The Bridge

Que The Light is going to Sidewalk. During my last semester at Alabama I took a year long class known as, Documenting Justice. The course was grueling. It was the most challenging film course I took during my undergraduate. This stemmed from the gruff, yet honest nature of my professor, Andrew Grace.

Andy pushed us. He constantly emphasized humanity over mechanics. I came into class a prolific DSLR snob. I asked him to allow me to shoot with my own camera. I honestly thought I was ahead of my peers in this regard. Andy shot my down my proposal. He forced me to realize a strong film begins with a story,  not a camera.

After taking his class I came to the realization my camera was the conduit of my storytelling, not the creation. He made me understand I needed to get over my fascination with cameras, and appreciate my ability as a storyteller.

Along with fellow classmate, Greg Houser, we created a film known as, The Bridge. The film follows the life of JBS mental health authority, Tashee Dunsmore, who uses her experience as a former consumer of mental health services in Alabama to help current consumers transition to the community.

The Bridge from Xavier Burgin on Vimeo.

The film premiered at the Bama Theater at the end of our one year program. 

Now it has been picked up to show at The Sidewalk Film Festival this upcoming August. I'm excited about our acceptance into the film festival. This will cap my final piece of work within the TCF film department before I graduated. It's awesome to end on a good note, but I've learned from experience what you've done in the past must take a backseat to your ventures at the moment.