DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
If I Die Tonight explores the fragile relationships that exist between law enforcement and communities of color in the United States It is a story of Power: the way it is given to those entrusted with public protection, and the life altering ways in which it is ultimately used. It also shows where power is NOT and the fights for justice that arise in its absence
The film does not follow a simple “Cops vs. Community” orientation, but goes behind the scenes of some well published cases to illustrate the many facets of the issue. It also shows some not so well known personal journeys made by families who have lost loved ones in this ongoing struggle. If I Die Tonight doesn’t pretend to be a solution. Its goal is to encourage dialogue and promote movement towards personal action. A film can’t resolve a problem, but individuals moved by a film can.
Although the film’s backdrop is the Eastern United States, these scenarios play out over and over from Los Angeles to Atlanta, from Canada to Mexico, from the Favelas of Brazil to the cities of Europe and Asia. On my travels across the United States and around the world, I have met countless numbers of people with stories to tell about their encounters and experiences with law enforcement. I have also heard the stories of law enforcement professionals. If I Die Tonight is offered as a starting point for understanding and dialogue between seemingly disparate groups.
As a filmmaker, an artist, an observer of humanity making this film has been a life-transforming experience. Devoting several years of my life to documenting the stories has given me a unique insight into a problem that I have to recognize as universal and deeply human.
Filming an Interview With DP Walter Gregg . Photo by Michael Sakamoto