Darnell Lamont Walker Is Seeking Asylum Wordwide
Seeking Asylum, Darnell Lamont Walker's documentary about escaping American tyranny, begins its journey around the world. "My hope is that this film sparks conversations that matter. Conversations about race relations, social justice, inequality, and America," Walker says.
Los Angeles, California, January 14, 2016 (Newswire.com) - Filmmaker, writer, and odd man in the poorly ironed suit, Darnell Lamont Walker, will screen his latest film at film festivals worldwide. The documentary, Seeking Asylum, will debut at the Pan African Film Festival being held in Los Angeles, California February 4 – 15th, 2016.
Seeking Asylum and how it came to be, as told by the Producer himself:
"They've been practicing racism so long, it's perfect."
Darnell Lamont Walker, Director
“It was April in the states, I had a ticket to backpack through Europe with friends in hopes of making it to Amsterdam for King’s Day, and Freddie Gray had just been killed by police in Baltimore, Maryland. Being raised not far from Baltimore and feeling very connected to the situation due to a racially-motivated run-in I had with the law several years ago that left me face down with a gun on my head, I strongly reconsidered my trip to stay and march in the streets. My friend, Terrence, who’d just learned of my trip two days before departure, asked, “why are you going to Europe? To seek asylum?” Perfect!
I grabbed a fresh moleskine journal, jotted down a few questions, plans, names, and a potential budget, and started the journey that would become my first documentary, Seeking Asylum.
Los Angeles, Norway, UK, Netherlands, and Paris. I used my iPhone and my Canon, and asked the necessary questions, and attended the necessary events. I reached out to government officials with no luck, and I extended the trip to attend protests and meet necessary people. With each location, things were unfolding without me actively seeking them. Protests, police attacks, citizens approaching me, ready to engage. It was spectacular.
From April to November I worked hard on this passion project with the help of great friends who taught me editing techniques and how to have an ear for appropriate music. The hardest part was forcing myself to be complete because each completion deadline also came with more footage to add. Finally, I cut it off, and hit “render.”
The final product is a documentary I am extremely proud of, and look forward to seeing its growth.”
Seeking Asylum features interviews in each country of the locals, their thoughts on American Social Justice, the government, how it compares to their own, and much more.
In January 2005, while at college and with a friend, Darnell Lamont Walker was stretched out on the ground, held at gunpoint by Daytona Beach Police while another officer’s gun was directly on his friend’s head. A story about a stolen car was concocted, and when it was proven to be a lie, the officers quickly fled the scene. Growing up and being educated in the South, the Director and Producer, Darnell Lamont Walker, has lived and continues to live in spaces where inequality, racism, and injustice, of course, is so common, it’s accepted by those oppressed by it. He can’t accept it, and he’s vowed to make it known. This film is an attempt.
Seeking Asylum has also been accepted into the Rapid Lion Film Festival in Johannesburg, South Africa, the Hollywod Sky Film Festival in Hollywood, CA, and the LA Cinefest.
Much of the success of Seeing Asylum has been made possible by the many supporters who’ve donated time and money to ensure this film is seen by as many people worldwide as possible. Darnell Lamont Walker thanks them deeply.
###
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jonathan Gist
Evolutionary Press Films
404.234.6416
JGist@AlliedIM.Com