5 Questions with Andrew James
The new short documentary by Andrew James, “Community Patrol,” is about a group of Detroit ministers taking back their local streets. We asked James how the project came together, establishing a relationship with his subjects, and what comes next for him…
1) Can you talk briefly about your background, and how you first got interested in documentary filmmaking?
I started making films in college after realizing that I didn’t want to go to law school. I grew up in the Atlanta suburbs writing songs, writing stories, making films, painting, drawing and singing in my high school choir. It was always important for me to have that creative outlet. Then in college I realized filmmaking could be a powerful way to combine many of my interests, including politics and culture. It was just a natural fit for me and I couldn’t keep myself away.
2) What’s the origin story of this project? What was the initial seed and/or spark?
I met Malik Shabazz while I was shooting my feature-length documentary, Street Fighting Men, an observational film about three black men of different generations working to build a stable life for themselves in post-industrial Detroit. I originally envisioned Malik playing a larger role in the story alongside the three main subjects, but over time began to feel that he deserved his own film. I wanted to make sure it would be a self-contained story that could stand on its own while also working as a companion piece to Street Fighting Men, so I pulled double duty with Malik shooting for both Street Fighting Men (and what would become) Community Patrol. But it wasn’t until my last weekend in Detroit that I captured the events that are portrayed in the film.
I am drawn to stories of regular people fighting back, demanding respect and pushing through oppression. We’ve all been there to one degree or another. No matter who we are, we relate to people who take a stand, even if the specific circumstances are outside of our experience. Malik is a great example of this and I knew it would translate well on screen.
3) How did you go about creating a relationship with Malik and the others?
It took just three late nights to shoot, but it was the time I spent with Malik working on Street Fighting Men that allowed the events that appear in Community Patrol to be captured on camera. Building relationships with your subjects requires being genuine, honest and open over time, as well as vulnerability and trust from both sides to really work. That’s why I don’t think it’s possible to make an honest documentary after shooting for just one or two days. You can’t really know someone well enough to make heads or tails of what you’ve captured in such a short amount of time. I went into the project with this mentality and was committed to spending as much time as necessary. Thankfully, Malik and I hit it off and we found things in common to discuss when the camera wasn’t rolling. It’s important to take time to get to know people without the camera, and to be sensitive to their boundaries. Of course it’s also about making the right decisions as a filmmaker when it really counts.
4) What is a doc you’ve seen recently, new or old, that really blew you away and why?
I was really impressed with The Cage Fighter, directed by Jeff Unay. The film’s emotional power is hard to shake, and the cinematography is outstanding. It’s really a triumph of observational filmmaking that more people should see. Jeff spent a lot of time following the story and created a beautiful, gut-wrenching film from the footage he captured. I cannot recommend it enough.
5) What else are you working on at the moment?
Currently, I am writing a few scripts and developing a short documentary with the support of a local arts organization here in Salt Lake City. I’m also working on the distribution of Street Fighting Men, which will be released later this year by First Run Features. I also work as a freelance cinematographer, editor and director, and am always looking for new projects and challenges to tackle.
Contact Info:
Website: http://www.andrewjamesfilm.com/
IG: @andrewjamesfilm
Twitter: @andrewjamesfilm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrewjamesfilm