“Raging Souls” a Milwaukee youth-led documentary

My name is Zion Rogers (I go by Zion Shari) and I am currently a 19-year old student activist and filmmaker. In the summer months of this year (2023), I was led to the idea of curating a youth-led documentary that details the pain, struggles, and current culture of Black youth living in post-pandemic Milwaukee. It also seeks to evoke hope and breach Afro-futurist conversations around the possibilities of what a peaceful, thriving, change-oriented Black Milwaukee could look like. As of now, the documentary is in the pre-production stage of development and as writer, director, and producer, I have been on the hunt for funding and monies that could potentially support my vision. Considering the state of Black Milwaukee, particularly in the context of youth and young adults, creating visuals that are informative, question the current realities we are faced with rather than encourage, and avoid the recycled narratives of “pain porn” that often exploit rather than challenge, is necessary for critical conversations around shifting conditions that have been normalized for far too long. So with that, the allotted funds will be used to provide supports for the youth-led creative team, production crew payouts, purchasing and renting equipment, licensing fees, and all other production expenses.

Because this is the startup phase of the documentary, I am appreciative of all support no matter the size.

with love and gratitude,

Zion Shari XO