Director Ben Lear Stars Allegra Acosta Joel Anderson (archive footage) Richard Bloom (archive footage) I have to admit that it was weird to see myself from an outside perspective. Love does not conquer all nor is Lear suggesting this. Are you still interested in screenwriting and filmmaking and would you try to do that again even though youre incarcerated? PBS Independent Lens airs the film on Monday, May 22. Juvenile court judges had made that decision until 2000, when a referendum gave prosecutors the power to try teens as adults for certain serious crimes. Even if he appears remorseless, there seems to be a softness there, or maybe just a deep need for approval. As any parent, teacher or person who has worked with teens will tell you, teenagers are impulsive. gender, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, or other legally-protected characteristic in its programs and A part of PBS, America's Home for Documentaries, We thought viewers of Ben Lears They Call Us Monsters may be interested in hearing from the young men featured in the film. You can look at that and say, OK, theyre obviously sociopaths. But what I would encourage people to do is peel a layer off, go a little bit deeper and entertain the idea that maybe theyre temporarily sociopaths, Lear said. All three boys have, ------------------------------------------. They Call Us Monsters takes viewers behind the walls of the Compound, the facility where Los Angeles houses its most violent juvenile criminals. The film documents one of his first visits, when he asksthe group to list their fears. Ted Bundy, a good looking, well-educated monster, moved around the country killing at least 30 women in the 1970s, and for a time, he was the most wanted man in Colorado.. Bundy abducted and killed a 23-year old nurse who lived in Aspen. .tiktok-ze5eiw-SpanViews{-webkit-flex-shrink:0;-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0;padding-right:12px;color:rgba(22, 24, 35, .75);}5500 views|.tiktok-15ooo5t-H4Link{font-family:ProximaNova,Arial,Tahoma,PingFangSC,sans-serif;font-weight:400;font-size:14px;line-height:20px;display:inline;color:rgba(22, 24, 35, .75);margin-left:12px;}.tiktok-15ooo5t-H4Link a{color:rgba(22, 24, 35, .75);}, Antonio hernandez (@edgar_heernadez)s videos with sonido original - joxls | TikTok. That inspired him to make the documentary, which uses a montage of news reports to illustrate the late 20th century spike in juvenile crime and the punitive response that followed a broad expansion in the offenses and ages for which a teen could stand trial as an adult. Though not everyone would be lucky enough to benefit from this process a whole other story some people who were serving life sentences for offenses they had committed as youths suddenly found themselves eligible for release. To pass the time, they sign up for a screenwriting class and collaborate on a short film about their lives, including Juan's unrequited love for his childhood friend, Abigail. Another, Juan, who joined a gang before his 13th birthday, faces 90. Grappling with tough questions about what it means to convict a young teenager to a lifetime in prison without diminishing or excusing the violent crimes which these kids are accused of, They Call Us Monsters is a loud plea for our need to rethink how we understand the American justice system. While the gravity of their crimes is great, these young men are still simply teenagers. I hope all works out for these fellas & every young person that happens to take the wrong or see the something that damages them, Our XML site map https://jjie.org/sitemap.xml, JJIE is published by the Center for Sustainable Journalism at Kennesaw State University. It hit home because I grew up with a lot of They Call Us Monsters goes behind the walls of the Compound, a high-security facility where Los Angeles houses its most violent juvenile criminals. You cannot punish trauma out of somebody. Juan, Jarad and Antonio, all young teens, face decades in prison. His story became one of the main themes in their film. Help bring programs like Independent Lens to your PBS station. Lears documentary follows three boys living in such a compound who signed up for a screenwriting class: Antonio Hernandez, Jarad Nava, and Juan Gamez. Because the prisoners became so vulnerable, I felt connected to them and their raw humanity in a way I did not expect given their crimes. But each successive measure has passed with more and more support., California seems to be well on the right path, but there are a lot of states that are much further behind in that conversation, he said. Juan said he was in love with a girl when he was 10, but was too scared to tell her. To their advocates, they're kids. Through their introspection and self-discovery, I felt an overwhelming sense of aspiration for these young people, despite their circumstances. In other words, Lear does not gloss over what Jarad actually did to end up at Sylmar, yet the film questions both his draconian punishment and the way the, system continually punishes low-income, mostly African-American and Latinx kids. Jarads victim describes waking up paralyzed, and the film shows her trying to navigate her apartment in a wheelchair. Antonio, Jarad and Juan are the subjects of the documentary "They Call Us Monsters," BMP Films The issue of juveniles tried as adults in our criminal justice system is a difficult one, and the . All rights reserved. ", "THEY CALL US MONSTERS Premieres on PBS' Independent Lens 5/22", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=They_Call_Us_Monsters&oldid=1108017152, This page was last edited on 2 September 2022, at 03:33. It is our responsibility to help the youth that want help. The first individual we come across is Antonio, who was arrested at the age of 14-years-old. Written By. His statement, I was a monster, I really was, is the crux of the film: he joined a gang before his thirteenth birthday to emulate his brother. Antonio Hernandez (@antoniohernandez517)s videos with sonido original - PABLO CS | TikTok. L-R: Gabe Cowan (teacher/producer), Jarad, Antonio, Juan all look at footage from their film. whose mission is both to use creative writing as a catalyst for personal transformation and to reduce the juvenile recidivism rate by providing services for formerly incarcerated youth. As prison reform continues to be a hot topic of conversation, Ben Lears They Call Us Monsters hopes to give voice to those inside the Compound. 5 Heartbreaking Facts From They Call Us Monsters Doc on Latino Teens Facing Life in Jail. Antonio has since re-offended. All three are looking at terms that could keep them behind bars for decades. Juan, Jarad, and Antonio, all between 14 and 16, face decades in prison. The teacher, Gabriel Cowan (also a producer of the film), leads a workshop at Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in the Sylmar neighborhood of Los Angeles. She weeps as she talks about the harrowing moment in which she thought she was going to die. 88 Likes, TikTok video from Elena2widdit (@elena2widdit): "#theycallusthemonsters #stevenfernandez #TurboTaxAndRelax #fyp". ", But then, Jarad counters, No, Im not scared of the dark., Seems like youre avoiding the question, Cowan replies. Juvenile Justice Information Exchange Year. 1 Hour 21 Minutes. From the film, I learned many juveniles convicted of serious crimes are tried as adults and kept in a separate compound. Juan tells Cowan and his classmates how he was going to give the real Abby a poem but he never got the chance. Let me clarify, I dont think juveniles should just be let free or given a slap on the wrist. Juan, Jarad and Antonio, all young teens, face decades in prison. Crime Meet Juan, Jarad, and Antonio, all in their teens, all facing decades in prison. As the screenwriting classes progress, Jarad, Anthony, and Juan become close, and they develop a bond with the screenwriting teacher. Over the course of a few months, Lear filmed Cowan working with three teenagers -- Juan Gamez, Jarad Nava and Antonio Hernandez -- who were awaiting trial, some facing sentences more than 100 years long. , when a referendum gave prosecutors the power to try teens as adults for certain serious crimes. 38 deaths from fire arms not ruled homicide. They Call Us Monsters. His face during this moment, the flicker of anguish and regret, is full of pathos. Antonio Hernandez & Omar Montes 01:00 220 They Call Me Monster Mike Monster Mike Welch 01:00 1 What They Call Us? "They Call Us Monsters" looks at societal issues such as the processing of juvenile offenders ages 14-16 in the criminal justice system as adults. I havent done drugs in three years [as] opposed to getting high every day. Cowan conceptualized the idea to teach screenwriting and then produce and shoot a movie from the script the kids wrote. TikTok video from Antonio hernandez (@edgar_heernadez). Log in to follow creators, like videos, and view comments. He asks them to write down five things they fear. To their victims, theyre monsters. 17.9K Likes, 65 Comments. You see this same willful blindness in the PBS documentary They Call Us Monsters. . Eventually, police were able to identify the suspect as 19-year-old Antonio Hernandez. come up for parole in 20-25 years, instead of the 80 or 90 years he would have had with a 160-year sentence. Lear originally visited the prison wanting to enrich a screenplay he was working on but once he saw the world of the young boys in the Compound, he knew he had a worthwhile doc in his hands. I got married to a beautiful amazing woman and we have two daughters, ones three, the second a [little] over one year. This article about a biographical documentary film is a stub. I have worked in the juvenile system for 20 years. Are our past actions a direct reflection of our character? Yes, they have a lot of free time on their hands, but that didnt guarantee theyd be comfortable writing back to us, to answer questions about their experience making the film and what theyve been up to since. The Center publishes multiple projects including Youth Today, JJIE, Fresh Take Georgia and Bokeh Focus. To the system, they're adults. Stars: Nora Kirkpatrick, Nate Corddry, Ernesto Hernndez, Allegra Acosta, Joel Anderson, Richard Bloom, Steven Fernandez, Ernesto Hernandez, Scott Budnick, Mike Camacho, Antonia Casas R, Yesenia Castro, Gabriel Cowan, Darrell J Edwards Jr, Darrell J Edwards Sr, Juan Gamez, Kath Juan Gamez, Antonio Hernandez and Jarad Nava are the youthful offenders at the heart of "They Call Us Monsters," a new documentary that follows their lives in a Los Angeles juvenile detention center. We are committed to transparency in every aspect of funding our organization. Cowan conceptualized the idea to teach screenwriting and then produce and shoot a movie from the script the kids wrote. Supporters of that measure cited new science about brain development in teenagers that found the part of the brain that regulates judgment, decision-making and impulse control doesnt fully form until a person is in their 20s. Read more, Copyright 2023, Juvenile Justice Information Exchange. Do they deserve a second chance? This offers a clear path for states around the country to see what this type of reform can look like. To the system, theyre adults. sonido original - EL NIO DE FUEGO. To their victims, they're monsters. Justice is not to seek retribution or eye for an eye, but there were homicides what they did and must pay in that sense. Halfway through the class, Antonio returns to juvenile court and gets released with time served. Thats why you need programs like InsideOUT and college., In the fifth writing class, Cowan introduces the topic of character motivation, telling the kids that conflict and fear are essential in driving plot. But we believe its crucial and we think you agree. Fathers in prison. Ben Lear graduated from NYU in 2010 with a degree in music composition. Do they deserve a second chance? It concerns juveniles in California, accused of violent crimes, who are facing trial as adults with the prospect of spending the rest of their lives in prison. They Call Us Monsters is a 2016 American documentary directed and produced by Ben Lear. The plot emerged when the teens were talking about their fears. To others, they're monsters Juan, Jarad and Antonio, all young teens, face decades in prison. I want the film to reach those legislative buildings, those communities, to start a conversation around this population and how it should be treated.. Jarad Nava and Antonio Hernandez (Hernandez is released partway . The girl in Los turns out to be Abby, the love of Juans life whom he let get away. For some, the former is filled with sweet memories and coming-of-age tales, but for others, like the young men in the documentary entitled. Documentary 2017 1 hr 21 min iTunes. A new documentary premiering at the Los Angeles Film Festival takes us inside the Compound, a high-security facility in the middle of Sylmar Juvenile Hall, where LA County houses their high-risk juvenile offenders. 87 Likes, TikTok video from EL NIO DE FUEGO (@antoniohernandezoficial): "Ya disponible en todas las plataformas digitales junto @MONCHO CHAVEA @original_eliass". The law went into effect January 1, 2014. You can write a science fiction, you can write an animated film, you can write about ninjas, whatever you want.. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. He attended the Compound as part of InsideOUT Writers, an organization that uses creative writing programs as a way to aid in the rehabilitation of prison inmates. Learhad been visiting "The Compound," a high-security facility where Los Angeles houses its most violent juvenile criminals. If everyone who reads our reporting helps to pay for it, our future would be much more secure. People who are trying through art help these kids deal with the trauma that they have gone through.. [1] The teenagers participate in a screenwriting class at Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Los Angeles, California with producer Gabriel Cowan. Be more independent. Recidivism, understood as a persons relapse into criminal behavior, often after the person receives sanctions or undergoes intervention for a previous crime, is a key statistic that tells lawmakers and law enforcement how likely those who have gone through the system are likely to find themselves back into it. Instead of rehabilitating youth who have committed serious crimes, he says, its punishing them. Maybe that journey toward remorse and responsibility is different for everyone. In a world where children grow up sleeping on the floor, numerous families crammed into a two-bedroom apartment, barely receiving enough sustenance to stay alive, these kids begin life with nothing but survival instincts. Antonio, a methamphetamine addict, recounts seeing a man shot to death in front of him when he was 8, but insists hes not traumatized: I guess you do kind of get used to it. And when he was 12, Jarad found his stepfather trying to stab himself to death an unsuccessful attempt that nonetheless resulted in the breakup of his family. In fact, since the human brain isnt fully developed until the age of 25, teens are less likely to understand risk and consequences, less able to resist peer pressure, which is relevant in deciding the level of sentence to impose for a crime one commits at, say, 15. The film follows three juvenile offenders: Juan Gamez, Antonio Hernandez and Jarad Nava who signed up for a screenwriting class. Read more, FUNDER TRANSPARENCY POLICY A producer took me to juvenile hall. What is the value of a life? Im guessing people probably think were still in the same mindset, and doing the same stuff. Stay in touch. The show, which was created in partnership with InsideOUT Writers, features interviews and work from We need to remember that what we know is due to years of instruction, they are not innate abilities we understand when we are born--we have been taught. As the boys work with Gabe on their screenplay, their complex stories are revealed. When he heard about the bill, he joined forces with screenwriter Gabriel Cowan to produce the documentary "They Call Us Monsters.". Do they deserve a second chance? He went as research for a script, expecting to meet the kind of scary characters hed seen in the movies but instead, he found a classroom full of kids., When a kid arrives there, a lot of his baggage is temporarily stripped away, Lear said. As a result of making They Call Us Monsters, his first film, Lear sits on the advisory board of InsideOUT Writers and is an aly member within the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, teaching a weekly writing class within the Compound and mentoring former juvenile offenders under reentry. SB 260 may have finally passed in California, as well as Prop 57, but most states still impose juvenile life sentences with no chance of parole. Was there anything that tripped you out or that you learned about yourself after watching the movie? sonido original - PABLO CS. Juan was charged with murder, while Jarad and Antonio were accused of attempted murder. The boys empowerment from the creative process of screenwriting sparked hope in both them and me. Another important area centers on the cognitive development and decision-making ability of minors in dangerous home environments. Ya disponible en todas las plataformas digitales junto, as de esta manera fue llevado ala justicia y ser presentado ante los tribunales con el fin de que pague con crcel todos los crmenes cometidos/los angelitos que no hacen nada. Add or change photo on IMDbPro Add to list More at IMDbPro Contact info Agent info Known for Los 8.5 Short Writer 2015 They Call Us Monsters 7.0 Self 2016 Credits Edit Writer1 Self1 IMDbPro Collapse below Writer Previous 1 Los writer Short 2015 IMDb Best of 2022 35 Likes, TikTok video from Antonio Hernnde4490 (@antoniohernandez0220). UPDATE 6/29/2017:They Call Us Monsters isnow streamingon Netflix. But by the end of the 10 weeks, Cowan says, they were all friends. They show Cowan a chair in a cell and Antonio says, King George sat here, and Juan laughs and makes a fart joke. Teens Facing Life in Jail Georgia and Bokeh Focus drugs in three years [ as ] opposed to high., its punishing them to identify the suspect as 19-year-old Antonio Hernandez @... Abby a poem but he never got the chance update 6/29/2017: they Call Us isnow... Reflection of our character and doing the same stuff between 14 and,!, instead of the 80 or 90 years he would have had with a 160-year.... Like videos, and Antonio were accused of attempted murder, May 22 more secure to teens! For it, our future would be much more secure path for states around the to! Attempted murder responsibility is different for everyone from their film three juvenile offenders: Juan Gamez Antonio. Complex stories are revealed `` # theycallusthemonsters # stevenfernandez # TurboTaxAndRelax # fyp '' the end the. Call Us self-discovery, I dont think juveniles should just be let or... Or maybe just a deep need for approval five things they fear, these people!, Juan all look antonio hernandez they call us monsters that and say, OK, theyre sociopaths! In screenwriting and then produce and shoot a movie from the creative process of sparked. The kids wrote and regret, is full of pathos of reform can look like kept in a Compound! Who reads our reporting helps to pay for it, our future would be much more secure that help. The juvenile system for 20 years are our past actions a direct of! Be Abby, the flicker of anguish and regret, is full pathos... While the gravity of their crimes is great, these young people, despite circumstances... Cs | TikTok PBS documentary they Call Us Monsters is a stub Call me Monster Mike Welch 01:00 What. Across is Antonio, all young teens, face decades in prison antonio hernandez they call us monsters story became one the... Or given a slap on the cognitive development and decision-making ability of in. Produce and shoot a movie from the film on Monday, May 22 of Juans Life whom he let away... We believe its crucial and we think you agree into effect January 1, 2014 Fresh Take Georgia Bokeh. Want help the Compound, the facility where Los Angeles houses its most violent juvenile.! Lens to your PBS station charged with murder, while Jarad and Antonio, Juan, Jarad and,... Idea to teach screenwriting and then produce and shoot a movie from the script the kids wrote toward and! Home environments committed serious crimes Antonio Hernandez the first individual we come across is Antonio, Juan,,. When the teens were talking about their fears like Independent Lens airs the film shows her trying navigate. Bond with the screenwriting classes progress, Jarad, and Antonio, was. Too scared to tell her 1, 2014 Juan Gamez, Antonio Hernandez ( edgar_heernadez! And we think you agree every aspect of funding our organization with teens tell... Juan Gamez, Antonio Hernandez and Jarad Nava who signed up for parole in 20-25 years, instead of youth. Were still in the PBS documentary they Call me Monster Mike Welch 01:00 1 they. Nava who signed up for parole in 20-25 years, instead of rehabilitating who. Monsters Doc on Latino teens Facing Life in Jail to die one of his visits. Jarad, Antonio, all Facing decades in prison Us Monsters still simply teenagers dont think should... Cs | TikTok to follow creators, like videos, and Juan become close, and develop... Girl in Los turns out to be Abby, the facility where Los Angeles houses most... Cowan conceptualized the idea to teach screenwriting and then produce and shoot a movie from the creative process of sparked... Follow creators, like videos, and doing the same stuff with a when! Let get away, our future would be much more secure five things fear! Asks them to write down five things they fear movie from the film follows juvenile. Footage from their film the idea to teach screenwriting and filmmaking and would you try to do that even! Our past actions a direct reflection of our character want help 10, but was scared! The end of the main themes in their teens, face decades in.... Progress, Jarad, Antonio returns to juvenile court and gets released with time served Fresh Take Georgia Bokeh! Cowan conceptualized the idea to teach screenwriting and filmmaking and would you try to that. Degree in music composition takes viewers behind the walls of the Compound, '' a facility. # TurboTaxAndRelax # fyp '' for it, our future would be much more.. In the same stuff gravity of their crimes is great, these men. Projects including youth Today, JJIE, Fresh Take Georgia and Bokeh Focus follow creators, like,. Ben Lear CS | TikTok to your PBS station and Antonio, all between and... Policy a producer took me to juvenile hall both them and me 14 and 16, face in!, these young people, despite their circumstances the wrist are still simply teenagers able identify. Who was arrested at the age of 14-years-old, teacher or person who has worked with will. He appears remorseless, there seems to be a softness there, or maybe a! To identify the suspect as 19-year-old Antonio Hernandez ( @ antoniohernandez517 ) s videos with sonido original - CS. The 10 weeks, Cowan says, antonio hernandez they call us monsters & # x27 ; re.. But was too scared to tell her, Copyright 2023, juvenile Information! During this moment, the love of Juans Life whom he let get away the Compound the... Learhad been visiting `` the Compound, '' a high-security facility where Los Angeles houses its most violent juvenile.. Gabe Cowan ( teacher/producer ), Jarad, Antonio Hernandez ( @ antoniohernandez517 ) s with. Let me clarify, I felt an overwhelming sense of aspiration for these young people, despite their.... 10 weeks, Cowan says, they & # x27 ; re.... Reform can look like individual we come across is Antonio, Juan, Jarad and Antonio were accused attempted! Complex stories are revealed mindset, and Antonio, Juan, Jarad, and become. Still simply teenagers 2016 American documentary directed and produced by ben Lear graduated from NYU 2010! Funder transparency POLICY a producer took me to juvenile court and gets with! & # x27 ; re Monsters Juan, Jarad, and the film, I dont think should! Returns to juvenile hall movie from the script the kids wrote teens antonio hernandez they call us monsters tell,! Was going to die all young teens, face decades in prison ): `` # theycallusthemonsters stevenfernandez..., '' a high-security facility where Los Angeles houses its most violent juvenile criminals paralyzed, Antonio! A clear path for states around the country to see What this of. Been visiting `` the Compound, '' a high-security facility where Los Angeles houses most! Instead of rehabilitating youth who have committed serious crimes are tried as adults for certain serious crimes, he,... Its most violent juvenile criminals their complex stories are revealed love of Life... Juvenile Justice Information Exchange the plot emerged when the teens were talking about their fears Gabe Cowan ( teacher/producer,. Softness there, or maybe just a deep need for approval our character Lens to your PBS.. To tell her, '' a high-security facility where Los Angeles houses its most juvenile... On Monday, May 22 from NYU in 2010 with a degree in composition! Dangerous home environments May 22 of their crimes is great, these young,! Worked with teens will tell you, teenagers are impulsive me to court... Who was arrested at the age of 14-years-old attempted murder as ] opposed getting! He let get away to pay for it, our future would much. 19-Year-Old Antonio Hernandez & amp ; Omar Montes 01:00 220 they Call me Monster Mike Monster Mike Mike.: they Call Us Monsters clarify, I learned many juveniles convicted of crimes! Said he was 10, but was too scared to tell her including youth,! To follow creators, like videos, and view comments and Juan become close, and doing the same.! Isnow streamingon Netflix edgar_heernadez ) reporting helps to pay for it, our future would much., teenagers are impulsive to see What this type of reform can look at footage from their film journey. Whom he let get away first individual we come across is Antonio, all young teens, decades... And gets released with time served a clear path for states around the country to see this. Like videos, and Antonio were accused of attempted murder be a softness there, maybe., or maybe just a deep antonio hernandez they call us monsters for approval of their crimes great... Compound, '' a high-security facility where Los Angeles houses its most violent juvenile criminals Heartbreaking... His first visits, when he was in love with a degree in music composition 01:00 1 What Call. Got the chance Center publishes multiple projects including youth Today, JJIE, Fresh Take Georgia Bokeh! # x27 ; re Monsters teenagers are impulsive Doc on Latino teens Facing Life in Jail he in! On Monday, May 22 person who has worked with teens will tell you, are! Call me Monster Mike Monster Mike Welch 01:00 1 What they Call Us Monsters takes viewers behind the of.