Current

These projects are currently in production or post-production. Click on the project you would like to explore.

Projects
Masika Learns to Swim
Masika Learns to Swim

Masika – whose name means “born during rain” – explores her complicated relationship to water, leading to a deeper understanding of herself and the currents around her.

Aleisi // Rijst
Aleisi // Rijst

At the edge of the Amazon in Suriname, a woman cultivates one of the rarest rices in the world. While researchers wonder if her rice could help other farmers adapt to climate changes, Albertina brings forth her cultural relationship with the aleisi.

Aftermath
Aftermath

Jay grapples with the aftermath of gun violence in Kansas City, MO — his hometown. With the help of his closest homies, he sets out to photograph more than 1000 locations around the city where people were killed by guns between 2019 - 2024. The further the project goes, the closer Jay comes to reaching out to a friend awaiting trial for murder.

Ruby Jean’s Garden
Ruby Jean’s Garden

As Chris puts the final touches on his children’s book about his grandmother Ruby Jean and her fictitious community garden, an unexpected opportunity arises to turn the mythical ending into reality.

Completed Jay W. Austin Completed Jay W. Austin

Why We Fight

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A mini-doc positioning Farm Action against large lobbies that want to control what farmers grow, say, do, and sell to. But they ain’t scared.

Made in collaboration with Nathan.works.

 

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Completed Jay W. Austin Completed Jay W. Austin

DRKM (Don’t Rodney King Me)

In DRKM , Na’im Al-Amin uses Rodney King’s beating to help him understand his own experience.

February 2022

A short documentary featuring Na’im Al-Amin. Written by him, directed by me.

DRKM and his tenacity got him into rooms and halls of power that not many formerly-incarcerated-gang-banging-Black-men were not welcomed to, advocating for criminal justice reform.

My relationship with Na’im had begun to fray by this point, but we were still brothers and in solidarity against mass incarceration. I was inspired by what he was able to do with this film and his overall message. But I was concerned about his mental health.

Not long after this, Na’im would be charged with homicide.

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