by Liz Daube
Staff Writer
The success of Jeremy Dean’s first feature-length film can be hard to define. His documentary, “Dare Not Walk Alone,” has drawn the attention of State Sen. Tony Hill, researchers at “Oprah” and the city of St. Augustine, but he still can’t find a desirable distribution deal.
“The whole intent was never for either one of those things: money or recognition,” said Dean. “The only thing that I’ll probably personally get out of this, if it does well, is a chance to play again.”
The chance to do well is where the film festival circuit, including this year’s Jacksonville Film Festival, plays a vital role. The festivals are competitive, but they allow first-time filmmakers the elements, although not a guarantee, of success: opportunities to build credibility, network and possibly strike a deal.
Like many independent filmmakers, Dean said his film’s goal is more social than financial. “Dare Not Walk Alone” blends historic footage of the civil rights movement in St. Augustine with coverage of race and class disparities that, according to Dean, continue to thrive today.
“I think St. Augustine and the situation here is really a microcosm for race relations across the country,” said Dean. “I think this (the Jacksonville festival screening) is going to touch a lot of people that our Ritz Theatre and St. Augustine premieres didn’t reach. I think it’s going to tap a whole different part of the audience — people who are interested in film and events like this.”
A variety of venues have screened “Dare Not Walk Alone,” from St. Augustine high schools to the Cinequest Film Festival. Dean said the audience reactions have been just as varied.
“I like showing it at schools and churches because it allows for a dialogue, and that’s where the change happens,” said Dean. “Whether they like it or not, I don’t really care. At one place, we had people yelling at us afterwards.”
Jean Tait, executive director of the film festival, asked for “Dare Not Walk Alone” to screen at the Jacksonville festival after watching it at Cinequest. She said a festival screening lets audiences immerse themselves in a filmmaker’s unique vision or message.
“In a film festival, what the filmmaker is trying to tell you hasn’t been cut for a television hour or scheduled at a time up against ‘American Idol,’ ” said Tait. “Unless you’re seeking it out, you’re not exposed to it.”
“Dare Not Walk Alone” educates people about situations they may not have known about, said Tait.
“How can we know about Selma and Birmingham and not know about St. Augustine?” said Tait. “It (‘Dare Not Walk Alone’) pushes you to explore your own prejudices. You need to know your history so you don’t repeat it.”
After about four years and over $30,000 in debt, Dean’s work on the film is coming to a close. He said his goals of increased awareness and thought have, to some extent, been realized.
“A lot of the social objectives for this have happened,” said Dean.
The local and festival screenings have reached a broad audience. Dean also toured black colleges with Sen. Hill. The pair organized a housing summit this February to address the blighted conditions in West Augustine, a predominantly black St. Augustine community featured in “Dare Not Walk Alone.” Congressmen, residents, nonprofit groups and city officials all gathered to discuss poverty and affordable housing issues at the summit (including St. Augustine Mayor George Gardner, who said he disagreed with the film and walked out of the meeting).
Dean plans to self-distribute the film, unless festival networking turns up a reasonable deal. Everything he’s been offered so far would likely still leave him in debt. Dean said he hopes self-distributing will let him break even. The festivals raise the profile of the documentary, Dean said, which makes gathering credentials easier and, in turn, makes distribution smoother.
He has to get rid of his debt in order to have a shot at making another film, Dean said. He’s already started thinking of other ideas, but all of them – a film focused on children’s art in war-torn areas like Iraq and Sudan, for example – will require plenty of money and effort. He said there are so many stories he wants to tell, but he has to get some kind of funding for his next documentary.
“I did my taxes for last year,” said Dean. “I made $4,000 (from part-time jobs). I know I cannot make another film like this one. It (the question) becomes, ‘How do you stay alive long enough to get this done?’ ”
Dean works on other projects, including art and writing, as well. He said passion and dedication motivate him to keep on working, despite canceled interviews, festival rejections and broken promises.
“You throw a bunch of things at the wall, and nothing sticks,” said Dean. “We applied to maybe 35 or 40 festivals, and we got accepted at six. I don’t think the passion changes. What happens is you hit roadblocks, and you can’t see the end ... (But) don’t wait for the situation to be right. Just go out and start doing it.”
“Dare Not Walk Alone” will screen at the Jacksonville Film Festival Saturday at the Main Library from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.