Documentaries

Documentary filmmaking is at the heart of SPP’s ethos and informs our approach for almost every project. We immerse ourselves in the stories and worlds of our subjects; turning the camera to new stories, with openness and excitement in a safe and collaborative environment. Learning from observing is at the core of our documentary process.

Litefeet Film (in production)

SPP is co-producing this film with Najee Omar. The feature-length film follows some of the leaders of Litefeet, the New York City style of hip hop dance that provides a platform for self-expression, conflict-resolution, and community organizing. Over the past few years, the dance style has grown in popularity as its founders emerge from street dancers into mentors and business owners at the boiling point of the dance culture’s international expansion. The project began with this smaller project seen here — a visual poem, celebrating these dancers on the NYC Subways.

Then and Now

A short documentary about Tessa Vennel’s recovery from a car accident that left her in a coma with a traumatic brain injury. Against the odds, she recovered beyond her doctor’s most optimistic predictions and is now giving back to the community of health professionals who helped her regain so much of what she came so close to losing.

Voices from the Eric Garner Protests

A vérité look at the protests in New York City shows a community coming together to shine a spotlight on the biases and injustices that infiltrate law enforcement in the United States. This short piece was filmed on the first night of protests following the death of Eric Garner at the hands of NYPD.

“Being a subject in a documentary was one of the strangest experiences of my life, but Josh and his team made me feel supported, safe, and listened to throughout the process. The short piece they made about my experience affirmed for me that I had made the right choice to share my story with them.”

— Tessa Vennel, “Then and Now” documentary subject