PULL OF GRAVITY
Filmed on the streets of North Philadelphia over the course of two years, Pull of Gravity is an intimate portrait of three men in different stages of reentry from prison to society.
JAZZ PORTRAITS X NYC
A series of portraits filmed in New York City following jazz artists:
Mark Guiliana | Aruan Ortiz | Donny McCaslin | Gabriel Royal & Matthew Stephens.
BENSY
This film focuses on marginalized troubled youth to which the Dutch care system has no answer. They find a home with brothers Benselam who are keen to interfere with ‘tough love’ and find a way to successfully develop and manifest their talents.
TAYYIB ALI
This short portrait depicts young Tayyib Ali's story of tribulation to triumph, from being homeless to being signed by Russel Simmonds and co-signed by the likes of Wiz Khalifa and Big Sean.
JESSE KRIMES
Jesse Krimes was sentenced for possession of 15 to 50 kilos of cocaine labeling him as a ‘drug kingpin’ for which he served a 70 month sentence. While incarcerated he created a giant mural on bed sheets using gel and a spoon. He managed to smuggle the artwork out of prison over the course of 6 years. Krimes says his "entire experience" of prison is tied up in the art piece.
JAZZ PORTRAITS X LONDON
A series of portraits of jazz artists filmed in London following jazz artists:
Moses Boyd, Poppi Ajudah and Theon Cross.
SHOOTERS
SHOOTERS is a digital media training program, created by Media in Neighborhoods Group, for the formerly incarcerated and connects returning citizens to industry professionals and mentors with the goal of developing long term employability.
TEDDY BOY GREG
This short on-the-fly portrait was shot on an iPhone in a back alley somewhere in Los Angeles. It tells the story of Teddy Boy Greg who describes the decades of struggling with heroin and his experience with incarceration.
STADSSCHOUWBURG
Portraits of Dutch actor Nasrdin Dchar, opera singer Claron McFadden and writer Esther Duysker promoting their play
in one of the most prestigious and well renowned theaters in the country.
SAFETYHOUSE
A short film, shot in Den Haag, The Netherlands, examining the nuances of the Dutch prison system and social safety networks for individuals reentering society.
SEVEN ARNE HALSEMA
is an accomplished filmmaker who was born and raised in Amsterdam. He studied Educational Science, successfully graduated at the (SAE) School of Audio Engineering and soon after worked for production companies in The Netherlands. He learned filmmaking from the post-production end of the process by doing commercial projects like ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ and ‘Masterchef’ and in depth programs like ‘Tegenlicht’ and ‘Brandpunt’ working alongside Philip Freriks, Fons de Poel en Bart Nijpels.
He made his transition to the US in 2012 to pursue documentary filmmaking and joined Media In Neighborhoods Group. He worked alongside co-founders El Sawyer and Jon Kaufman focussing on social justice related issues. Their first release was the successfully acclaimed documentary Pull of Gravity of which their first screening was hosted by the Department of Justice of Philadelphia and the Mayor of Philadelphia Michael Nutter. The film focuses on the issues of mass incarceration and recidivism and received critical acclaim by President Barack Obama during his televised NAACP speech in 2015. Since that time the company has produced a variety of projects and clients working alongside with Oprah Winfrey, Russell Simmons and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
WORKED FOR
Comcast | Nike | Red Bull | RayBan | All Def Digital/Def Jam | Robin Hood (Oprah Winfrey)
Tipping Point | Favela/United Painting | The Mural Arts Program | Camelback | Independence Blue Cross
Revolt TV | the Knight Foundation | ISTE | the Department of Justice of Philadelphia
KRO-NCRV/Reporter Brandpunt | VPRO Tegenlicht | NOS | Hogeschool Leiden | Gemeente Den Haag
Paradiso | So What’s Next | North Sea Jazz Festival | Brandweer Amsterdam-Amstelland | Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam | Top Notch
CREDITS
This website contains work which wouldn’t have been actualized without the initiatives, effort and professionalism of the following individuals:
Jon Kaufman | El Sawyer | Chris White | Gabe Weiner
David Dominguez | Paul Overstrom | Liesbeth Beeftink
Mike Fugers | Timothy Adér | Joop Bakker | J.D.A. De Jong
Jay Soul | Baris Akardere | Sidney Waerts | Twan Rijven