![Benjamin Williams and Reese Sherman, social studies teachers, explain department information a guest. "This [open house] was, for me, a great opportunity to meet family in the district that will soon be attending the high school," Williams said.](https://www.utimesonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DSC_9117-1200x800.jpg)
The director and producers of ”Give A Damn” conducted an exclusive question and answer session on Sept. 26 about their documentary which tracks three St. Louis friends attempting to live on $1.25 a day while hitchhiking on three continents. Approximately 100 students attended.
“The documentary was a life changing experience for a lot of people who watched it,” said senior Terrian Collins.” It changed the way that I look at the economy. I feel that America has it good and in some people’s eyes in different countries we are spoiled and now that I know all of this information I can see why they think so.”
“Give a Damn” was directed by Dan Parris and produced by David Peterka and Rob Lehr. It was shown as part of the St. Louis film series this summer where it won first prize for documentary.
“I read about the movie in the Post-Dispatch, I felt like poverty was an important and interesting perspective to the students because the filmmakers are close in age to high school students,” said Ms. April Pezzola,social studies teacher, and as a result she invited the student body to share the experience.
With a primary focus on poverty, the three friends traveled to Africa and witnessed how difficult it is to live on so little every day. By bringing this movie to U. City, students became more aware of what was going on in other countries.
“They were very happy about bringing the documentary to a high school no one else had contacted them,” said Ms.Pezzola.
Parris, Peterka and Lehr faced many obstacles while making the documentary, including surviving a plane crash that killed the two pilots. Parris and Lehr had to stop work on the documentary after the crash because of injuries and other health issues, but Peterka continued to finish the filming along with his brother in Africa.
After watching the documentary, senior Ariel Neely wrote a reflection about it. She felt very enlightened about the conditions in Africa. In part, she wrote: “Before, when someone would say there are starving kids in Africa, I would say there are starving kids here, too. This film helps me see a reality that I’ve always turned a blind eye to. Thank you for opening my eyes.”
