Aftermath

What happens once the shooting stops?


Jay returns to his hometown, Kansas City, MO – one of the most violent cities in the United States – to photograph hundreds of locations where people were harmed by guns.

A nuanced picture of the aftermath of gun violence emerges in conversations with community members, survivors, and people who’ve pulled the trigger, compelling Jay to attempt something with no guarantee of fulfillment: restoring a relationship with a man (a friend?) currently incarcerated and charged with murder.

This is a concept trailer (aka “sizzle”). Audio and visual aspects will be adjusted further into the project.

Jay is joined by three friends who’ve experienced gun violence. On the day of this production, they visit several locations where people were shot and killed. Each location in this sequence is thematically connected to Jay, his friends, and the broader understanding of Kansas City, MO.

The locations featured in the sizzle are listed below:

  • The parking lot of an auto parts store in an area commonly referred to as “the Northeast” off Independence Ave. Jay has spent many evenings in this lot hanging with friends at the taco truck. This intersection is significant in other ways that will be addressed in the film.

  • Just south of downtown and north of the Crossroads arts district, a parking lot behind a night club.

  • An intersection in the Crossroads where a stray bullet took someone’s life in 2019. This event also effectively ended a popular art event that has just recently rebounded.

  • Outside of Union Station, where a dispute turned deadly during the Chiefs Superbowl Championship parade. One person lost her life and dozens more were injured.

  • Finally, the spot where the victim collapsed and passed away. Jay and his friend (Casondra) were associated with the man accused of the homicide — a formerly incarcerated person who led a re-entry program in Kansas City. He is currently incarcerated awaiting trial.

Aftermath is a documentary film and photography project.

The final film will be 60-75 minutes long, and the photos will be displayed in a gallery setting upon completion of the film.

This project is open to underwriting and non-equity funding.

For more information, contact Jay.