ABOUT THE FILM

Ten years in the making, IN THE RED is a feature documentary about transformation, about growing up young and poor in one of the wealthiest areas in the Unites States. Seeing America through a different lens, what does it mean to change one’s life? How can someone’s history be left behind? The young people featured in the film have the opportunity to do both. Their lifeline to a new life, a new history, is a free program in Oakland, California to train them to become firefighters and first responders. The film – raw, intimate and unapologetically funny – follows their lives for more than a decade. Not everyone will succeed. But for those who make it through, their lives will be forever changed.

IN THE RED FEATURES MUSIC COURTESY OF

RAPHAEL SAADIQ

OUTTAKES

Pissed Off Citizen

Fire Academy Song

You're not the man

Dexter

Justin

Stubbs & Michelle

Judge Trina Thompson

Station 12

Pretty Package

Why Are You Here

"ALL I AM, I OWE. I LIVE ETERNALLY IN THE RED."

- Black firefighters' motto

BE A PART OF CHANGE

IN THE RED is created to benefit BAY EMT and its mission to continue changing the lives of young men and women. All proceeds of the film go toward BAY EMT and the fire academy featured in the documentary. Since 2015, an earlier version of the film continues to serve as a teaching tool – a stellar example of how real lives are impacted by mentorship and training. We will soon release a remake that will encompass ten years of following the main characters in the documentary.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT BAY EMT

“My organization and I applaud you and your cohorts for the undertaking of this magnificent film. It is very real and true of what we as African American firefighters have faced for years in our communities to become firefighters.

Our attempt to tell our story has fallen on deaf ears. The struggles our young men and women face are all too real in America today. You see their story can be told thousands of times in every urban setting across this country.”

– JAMES F. HILL II, PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS, WASHINGTON D.C.

Dexter Harris on the training ground in Oakland, CA © 2013

SCREENINGS

Photo gallery of our first community screening at the historic Grand Lake Theater in Oakland, California, attended by more than 550 viewers and supporters of BAY EMT.

GALLERY PHOTOS BY STEFANIA ROUSSELLE.

IN THE RED is a MOMENT IN TIME PRODUCTION and STILL I RISE FILMS collaboration.

OUR TEAM FOR THIS PROJECT:

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MIMI CHAKAROVA

Director, Producer, DP

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JOSEPH STUBBS

Narrator

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LOLA NOGUER

Illustrator

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GAVIN TEMPLETON

Composer/Music Supervisor

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CYNTHIA SOE

Motion Graphics

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SEDELLA JEFFERSON

JODI RAVEL

TANIR AMI

Executive Producers

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JULIAS CANADA

Field Producer

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AISHA KNOWLES

Impact Producer

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LYDIA CHÁVEZ

STEPHEN TALBOT

Project Advisers

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Special thanks to the CARESTAR FOUNDATION, FIELD OF VISION,
STILL I RISE FILMS and Mark & Shannon Hart for their support.