About Counter Stories Productions
Counter Stories Productions is committed to film as a resource to amplify voices and stories that have been silenced and enable wider community engagement around justice issues.
“People live their lives inside of stories; which are themselves determined by broader narratives. Those narratives have a way of shaping us over a longer term. Changing any system without changing the narrative that gives sense to the system results in new systems supporting the old story; changing the story but not the system produces the old story. We have to change the narratives and examine the structures that are used to reinforce them as well as ask how we can shift resources, relationships and structures in ways that will allow us to live in new and preferred narratives.”Dr. David Hooker
These films and stories are funded by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. PDA recognizes the value and importance of "Story" as a means to connect and cultivate wider circles of community engagement and action.
About David
David Barnhart (he/him) is an award-winning producer, director, and filmmaker working with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and is committed to story and film as a resource for wider community engagement around justice issues. Recent documentaries, “Flint: The Poisoning of an American City,” “Trigger: The Ripple Effects of Gun Violence," “To Breathe Free,” and “Locked in a Box: Immigration Detention” have received awards and been screened at festivals across the country, and have become resources for justice movements around issues of clean water and environmental racism, gun violence, immigration, and refugees. “I see these films as a resource and catalyst for gathering wider circles of community around movements,” Barnhart said. “Filmmaking is rooted in relationships, and in this collective process, we are invited to work alongside communities who have been silenced and oppressed by systems and structures, and work together to amplify voices and counter-stories that challenge dominant narratives.” The most recently completed work, “Trouble the Water,” is a documentary series focused on race and racism and is a resource for deeper community conversation and engagement around systemic racism. Barnhart is currently in production with several communities across the country on a project focused on industrial air pollution and environmental racism. When not traveling and working on film projects, he has a strong passion for all foods, music, the arts, and the outdoors. Barnhart is the proud and tired parent of twins. He and his wife Elsie live in Atlanta, GA.
About Scott Lansing, Editor: Sabotage Film Group
Sabotage Film Group’s Director/Editor (he/him) Scott Lansing has spent 20 plus years as a long form feature narrative, documentary, network promotions, and feature trailer promotions director editor. Scott has directed and edited two decades of award winning promotions and spotlights, earning him 15 Promax awards , 3 BDA design awards, 20 film festival nominations and 16 film festival awards for his narrative and documentary editing.. His work with Turner Classic Movies, including “TCM Remembers’ and “This Month on TCM” has been seen nation wide.
Starting as a live show and music video director, Scott has worked with signed artists John Mellencamp, Injected, Butch Walker, Dillenger Escape Plan, Black Dahlia Murder, Mastodon, Granville Automatic, MinusDriver, QuietHounds, Shannon Wright, and Cat Power.
Scott has edited / AD/graphics work on several features including Bleed, Cinema Purgatorio, Unbecoming, Robert Shaw:Man of Many Voices, Trigger: The Ripple Effect of Gun Violence to name a few.
Sabotage Film Group site: http://www.sabotagefilmgroup.com/