Community heroes documentary receives standing ovation at the Capri

On Saturday evening, June 19, Marilyn Moore and Dirk Cannon of Eagle Heart Productions, LLC hosted an opening of their film documentary Urban Warfare: The Peaceful Warriors at the Capri Theater in North Minneapolis. The film is an examination of what causes youth violence and offers possible solutions.

Eagle Heart Productions (EHP) organizers also promoted the evening as a moment to honor community heroes from organizations that EHP identified as working to address the underlying causes of youth violence. The organizations featured were The Cookie Cart, Bolder Options, Hope Ministries/Charez Jones Foundation, Colin Powell Youth Leadership, MAD DADS, Peace Foundation, Plymouth Christian Youth Center, Shiloh Ministries, High School for Recording Arts, Juxtaposition Arts, Minneapolis Police Juvenile Supervision Unit, the Minneapolis City Council and the Minneapolis Mayor’s Office.

According to Dirk Cannon, CEO of EHP and a camera operator for the film, he originally met with Mayor R.T. Rybak to see if EHP could do a film about him. The mayor said no thank you, but he did express an interest in seeing a documentary about stopping youth violence in Minneapolis.

Cannon agreed but was uncertain how to approach such a subject. Marilyn Moore, the producer of the film, said, “We didn’t know where to start, but the mayor’s office directed us to Sondra Samuels, president of the Peace Foundation, and from there other organizations and individuals were recommended.”

We asked Moore if anyone recommended organizations like the Boys & Girls Club or Big Brothers & Big Sisters. “I don’t think we contacted the Boys & Girls Club, nor were they recommended,” Moore said. “But we tried to contact someone from Big Brothers & Big Sisters and didn’t get a response. They were probably busy out there making a difference.”

We asked the same question about some individuals known for their work with youth and efforts to curtail youth violence, such as Spike Moss or Reverend Jerry McAfee. Moore responded, “No, they were not recommended and I’m not familiar with them.”

We asked Moore what would she might say to people in the general public who see individuals who work for organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs, Big Brothers & Big Sisters or New Salem Church as their heroes and feel they were overlooked? “I would first say that we are sorry, but we didn’t mean to slight anyone,” Moore said. “There are so many groups and individuals out there doing good work that we could have gone another two years trying to complete this film.”

The evening began with a VIP reception. Reverend Andre Dukes from Shiloh Ministries was the master of ceremonies for the evening program. The event began with a spoken word performance by Charlie Metcaf, a student with the Peace Foundation, and was followed by an original rap song by Lil C, a student from the High School for Performing Arts.

The film opening was well attended with almost every seat filled. The audience seemed captivated, entertained and moved by the film. After the credits finished rolling, the crowd gave the producers a standing ovation.

All 12 featured organizations were acknowledged with a proclamation from the mayor’s office. Dirk Cannon of EHP thanked everyone and announced that the documentary has been selected to be shown at the New York International Independent Film Festival taking place this July 23-29.


For more information about the film Urban Warfare: The Peaceful Warriors, contact Marilyn Moore at Community Heroes/Eagle Heart Productions, 2505 Harriet Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55405, call 612-819-0578, or via email at communityheroes@comcast.net.

James L. Stroud, Jr. welcomes reader responses to jlstroud@spokesman-recorder.com.