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Original Film Title: Nothing to See Here: Watts
Director’s Name: Michael Soenen
Writer’s Name: Michael Soenen
Producer: Michael Soenen, Todd Lieberman
Country of Origin: United States
Country of Filming: United States
Language: English
Runtime: 1 hour 30 minutes
Film Description:
What happens when an outsider rides with police officers through Watts, a 2.1 square mile neighborhood in South Los Angeles, long known as one of the most violent and divided communities in the country? That night, he witnessed shootings, murders, and heartbreak. He went home, just five miles away, waiting to see the story on the news. There was nothing. No coverage. No mention.
Shocked by the silence, looking for answers, he asked more than 200 people to film their lives, using nothing but the iPhones he gave them; 20 said yes. Among them were rival gang members, police officers, community activists, victims, and survivors. For the next three years, they opened their world to the camera, sharing their community as never before, and in the process, the incredible happened.
Nothing to See Here: Watts flips the traditional storytelling model upside down in a first-of-its-kind documentary created “by” the community – not “about” the community – shattering viewers’ preconceived notions of this marginalized, misrepresented, and misunderstood community.
Created by students, rival gang members, police officers, victims of violent crime, and community activists, with contributions from more than 300 community members – this documentary is an incredibly raw, authentic, and narratively unique experience as former rivals become filmmakers – navigating mistrust, moral judgments, and the complex realities of their community.
The film challenges audiences to confront their preconceived notions of Watts—and similar communities—rewriting the script on who gets to tell their stories and how, demonstrates that extraordinary outcomes can be achieved when those most marginalized and overlooked are empowered.
With an original score that pays tribute to more than 50 years of Watts’ rich musical history, featuring a choir of children from Watts’ four major housing developments, the message to the viewer is clear – if those least educated, least resourced, and with the most reasons to hate the other can find a path forward, we can too.