John Lewis: Good Trouble (2020)

Won NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Documentary Film

Sometimes change calls for a little trouble.

JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Dawn Porter (TRAPPEDGIDEON’S ARMY), chronicles the life and career of the legendary civil rights activist and Democratic Representative from Georgia.

Using interviews and rare archival footage, JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE chronicles John Robert Lewis’ 60-plus years of social activism and legislative action on civil rights, voting rights, gun control, health-care reform and immigration. Using present-day interviews with Lewis, 80 years old at the time of filming, Porter explores his childhood experiences, his inspiring family and his fateful meeting with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1957.

The Campaign. Alongside the release of the film, we worked to strengthen “Get Out the Vote” (GOTV) efforts in disenfranchised communities in the 2020 election through a national effort to create visibility on voter suppression, and targeted work with local Georgia partners. We worked closely with Black Voters Matter and Vote Riders to support voting efforts among poor and disenfranchised communities in Georgia.

The Impact: Grassroots organizations in Georgia used the film to build their organizing capacity, reaching disenfranchised communities by hosting events and screenings. Participant provided a platform that connected the film to tools and resources we developed to supplement the film’s message of GOTV and racial equity. 

Through press and influencers, the campaign increased awareness of modern-day voter suppression and ways to help key organizations. Our social media campaign encouraged audiences to “make good trouble” by sending over 54K voter registration forms to marginalized voters.

Press Highlights:

Campaign Awards: 

Previous
Previous

All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (Neon, 2022)

Next
Next

FLEE (Neon, 2021)