Voting in America: About

Why aren't Americans voting? And what is the fate of our democracy if we can't even convince a majority of citizens to participate in one of the most important, defining acts of a democratic society? Voting in America is a provocative collection of nine short films that aim to increase voter participation in the 2004 elections - particularly among historically marginalized constituencies like communities of color, formerly incarcerated individuals, single mothers and youth.

The project was designed to be a powerful outreach tool: to be as useful as possible to a wide diversity of communities, activist organizations and democracy advocacy groups, and to provide them with a variety of compelling human stories that will provoke discussions about voting.

Two important factors that make this project unique are collaboration and the emphasis on diversity: the film involves the participation of talented filmmakers from many different regions and cultural/ethnic backgrounds, each of whom has chosen to work in a distinct visual style that best expresses his/her community or perspective.

Out in the field, grassroots organizers are fighting against a legacy of exclusion and disenfranchisement, a deepening cynicism and a pervasive lack of education about voting. As filmmakers, we are particularly cognizant of the power of intelligent, independent media to educate, inspire and ultimately effect change. In the case of this project, we firmly believe that in presenting a diverse picture of the American populace from a variety of points-of-view, and in creating carefully crafted programs with specific outreach organizations that have already established strong networks of constituents, future viewers are more likely to feel implicated and engaged in the discussion. Greater understanding and engagement will ultimately lead to a stronger sense of inclusion, empowerment and greater participation in our electoral system.

The producers:

The VOTING IN AMERICA project is a production of Swell Cinema.
Co-produced by Laura Harrison & Charlotte Lagarde.

Laura Harrison
Laura Harrison's award winning documentary Secret People (1999) - a chronicle of the past and present of leprosy in America - was broadcast nationally on PBS and won a silver medal for Best Feature Documentary at the SXSW Film Festival. Thurmond, W. Va (1995) - a portrait of a "ghost town in the making"- has received among others, a CINE Golden Eagle Award and a Jury Award, at NY Expo of Short Film and Video.

Harrison worked for eight years in France as an editor on French feature films before returning to the US to complete an MA in documentary filmmaking from Stanford University. Since 1997, Harrison has taught media literacy and video production in the public school system and curated programs for the Aurora Picture Show, in Houston. She is working on Dreaming of Kawthoolei, a portrait of a Burmese girl who lives in a refugee camp on the Thailand/Burma border.

Charlotte Lagarde
Charlotte Lagarde's documentary Heart of the Sea: Kapolioka'ehukai (2002) about Hawaiian legend Rell Sunn was broadcast nationally on PBS (Independent Lens Audience Award 2003) and won the Audience Award at both the San Francisco International Film Festival and the Newport Beach Film Festival and Best Documentary Award at the Ashland Independent Film Festival.

Lagarde's productions Every Child Should Have a Chance (2001), Tribal Sovereignty: Unplugged (1998) and Juvenile Justice: Unplugged (1997), are distributed in public schools throughout the United States, and the latter was screened at the White House for public policy makers.

Lagarde's documentaries Swell (1996), about four generations of female surfers in Santa Cruz, California ( Gold Apple from the National Educational Media Network) and Zeuf and ] (1994), a documentary about a woman surfer's struggle with breast cancer (Directors' Choice award at the Black Maria Film and Video Festival) were broadcast on PBS stations and the Sundance Channel and are currently in distribution on home video.

Lagarde holds an MA in documentary filmmaking from Stanford University, and a BA in Political Science. She founded Swell Cinema in 1996 and teaches media study in high school.

Born in France, Lagarde became an American citizen in 1995 so that she could vote.

Special thanks to:

Most especially, John Edward Ross and Adrienne Torf for their steady guidance and their faith in us and this project.

And

Steve Carbo & DEMOS, Renaud Garnier, National Voice, Lois Torf, Tanya Neiman & Brett Mangels, The Rosta Jazz Avengers, Lois Chester, Kathy Emery, Christa Forster, Ann James, Nicole Broyles, Gail Silva, Star Massing, Rainey Knudson, Livia Bornigia, Laura Pipkin, Lisa Secaris, Susan Goll, Kristina Kremer, SpearedPeanut, The Art Guys, George Hixson, Sarah Gish, Andrea Grover, Aurora Picture Show, David Brown, Pepper Mouser, Helen Cohen, Constance Adams, Sehba Sarwar, Michael Woodson, Will Bentson, Hosanna Ley, Christine West, Katie Heim, Jessica Dolan, Alma Johana Franco, The Raven Grill, Shade Restaurant, Gordon Anderson, Kyle Britt, Saint Arnold Brewing Company, Glasstire, Epicure Café, Image Set Digital Printing, Jessica Zweeback, Lee Harrison, Penny Morrison, Sandy Stuart, Carla Oster, Meg Crady, Natali Leduc, Mark and Katherine Yzaguirre, Blaffer Gallery, Judy Hollinger, League of Women Voters of Houston, Rebekah French, Tish Stringer, Comedy Sportz Houston, Infernal Bridegroom Productions, Main Street Theatre, Houston Ballet, Museum of Fine Arts Film Department, Alley theatre, Fresh Arts, Orange Show Center for Visionary Art, River Oaks Bookstore, Brazos Bookstore, Hollywood Frame Gallery,Gish Creative, Stages Repertory Theatre

Funding is provided by:

James & Marina Harrison, The Ben & Jerry's Foundation, The Nu Lambda Trust, Karen & Bill Froming, Victor Romero & Michael Dunn, The Lagarde Charitable Trust, Don & Gayle Nathe, Mr. & Mrs. James W. Growney, The LEF Foundation, Vivie Lee & Kate Goka, Suzanne Lampert & Barbara Brenner, Lee Ann Slinkard, The Blue Mountain Center, Friends Committee on National Legislation, and many individual donors (A complete list of donors is available from Swell Cinema).

Developed in association with the Independent Television Services (ITVS) with funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).