Singleton Charter School was the first to reopen after the storm and the help was welcome. “One of the first things you noticed at that time in New Orleans is that everyone was exhausted,” teachers, parents (that were there), security guards. “You couldn’t find a person who wasn’t – because everybody’s home was screwed up, everybody’s life was screwed up, so we were like aliens, showing up and we were ready to do stuff and ready to talk and I think that people were just appreciative, it was something good. Anything that would distract the kids was good.”

That was 2 years ago and the beginning of an unforeseen project that would refute the old adage that ‘kids should be seen and not heard’—an amazing documentary made by kids in New Orleans about their own experiences before, during and after the storm called ‘Wade in the Water.’

A project by Elizabeth Wood and Gabriel Nussbaum, the documentary came out of their response to the dire needs of post-Katrina kids and cuts of virtually all arts programs in New Orleans. “For me, growing up such a creative person, imagining these kids having gone through trauma and not having a creative outlet,” Elizabeth says remembering her visit to New Orleans the December after the storm. “That was something that pushed me over the edge and I called up Gabriel and we were like, ‘what can we do?’”

So they did what any couple of young motivated do-gooders might do—they put together an outline for a theater and documentary teaching program, started cold calling schools and raised funds for the project.

With their idea and a strong backgrounds in the arts ( Elizabeth received her education in writing and film and Gabriel in acting and directing) they received an unexpectedly positive response in donations. The few week intensive quickly turned into a multi-school project, and an optional class project at Singleton that would become the film “Wade in the Water”.

“It was a really really special experience,” says Elizabeth “and we didn’t expect it to happen. We were only supposed to stay there for like a month or 6 weeks. And we ended up staying there 2 months, 3, months, 4 months, 5 months and at this school (Singleton) we went from one day a week to every day a week and then sometimes weekends because the students wanted to come. And why shouldn’t we be there. They didn’t have any other place to be after school.”

The response from the kids at first: disbelief. Elizabeth and Gabriel had come all the way from New York, let alone Brooklyn. “It was like ‘what?! No way!’ It was like we came from another planet.” But more than that, there was disbelief that they’d be able to do whatever they wanted, and that adults were asking what they thought of things and that there was no particular right answers.

Gabe: I think that freedom was sort of a slow build for them, it was something unusual and at first, like Elizabeth said it was kind of disbelief and then it was like–

Elizabeth: They were tickled, like hilariously

Gabe: Yeah, there was real enthusiasm, it was great.

Elizabeth: The classes seamed like Christmas every day. It was just so exciting for all of us.

The film could have been about anything that occupies the typical middle school kid’s mind (kissing, dancing, all of the above) and it almost was. “But instead they decided ‘ok we want to focus on what it was like after the hurricane for us. And what it was like before the hurricane,’” says Gabe. Everything from the name of the film to the visits to peoples’ houses, to controversial scenes was motivated by the kids.

It’s a unique view into lives that were (and still are) plagued with problems. Many that existed before and were only magnified by the storm including lack of schools and resources, poverty, incredible violence. Others–ruined homes, trauma, and ER rooms to overflow with panicked children any time it rained–were unique. Ms. Cook, the head teacher provided the film and filmmakers with her insights into those problems. A survivor of the storm herself, Gabriel explained how Ms. Cook said “she’ll watch kids stare into space and she’ll know what they’re thinking about, even though the kids are acting cool and don’t necessarily want to express it. And she would tell us about how she would let a kid — there was always one kids who was just looking down– she would take him into her office and say ‘you can sit here and do whatever you want’ and he would sit there and cry for 45 minutes and then he would stop crying and then he’d leave and go about the rest of his day.”

But while Ms. Cook knew what was going on, what was most shocking for Elizabeth was that the kids did not.

“One of the first exercises of the class, someone said ‘lets all tell our hurricane stories.’ Everyone agreed ‘ok, yeah.’ So one by one the kid said, you know ‘I was trapped in the Superdome.’ ‘I was rescued.’ ‘Someone died.’ And we went around and when we were done, Sharrell raised her hand and said ‘I didn’t know that any body else in this classroom or even school was here for the hurricane.’ And they were all like ‘yeah and I didn’t even realize that anyone had lost their house, or had anything bad happen to them’ and then the other kids started agreeing like ‘I didn’t know either. I didn’t know either.’ I was just so confused and shocked, and it became evident that not only had they not communicated with their peers and friends about what they’d gone through, they thought it was only them. They were embarrassed and ashamed like it was a secret like, probably because, not having water or hot water, or your road being patched or all this mold in your house, all your clothes ruined you family coming on really hard times.

That was one of the first days of classes when we felt like we just hit the tip of the iceberg of not only how productive this class could be, but also exciting and therapeutic because you could tell when they talked it was just like they were getting a demon out. And I think it was one of the most noteworthy experiences down there. And this made me realize how little you have to do to help someone. You don’t have to have a plan or equipment or experience, just simply being there and asking questions and listening with someone who wouldn’t have that otherwise makes a world of difference.”

A lot has happened in since that time–much of it good, much of it worse.

“It’s gotten significantly worse,” says Gabriel. “Willie’s house that they had spent all the money on—the foundation broke in half. Rose’s house has not been repaired and the damages have only increased over time. Gucci is living between people — whoever she can stay with –because her grandmother died. A few kids who were in our film are still in homes that have no hot water, or no glass windows, just plastic sheets. You can’t be three years living like that without it taking a toll. Especially when you’re a hormonal 15 year old. Never mind being an adult.”

Which isn’t to say that psychologically the kids in the film are doing worse. According to the two filmmakers, they seem to be doing better. They’re growing up. “They’re really into things: art, poetry, a career and thinking about college,” Elizabeth says. One of them may even visit in New York for a film internship.

Meanwhile the film has screened at three festivals and will be screening at the New Orleans International Human Rights Film Festival. Elizabeth and Gabriel are working with the Children’s Health Fund for the premiere to raise awareness about the needs of kids in New Orleans, CHF programs and, maybe more importantly, to give the kids in the film an official premier — formal attire and all. It will also be the New Orleans premier and the first time the kids will see the finished film in front of the whole audience.

All the kids will be there and footage from the premier will be included in the next version, “We want to update the film, give the kids the cameras again. They’ve had some significant changes in their life…It’s a good group of kids.”

“They’ve really overcome what they’ve been faced with they’re productive,” says Elizabeth. “They’re making films, they’re talking, they’re doing the best they can. And I just hope there’s enough support to push them through. And I do hope this film can be used to raise funds to go to college. I mean, it might not be able to help a lot of kids but even if it could help these kids. Maybe it could be like their resume, their portfolio, maybe this could help. Their reading and math scores may be really low but they’re really smart. They just haven’t had enough attention. If this could help someone somewhere think ‘ok this kid deserves more attention,’ then it would have been a completely successful project.”

Right now, Elizabeth and Gabriel are looking to raise money for the kids, to offer open usage of the film for organizations to use as a fund raising tool, even showing it in schools in NYC or elsewhere to help kids connect with and learn empathy for and from their peers. “We think it’s especially powerful for kids that age to see it. Because I don’t think it’s very often they see something that’s made by peers and I think that can be so motivating at that age.”

“I think it’s different, it’s unusual for a film that’s made by kids, essentially, created by the kids, shot by the kids to benefit kids and that’s what we’re trying to accomplish with CHf and with other organizations,” Gabriel says. “You know people seem to watch the film and they get really riled up and they’re interested in donating and helping out and donating their time because the film is personal from the kids point of view. It’s not us, it’s not a couple of jerks from New York, it’s from them and it’s hard to dismiss it.”

“As the kids grow up, and watch it again, they’re so adamant about keeping certain scenes in. Insisting that anything touchy is crucial. They see the value in the film,” Gabe says. “I always ask them: What’s the purpose of the film. What’s the good that this could possibly serve? They always immediately come up with an answer more or less like ‘ it’ll get people to understand what we’re going through. It’ll get people to pay attention to people who aren’t like them or who don’t live like they do.’”

Elizabeth, “They say ‘people don’t usually care about what we have to say. It’s very novel you know?’”
We know.

If you’d like to help, please contact Elizabeth and Gabriel at bankstfilms [at] gmail.com There’s need for everything from funds to finish revised edit, publicity and programs for the films, and even internships or resources for the kids.

And if you’re in New York, come out to the fund raiser party for their New Orleans Premier to help provide our students with clothes, transportation, and a great party to celebrate the success of their work on Wade in the Water.

This Sunday, April 6th
5 Ninth
6-9 PM