In the first of a series of 10 films for the Alabama non-profit Equal Justice Initiative, CD Chris Carboni and his team at Reunion merge AI into documentary filmmaking to illuminate a heart-wrenching narrative of racial injustice.

Chris Carboni: “This project is designed to bridge the gap between historical events and present day experiences, propelling a dialogue of understanding and empathy. Our first film in the series, recounts an event that took place 65 years ago in which police arrested, jailed, and physically assaulted two Black children after a White child kissed them on the cheek.

“In our commitment to honoring the true narrative of James Hanover Thompson and David Simpson, our technical approach to this film melded reverence for history with innovation. The preproduction phase was anchored in thorough research where our team poured through archival photographs from the era and articles written about the events.
 

“We strategically employed a blend of photography, rendered images, animated sequences, and expressive typography. Each scene was orchestrated to use the most effective visual method for the intended emotional and narrative impact.”

 
“This was coupled with a detailed briefing from our partners at the Equal Justice Initiative. We then leveraged artificial intelligence in crafting the boys’ likenesses, ensuring our representation of them was informed and respectful. By employing AI ethically, we crafted nuanced and historically-accurate representations.

“These digital portraits were then meticulously transformed into 3D models, donning bespoke attire that mirrors the actual clothing from archival images, further bridging the gap between past and present while maintaining the dignity of the individuals’ memories.

“For this film, and the series it initiates, our narrative framework draws inspiration from documentary filmmaking techniques, utilizing a diverse palette of visual storytelling methods. We strategically employed a blend of photography, rendered images, animated sequences, and expressive typography. Each scene was orchestrated to use the most effective visual method for the intended emotional and narrative impact.”
 
 

 
Client: Equal Justice Initiative

Production: Reunion
CD: Chris Carboni
Producer: Rosetta Canuto
Writer: Chris Carboni, Jardley Jean-Louis
Researcher: Jardley Jean-Louis
Designer: Elena Chudoba, Chris Carboni
Animator: Djeison Canuto, Andy Kennedy, Craig Davis

Music/sound design: Ambrose Yu
Voice: Bryan Stevenson