KIDS FIRST! / IN THE LOOP Film Festival

RACE RELATIONS IN A DIVERSIFYING NATION

Expired September 27, 2021 3:45 AM
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11 films + livestream in package
BLACK LIVES MATTER (SONG)
This catchy tune encourages inclusivity amongst kids and teaches them to stand up against discrimination based on the color of one's skin.
BREATHE
One young man’s journey to find inner peace days after George Floyd’s televised murder. Be witness to this spoken word visual testimony about the power of the human spirit, and the unapologetic resilience of our youth.
LAST WORDS
On his way to school on a snowy day, Billy is rehearsing his speech on rampage shootings. "Help me” were his Last Words.
HUMAN RACE ISM
A teenager stationed on Mars with his family gets a lesson in racism
LOVE IS LOVE
Encouraging inclusion and acceptance, this catchy song shows children how colorful and different families can be.
THE TRUTH OF BEAUTY
This is a film about the diverse nature of beauty and learning to accept yourself.
CLOTHED MINDS
This documentary addresses how dress code policies negatively impacts black girls in DC public and charter schools.
NOISE
Demarco is hearing voices. He’s stalled at the crossroad of a major decision in his life. He’s forced to look himself in the face and be his own encouragement.
THE CATCHER
The Catcher is a cinematic youth to youth mirror showing how young people view homelessness and their peers.
75° WEST
Civilization has fallen after a prolonged pandemic. Two brothers wander through a post-pandemic world, trying to survive as they travel across the US countryside. They journey toward 75° West, surviving as best they can on what they can find as they try to avoid human dangers along the way.
JOE BUFFALO
Joe Buffalo is an Indigenous skateboard legend. He’s also a survivor of Canada’s notorious Indian Residential School system.
Discussion of Race Relations in Today's World
Race Relations Discussion
Recorded
This virtual screening is eligible for audience awards! Unlock it to cast your vote.

Panelists include a group of directors, writers, and film subjects from films in this group.

Civilization has fallen after a prolonged pandemic. Two brothers wander through a post-pandemic world, trying to survive as they travel across the US countryside. They journey toward 75° West, surviving as best they can on what they can find as they try to avoid human dangers along the way.


Juror comments: 75 Degrees West is a really good adventure movie. It’s incredible that it was made by an 11th grade student, Thomas Parrish V. The camera work is really good. The sets are pertinent to the idea of this story - survival. Lastly, I like that the supporting characters play roles that make it more real. An example is when the boys' bags are stolen by a lone traveler as he was really hungry, which makes sense from a survival point of view.


Civilization has fallen after a prolonged pandemic and two boys, Zach and Jack embark on a dangerous adventure after their parents have passed away, hoping to get help. Along the way, they see many dangers and have to put their bond and survival skills on the line.


I like that the film tries to show this is not a fake thing with the news reports going off from a multitude of countries. It stays true to the idea of survival as the actors grab only minimal resources that they need to survive, which also make it feel real. Lastly, the scenes of looting and car theft when the boys steal a pickup after a man hunts them down, also support the idea of survival, showing that everyone is on their own.


I like the close-up shots throughout this film; they are really on point in conveying the emotions of the characters. When Tom, Zach's brother, knows that he is not going to make it, we see his tears streaming down his face. In another scene which is a flashback, the camera captures their house, showing where they came from before they go out on their own. The location in a forest depicts an abandoned civilization, which is makes the aftermath of the pandemic look real as we see abandoned places and rusted out equipment. There is a lot of walking in the forest, which shows the boys trying to survive and trying to stay low profile. The background music is well chosen to support the various scenes, particularly the song playing during the ending credits which makes direct reference to the boys' experience. The song is sung in a heavy hearted voice, which supports their difficult journey that killed one of the boys. The lyrics, "It gets harder to carry the weight of what I've done, I am speaking from experience," relate to Zach having to deal with the aftermath of his brother, Tom getting shot when he made a clumsy mistake and alerted the shooter to their presence. The actors give admirable performances. My favorite part is when the shooter's gun jams as he is trying to reload and the boys' steal the guy's truck. He gets what he deserves for trying to shoot the boys.


The message of this film is: Do not give up; even though it may take time and effort, you will make it. You should be aware that it contains bloody, gory acts of violence, shooting and the guns.


I give 75 Degrees West 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 16 to 18, plus adults. By Tom W., KIDS FIRST!

  • Year
    2021
  • Runtime
    60:00
  • Language
    English
  • Country
    United States
  • Director
    Thomas Parrish V, Zachary Parrish
  • Screenwriter
    Thomas Parrish V
  • Producer
    Thomas Parrish IV, Valerie Parrish
  • Cast
    Thomas Parrish V, Zachary Parrish, Thomas Parrish IV, Glenn Mack, Vernon Tucker, Valerie Parrish, Noah Cary, Joelle Drake, Evan Parrish, Andrea Battle, Henry Drake