DESCRIPTION:
“Listen” available for free download @ http://mcmatre.com/listen/
Song from forthcoming Matre mixtape
More about #StudentsNotSuspects @ https://www.studentsnotsuspects.org/
Social Media @ Matre Music

Directed by Ryan Firpo
Produced by Walter Martinez
Edited by Josiah Stein
Script by Walter Martinez & Matre
Cinematography: Michael Booth
Original Artwork by Ganzeer

Song produced by Joe Lonnberg @ YGS Life (w/ 21 Production), Rick Ellis & Matre

Big thanks to all of our Kickstarter backers who made this project possible! And to all the youth who inspired it. Thanks to Vitaly and the students at Central High, Mar Vista Gardens, and to all the organizations who came together to help send this message: The ACLU of Southern California, Street Poets Inc, Youth Mentoring Connection, ShadeTree Multicultural Foundation, Community Rights Campaign, Youth Justice Coalition and Homeboy Industries.

About the Project:

"Listen" was written as a response to the news that L.A. Unified School District police received military weapons from the Department of Defense, via the 1033 program.

This video is being released in collaboration with the #StudentsNotSuspects campaign to call attention to the militarization of local and school police and to the rampant profiling of youth in communities of color. It is intended as a call to action, demanding that we listen to young people, honor both their gifts and wounds, and make a cultural shift towards restorative and transformative justice, and away from profiling and criminalization.

A collaboration with the Embassy Live collective, the "Listen" song inspired a group of filmmakers, artists and activists to join forces to make this video. Funded by the support of more then two hundred Kickstarter backers, the video’s shoot brought together a number of L.A.'s social justice & youth justice organizations, and community members from around the city, gathering together to help send this message.

Direct actions and continuous programming around these issues are being organized by several of the organizations mentioned above (and many others) and will be posted on the website https://www.studentsnotsuspects.org/

These are critical and urgent issues that affect youth every day, not only in L.A., but across the U.S. The "Listen" team welcomes folks to stay in touch and get involved... #StudentsNotSuspects

Cast:
The Student – Cameron Swift
The Teacher – Brenda Banda
The Cop – Dennis Garr
Student Friend 1 – James Johnson
Student Friend 2 – Peterjohn Minto
Student Friend 3 – Daniel Leyva

Additional Students:
Arutyunyan Alla
Marie Sesha
Chris Andrews
Evan Greer
Devon Suraco
Edgar Sanchez
Jenae Jackson
Jessica Diggins
Kyler Victoria
Lakisha Berry
Natalie Merlino
Samantha Westervelt
Aonghus Yang
Roy Dennis

Dancers - Luminary Tribe and Daniel Leyva (aka Alchemy)

Crew:
1st AD – Devin Murphy
Project Manager – Nicholas Rolston
Project Coordinator – Matthew Ellis Siltala
2nd Unit Director - Ryan Moser
Art Director - Christopher Woods
Art Department - Yuma Lynch & Ramon Silva
Wardrobe - Nery Madrid
Makeup Artist - Rosie Lucia
Camera Operator - Tom Slack
Assistant Camera - Kyle Roberts
Assistant Camera - Allan Chavarria
Gaffer - Dain Fuentes
Colorist - Tal
PA 1 - Gabriel Youngstrom
PA 2 - Alex Comas
PA 3 - Skye Sverdlin
Catering - Natascia Tornetta Mallin

Additional Motion Graphics by Theo Alexopolous

Special Thanks to Seth Jordan and Joshua Temkin

Song:
M.Sawaya (ASCAP) / J. Lönnberg (TEOSTO) / R. Ellis (SESAC)
Beat Composed by Joe Lonnberg @ YGS Life
Lyrics Composed by Matre
Additional Production by Rick Ellis & Matre
Additional Instruments by Rick Ellis
Additional Composition by Rick Ellis & John McGregor
Chorus Crowd: Marley, Cianan, Cuinn, Street Poets fam & YIP 3 Crew
Recorded & Mixed by Rick Ellis at Mama Dog Studios
Mastered by Noel “Deeskee” Demello