Heat: the Movie

It was a nippy 27 this morning when I set out to meet up with Bryan Miller of Heeding God’s Call.   After a quick ride with camera equipment on my bike, (thank goodness there was no traffic) we were on our way to Northeast Philadelphia on the R8 and the infamous Mike & Kate’s Sporting Shop.  Mike and Kate’s have been exposed as a gun shop that has sold to straw purchasers so Heeding God’s Call got in touch and asked that they sign the “Code of Conduct”, a voluntary measure designed to cut down on illegal gun sales.  Bryan told me that Mike had called and left a brief message so I was hoping he would be there and I might get some on camera comments and possibly the first signature beside Walmart.  No such thing happened.  We arrived at the shop and it was closed up tight.  What was really remarkable was how the shop sits surrounded by residential homes.   I know I wouldn’t want a gun shop on my block – I’m going to find out how they got zoning.   It was cold and pretty desolate and we wondered if anyone was going to show for 11-12 event.

Eventually more than 30 activists, a state legislator, channel 3, 6 and 10 showed up.  Mike & Kate probably got more attention than they would have liked and I got a lot of good footage.   My feet and hands were frozen but a nice lunch at the Country Club diner warmed us up.

To invest time and money into a documentary about guns is not a wise career move – at least that’s what I’ve been told any number of times by people who doubt anything can be done about the increasing levels of gun violence plaguing our city and country.    On the other hand,  I get encouragement and words of support from anyone that has been touched by the senseless killing and maiming that is all too common when you actually get people talking about guns.

The pros and cons of unrestricted gun access is not something you usually talk about with friends or strangers.  I guess the gun issue is seen as divisive and controversial so there is a type of fear in bringing it up, but I’ve found that there is also real agreement that “something must be done” even by self proclaimed “2nd Amendment supporters”.

Have gun issues have become a  “third rail” in American politics – so that no one outside the handful of advocates who work on the issue is really talking about the real cost and the real solutions to this violence?  I may be crazy but  I’m committed to making a  movie that will stimulate some real thought,  discussion and action to address the problem.

HEAT is a feature length documentary that explores the issue of gun violence and gun regulation.   Set in Philadelphia, a modern city experiencing more than 1,500 shootings a year, the film will highlight the actions of advocacy groups, legal teams and activists on  both sides of the gun access debate.  We will seek to expose the cost of gun violence by tracing personal stories, following  the efforts of elected officials, advocates and people of faith as they try to confront illegal gun trade with varying strategies.  Produced by awarding winning director Rob Stuart and the team at Evolve, our goal is to present a  film that stimulates discussion, common understanding and effective action to address the pressing problem of illegal handguns.