Live Out Loud coming soon!
Sumaiyya and Dave at The Hollywood Theater in Portland, Oregon
- Photo by Laurel Degutis
When I finished filming my first feature documentary, Live Out Loud in 2013, I never imagined that it would be eight years before it was ready to release. But life is unpredictable. Mine has been full of twists and turns from battling a mystery disease for over a decade to losing three of my closest family members, including my father and both of my feline babies who were with me for almost 20 years. In between, I somehow made a short drama called “Esperanza’s Turn” that’s had an exciting festival run and been picked up for distribution by Global Films Online, the first streaming platform to focus solely on nonviolent films.
I also took time to co-produce a series called Connectivity Project with my friend Rose Madrone (director) because I felt her project’s mission to educate people about the ripple effects of our actions and choices in an interconnected world is absolutely vital right now. I’m delighted to share that Connectivity Project was picked up for distribution by Bullfrog Films, one of the oldest educational video distribution companies in the U.S. Please tell all of your educator friends about it.
Although it was shot years ago, Live Out Loud is more relevant than ever today as the housing crisis continues to spiral out of control in our country. I don’t need to tell any of you living in Portland, Oregon how dire the situation has become. As more and more people without a home have gravitated to the social services and temperate climate that Portland provides, the more burdened the system has become. Without adequate resources, social problems at the encampments that fill nearly every corner of the city have escalated.
Back in 2013, I shot Live Out Loud, the story of three people experiencing homelessness in Portland who are empowered and begin to heal from childhood trauma by learning to make films. My film would not have been possible without the honesty, trust, and cooperation of Sumaiyya, David, and John, whom I had the honor to follow over a year while they created group projects and their first films with BCCTV, a class funded by a Regional Arts & Culture Council grant. Most people who’ve experienced homelessness have had their self-esteem trampled on again, and again, and again. Recovery from life on the streets requires food and shelter, yes, but it also requires self-worth and belief in the possibility of a better future. I am working hard to make sure this film educates our leaders and policy makers about the root causes of homelessness and inspires them as well as arts organizations to partner with non-profit groups to create similar programs to the one where Sumaiyya, David, and John became filmmakers and started new chapters in their lives. If you have any leads, particularly in Portland and Louisville, please email me at melissaruefilms@gmail.com
We will never solve the homeless crisis in the U.S. if we do not fund and create programs that address the key underlying causes—trauma, neglect, abuse, addiction, lack of mental health care, lack of access to health care in general, poor nutrition, systemic racism, educational inequity, overburdened public school systems, and the list goes on. Our streets and prisons are full of people with mental illnesses and addiction issues who were never adequately treated because our society refuses to see those problems as diseases rather than character flaws that should be punished. Some day, people will be horrified by our ignorance. We have to change our way of thinking. We have to become more compassionate and take action if we want to live in a more connected, more peaceful society.
