Multi-Screening: The PRATT in the Hat, Mojoman - The Blues Journey of William "Mojo" Collins, First Week Out, Coloring Our Past

Mojoman - The Blues Journey of William "Mojo" Collins

From being a psychedelic rocker in Summer of Love 1967 San Francisco to becoming one of North Carolina's iconic blues guitarists, William "Mojo" Collins has led a life that legends are made of.

The PRATT in the Hat

Beneath the brims of hundreds of colorful hats is a woman who shares her wisdom, humor, and personal experiences about being black in America, then and now. Frances Pratt’s hats make a bold statement as does her southern charm and pithy expressions which she garnered through a lifetime of service to her community fighting for racial equality, voting rights, and education.

Coloring Our Past

This documentary forces us to confront the history that challenges our perception of who we are and how we became a country. Looking at the contributions local families of color like the Mars and the Cesars have had on our communities has really opened our eyes. In turn, our aim is to use our work to help form a more complete and inclusive history that highlights the contributions of all Americans. This project is not about simply uncovering the history of one Black family in America, it is also about completing the inaccurate and incomplete history of our diverse American Family.

First Week Out

Larry Williams spent the last 42 years in prison. We follow his first week of freedom. In 1979, Larry Williams entered prison and was released 42 years later. FIRST WEEK OUT is a short documentary (21 minutes) that follows Larry’s pivotal first week of freedom. Follow Larry in his first week out as he tries to make sense of his past, navigates life in a re-entry home, reunites with an old prison friend, applies for a job, meets with a new mentor, and forges a path forward.

Research has shown that the first week out of prison for formerly incarcerated men and women will define their future success or failure. After serving their sentences, it is vital for individuals to have an opportunity to become functioning members of society. Every week there are more than 10,000 people in America like Larry experiencing their first week out of prison. Within three years, two out of three won’t make it and will end up back in prison. We wanted to tell Larry’s story to encourage viewers to join the thousands of people and organizations across the country helping individuals like Larry beat the odds.