Another important area centers on the cognitive development and decision-making ability of minors in dangerous home environments. Halfway through the class, Antonio returns to juvenile court and is released with time served but, back in the neighborhood, quickly falls into the same patterns of drug use and gang life that led to his incarceration in the first place. The documentary "They Call Us Monsters" explored the life of three juvenile offenders, i.e. Director Benjamin Lear . sonido original - Antonio Hernandez. To others, they're monsters Juan, Jarad and Antonio, all young teens, face decades in prison. Available on iTunes Legislators debate legislation that allows for adult charges for juvenile offenders. In the past few years, however, officials in many states and in Washington, D.C., have been rethinking the clampdown. Of the three young men it follows, Antonio faces 90 years to life for two attempted murders committed just after he turned 14. These people have to do their time. 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. TikTok video from antonio hernandez (@antonio_hernandezzz): "#fyp #foryou #foryoupage #trending #viral #foru #fyp". It follows three residents at Barry J. Nidorf. The finished film, Los, can be viewed at http://insideoutwriters.org. She weeps as she talks about the harrowing moment in which she thought she was going to die. Juan and Jarad were 16 when they were arrested; Antonio was 14. Director Ben Lear Stars Allegra Acosta Joel Anderson (archive footage) Richard Bloom (archive footage) Juan, Jarad and Antonio, all young teens, face decades in prison. At times Jarad, who faces 200 years for four attempted murders, demonstrates an almost dissociative denial that borders on sociopathic. To their victims, theyre monsters. TikTok video from Antonio Hernandez (@antoniohernandez517). Reflecting back on his first week teaching his screenwriting class, Cowan says he was struck by the teens saying they don't have friends. Preview EXPLORE THE FILM About the Documentary They. Hes no longer actively gangbanging. I dont know if its because I was acting like a fool. Since rehabilitation programs continue to be underfunded, the recidivism rate isnt likely to go down. Their parents grew up in identical conditions before them and know nothing of survival in an "acceptable" way because they have NEVER been given instruction. Be more independent. ", But then, Jarad counters, No, Im not scared of the dark., Seems like youre avoiding the question, Cowan replies. If they weren't waiting for a trial for a crime they committed, they appear to be typical American teenagers. I was raised by the juvenile system thanks to a mother who really didnt wanna be a mom anymore and thats putting it nicely Reproduction of material from any Salon pages without written permission is strictly prohibited. , when a referendum gave prosecutors the power to try teens as adults for certain serious crimes. 17.9K Likes, 65 Comments. Over the course of the two years that Lear (son of TV writer and producer Norman Lear) spent filming They Call Us Monsters, SB 260, the juvenile parole bill, went into effect in California. [2] [3] Premise [ edit] Also, the story of my family, [e]specially my moms.. He's a likable Mexican drug addict who comes from a single mom who is little more than a professional baby machine. Buy $12.99. PBS Independent Lens airs the film on Monday, May 22. Its this capacity for change that, according to Budnick, Cowan, Lear and other prison-reform policy advocates, differentiates the young person from the adult. 2023 Independent Television Service (ITVS). Im 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! Our news judgments are made independently not based on or influenced by donors. Associated Press articles: Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. sonido original - EL NIO DE FUEGO. Through their introspection and self-discovery, I felt an overwhelming sense of aspiration for these young people, despite their circumstances. All rights reserved. This is precisely the case of the three main subjects of Lears documentary. Ben Lear. 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. PBS Independent Lens airs the film on Monday, May 22. The film follows three juvenile offenders: Juan Gamez, Antonio Hernandez and Jarad Nava who signed up for a screenwriting class. 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