HOLDING COURT: Lawyers-Turned-Filmmakers Bring “Justice” to Screen

By Dixon Galvez-Searle - SCREENMAG.TV WEB EXCLUSIVE

Minneapolis-based civil rights lawyers-turned-filmmakers Jeanne-Marie Almonor and John Shulman are bringing their debut feature, “Justice,” to Chicago. The film, which stars Roger Guenveur Smith (“Do the Right Thing”) and Monica Calhoun (“The Player’s Club”), tells the story of a public defender who opens his own practice in an effort to fight injustice and racial disparities throughout the Minneapolis court system.That effort is near and dear to the hearts of the filmmakers, who met at Harvard Law School, married and later moved to Minnesota. They were both dismayed at the state’s prisons, whose African-American population stands at 37%, compared to 3.5% in the general population. After examining the logistics of the court system, the pair found that most inmates had been put away on plea-bargain, without the benefit of a trial.To dramatize this state of affairs, Almonor and Schulman set out to write a book, but became convinced that a film could reach more people. “We wanted to share what we learned with a larger audience,” says Almonor. After writing a screenplay, the pair started shopping it around. “We did try to circulate it within the Hollywood community and they liked it, but the subject matter was a little scary,” says Almonor.In response, the filmmakers turned to the local production community (including cinematographer Greg Winter and editor Jeff Stickles) for support. Shulman mentions how valuable the presence of trained professionals was for the fledgling production. “For us personally, the challenge was maintaining a consistent vision in a medium with which we were not familiar.”“Justice” was shot on Super 16mm film and blown up to 35mm film for release. Shulman puts the cost of the project at between $500,000 and $1 million out-of-pocket, but says a string of in-kind donations brings the real cost closer to $5 million.In addition to making the festival rounds, including stops at the 2004 American Black Film Festival and the 2004 Twin Cities Black Film Festival, “Justice” has been playing to crowds at inner-city theaters across the country, including Minneapolis. The filmmakers have been arranging screenings themselves after Hollywood distributors wanted to label “Justice” a “race movie.” Almonor says the audiences have been surprisingly diverse. “In Minnesota, we were shocked when the audience was 80% white,” she says.According to the filmmakers, audiences have come out of “Justice” ready to act. Shulman says this has to do with quality of entertainment the movie offers. “Art is a way to touch people that’s much more personal and perhaps much more effective than just working as a civil rights activist,” he says. Postcards have been distributed at each screening with suggestions on how to get involved. These include voting, volunteering for a civil rights organization and supporting community-based businesses and organizations.“Justice” will be open on Friday, March 25 at the ICE Chatham and ICE Lawndale Theaters in Chicago. That same night, FOX will broadcast the NAACP Image Awards. “Justice” received a nomination for “Outstanding Television, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special” after airing on Black STARZ! In December 2004. The filmmakers also plan to make the film available to educational and civil-rights organizations. Home video rights have recently been acquired by Image Entertainment, Inc. and a DVD release is being planned for later this year.//www.jujitsufilms.com