The West Seattle Herald was invited to the May 26 SIFF premiere of the new documentary “License to Operate”, a film executive produced by Seattle Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carrol.

The film follows the lives of those involved with Los Angeles’s License to Operate (LTOs) and A Better L.A. programs, a group of community mediators made up of former gang members. Reaching out to the rival neighborhoods across L.A. the LTOs have managed to quell violence in the gang communities with their inside knowledge and ability to speak with those who the police cannot.

“To be here today to show a film that will talk about the work that we championed back in the day, I’m just so thrilled about it,” said Carrol during his introduction at SIFF. As explained in the film and during his intro Carrol helped found A Better L.A. after being taken on a ride-along of sorts with LTO founder Aquil Basheer to numerous street corners and through several neighborhoods steeped in gang violence.

Accompanying Carrol at the premiere were the main subjects of the film Aquil Basheer, Reynaldo Reaser, Renee Reaser, Jazmin Falls, and Alfred Lomas as well as director James Lipetzky, producer Mike Wallen, and L.A. City Councilmember Joe Buscaino.

Filmed between 2013 and 2014 the narrative of the film plays out as a series of vignettes, following the daily lives and struggles of each subject. From the LTOs themselves to the LAPD officers who support their efforts the film manages to place the viewer squarely on the ground and in the sun drenched L.A. streets thanks to revealing interviews and lush aerial cinematography and time lapses.

Each individual story is tinged with both tragedy and hope which helps to drive home the message and act as a call to action. One story that the audience at the screening reacted to very strongly was that of Jazmin and Carissa Falls, two young sisters dealing with friends being murdered and family abandoning them while also attempting to find jobs and graduate high school. Anchoring the law enforcement POV is LAPD Officer Stinson Brown, a supporter of the LTOs, whose own son was gunned down by a rival gang.

The stories that each LTO member offers of their own sordid past run the gamut between funny, tragic, violent and often times frustrating. It is difficult to sort out how the dedicated and hard working men of the present were at one time some of the most dangerous and violent men of the past.

While the film for the most part follows the older generation of former gang members and police officers its true examination is the struggles of inner-city youth. Poverty, racism, gang violence and the bureaucracy of the judicial and foster care systems are all examined with tough honesty. This is a film that pulls no punches.

Though L.A. for a time was the murder capital of the U.S. and gang violence is still far more prevalent there than it has ever been in Seattle or Tacoma, the film’s message of communities uniting for the betterment of the younger generation is universal and is especially relevant to the West Seattle, Burien and White Center areas.

“It was really exciting to see people see the film, and as evidenced by the Q&A session afterwards and how engaged everyone seemed to be and the questions that were asked, it seemed like it really resonated with a lot of people. So, I would say it was very successful,” said Producer Mike Wallen after the screening.

As L.A. City Councilmember Buscaino said during the screening the LTO program has proven so successful in reducing the rate of homicides in L.A. (reportedly homicide rates are at a 20 year low since the program began) that 5 million dollars is set to be allocated towards gang reduction programs in next year’s budget. Buscaino is a former LAPD officer who has championed the LTOs since making his way onto the city council.

“We often times, the City of L.A., get blamed for being behind in the times and behind the curb. When it comes to gang intervention and prevention we are at the forefront leading this country on this specific issue. The Mayor and the City Council have all agreed to elevate our commitment on gang intervention and prevention and also community policing…it is our great hope that we will continue to strengthen our relationship with the community and the police department,” said Buscaino.

When asked what he thought of the SIFF showing Buscaino said “it goes to show that this film is Oscar worthy and we, the city of Los Angeles, is committed to launching a huge L.A. premiere “Hollywood” style…we need to get this film on the Oscar’s radar.”

Both SIFF dates for the film have passed and as of this writing the film is not yet scheduled for another film festival and has not been picked up by a distributor…yet. You can find out more information about “License to Operate” at their website LTOmovie.com.

Seriously, support this film.

http://ltomovie.com/