Land Of Opportunity follows a diverse group of people in post-catastrophe New Orleans
As the 5th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaches in 2010, cities all over the globe are grappling with how to recover from disaster, whether it's economic, natural or man-made. A feature-length film and multi-platform project, LAND OF OPPORTUNITY follows a diverse group of people in the early years of post-catastrophe New Orleans as they struggle with the most American of pursuits: seizing opportunity in the wake of tragedy. We get to know local and displaced residents, urban planners, immigrant laborers, and activists, as they try to build a better future for themselves and their families while restoring the "water-proof soul" of America. Although the city has become synonymous with Katrina, this definitive film tells the story of what happened after the floodwaters receded and why it matters to the world at large.
Producer and director Luisa Dantas relocated to the city in 2006 and has dedicated over three years of her life to exploring the rebuilding process with unparalleled depth and breadth that has yielded a treasure trove of unique footage. Produced in conjunction with a broad coalition of social justice grass-roots groups, this multi-platform project will utilize cutting edge technology and distribution methods to engage viewers in a wide range of constituencies from urban youth to urban planning experts.
LAND OF OPPORTUNITY creates a layered narrative comprised of interwoven story strands. We follow each of our main characters as they experience key moments in the reconstruction process, including the creation of the rebuilding plan, the demolition of public housing, and the influx of Latino immigrant workers. In this character-driven project, the personal is political. Our diverse protagonists represent the intersection between the voices of power and privilege and those who have often been silenced and disenfranchised. Although the path of each major character is unique, all are united throughout the film by the common themes of opportunity, loss, and the search for home.
Meet some of our guides in this new “Land of Opportunity”:
Andres Duany, Urban Planner/Architect
One of the most well known architects and urban planners in the world, Andres Duany is among the dozens of renowned experts hired to help create official recovery and rebuilding plans for New Orleans. A controversial and charismatic founder of New Urbanism, he sees himself as a visionary capable of transforming this beleaguered city into a model for the 21st century. Ultimately, he is frustrated by internal conflicts within the planning process and political inertia, but he inadvertently transforms the life of one resident he encounters.
Al Aubry, Urban Gardener
Al Aubry is a homeowner in the Gentilly neighborhood whose roots in New Orleans go back centuries. He is determined to view his post-catastrophe situation as an opportunity for increased self-sufficiency. With Duany’s urging, he plants a community garden in his yard and begins to feed his family from it. Living in a cramped FEMA trailer with his wife Patricia and their two children for two years, Aubry wants nothing more than to rebuild a bigger and better home in the same spot where his ravaged one once stood. Despite having to fight government bureaucracy at every turn, he never loses his sense of hope.
Vanessa Gueringer, Community Activist
Vanessa Gueringer, a wife and mother mainly devoted to her family before Katrina, returns home to her ravaged Lower 9th Ward neighborhood “with a fire lit” in her heart and mind. While struggling to rebuild her own home, she vows to fight for the revitalization of her decimated community. Working with ACORN, Vanessa becomes a powerful activist and a vocal thorn in the side of the local politicians who she deems apathetic or ineffective. In her quest to bring attention to the plight of the Lower 9th, Vanessa crosses paths with the likes of Brad Pitt, Bill Clinton and President Barack Obama.
Elza Franca, Immigrant Worker
While residents like Vanessa strive to reclaim their beloved communities, others, like newly-arrived immigrant worker Elza Franca, struggle to find their footing in an unfamiliar landscape that is fraught with challenges and possibilities. A single mother of three daughters, Elza risked death to come to New Orleans. She is fueled by dreams of a reconstruction boom with unlimited work that could allow her to buy a house back in her native Brazil. After three years, she has not saved enough money to buy the house and is contemplating returning back to Brazil.
Tr'Vel Lyons, Displaced Resident
Like Elza and other immigrants in her situation, displaced New Orleanians like Tr’Vel Lyons also struggle to find community and solid footing in new and unfamiliar places. Now a high school student in Los Angeles, Tr’Vel is committed to taking advantage of what he sees as greater educational and economic opportunities away from New Orleans. However when he pays a visit to his hometown for the first time since Katrina, he becomes keenly aware of the price he’s paid by being away from beloved friends and family.
Sharon and Kawana Jasper, Public Housing Residents
After the government decides to demolish almost all of the public housing in post-Katrina New Orleans, low-income residents like mother and daughter Sharon and Kawana Jasper decide to fight to save their former homes and communities. Through their eyes, the vicious struggle for affordable housing comes alive as residents and activists engage in sometimes-violent skirmishes with a federal government determined to use Katrina as an opportunity to privatize public services, making New Orleans a national post-catastrophe model. Like most of the other subjects portrayed in “Land of Opportunity” Sharon’s story resonates with viewers all over America who are struggling to find decent affordable housing.
As these compelling people navigate the rocky terrain of the rebuilding process, we walk a mile in their shoes, engaging with timely issues that are universal in scope: urban redevelopment, immigration, racism, poverty and economic displacement. The ultimate goal of this project is to show how troubled yet resilient New Orleans is a bellwether for the future of cities all over our increasingly interdependent and fragile world. LAND OF OPPORTUNITY asks viewers to ponder what the rebuilding of New Orleans can teach them about their own communities. What kinds of cities do we want to create in the 21st century? Will they be truly democratic and diverse spaces or exclusive enclaves designed for tourists and the wealthy?
Style
Through powerful imagery, LAND OF OPPORTUNITY immerses viewers in a world that is both specific and universal, revealing the many facets and contradictions of a city where extremes of wealth and poverty coexist on a daily basis. Inspired by films like "American Dream" and "Roger and Me", the narrative is a tapestry of rich and interconnected stories grounded in a palpable sense of place. Striving to reveal the shades of gray in this complex situation, the film juxtaposes a wide spectrum of perspectives, from the "haves" to the "have-nots", thus creating a truly in-depth portrait of an American city at a crucial moment in our history. Our protagonists are neither heroes nor villains. Viewers must decide where they stand on the contentious and polarizing issues presented. The editing style and rhythm of each storyline is designed to reflect the personality of its main protagonist. We use colorful and ethereal montages to provide "breathing room" between stories and to convey vibrant chaos of life on the streets of New Orleans. The rich and unique culture of New Orleans also provides a wealth of possibilities to augment the narrative. Local artists (a couple of whom appear in the film) have offered to create original graphics and artwork. Finally, original compositions by renowned composer Derrick Hodge will blend distinct musical styles that reflect the diversity of the characters presented.
Current Status
After three years of full-time production, LAND OF OPORTUNITY began post-production in May of 2008 and has made great strides with limited resources. We are currently editing the rough cut and seeking completion funding and domestic distribution. One of the main goals of this project is to create a valuable tool for community organizing and activism. To this end, we recently produced short videos for several community screenings on the 4th Anniversary of Katrina. We participated in the IFP Rough Cut Lab in April of 2009, and also attended the Working Films Content + Intent Residency at Mass MoCA in March of this year. We just recently received a pre-buy offer from Arte in Europe, which plans to broadcast the film in France and Germany on the 5th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina in 2010. The film is the perfect fit for a broadcast on the 5th Anniversary, which is a time to reflect not only on the storm and subsequent levee failure, but also to learn about how post-disaster New Orleans is emblematic of our urban future.
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IFP Independent Film Week
After having participated in the IFP Rough Cut Lab program, Land of Opportunity will proudly be featured in IFP's Independent Film Week in the Spotlight on Documentary Section.
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