Sunrise

A short documentary about a local tattoo removal clinic that serves as a community of people who dedicate their lives to helping those who have been discriminated and ostracized by society. From helping people re-assimilate after years in prison to working with young adults who were part of local gangs, Sunrise tells the inspiring story of compassionate people who do whatever is in their power to mend America's unjust and broken system by putting individuals' humanity first.
Medium
Film, AI, Animation
Date
2023
Role
Co-Director, Editor, Cinematographer,
Narrative Designer

Part 1

"Everybody almost over the age of 14 was being charged as an adult. Part of them is still functioning like children, and on the other hand they're accused of very, very serious adult crimes. I wanted to prevent the whole situation if I could."

Rosemarie, Founder & Executive Director of Sunrise

Kimberly

"Coming up on 3 years a released lifer. I have a very dark past, did things I shouldn't have for reasons I shouldn't have. For a minute I thought, honestly I was going to die: old, alone and still male in prison. I got tattoos that I got to survive inside that no longer fit my personality or my gender identity."

Armando

"There was no hope for lifers to get out, so I threw in the towel at my hope. 'I'm gonna die in prison, I'm never gonna get out. You get so absorbed int he environment that you don't even remember why you're in prison."

Danie

"My Dad and all of them are from the hood, so when I was born, I was born in it. It was a normality for me; 12 years old I got a gun, I'm selling drugs, I'm stealing cars."

Part 2

"I just appreciate being free cause I see a lot of people out here that've never been to prison, but they're still stuck in their own prison."
‍
Lorenzo

Phillip

" 'Dad' she put her hand on the glass; non-contact visit. She goes 'Why can't I touch you? You didn't have to do that, you could've had someone else do it. I said 'You don't know', she said 'I do know. Do you love me?' I said 'Of course I love you', she goes 'No you don't. You care more about the fellas than you care about me. That was the moment I changed my thinking."

Maria

"The only reason why I decided to get tattoo removal was because one of the engineers from Hughes, while I was working there, he threw his badge at me and said 'Fix this Martha' and that's because he was looking at the name on my chest. After I did the tattoo removal I didn't realize it was holding me back from getting promotions and I was moved to the executive building. Promoted left and right...and my life changed."

Danie

"My nephew got murdered in front of me. It was gang related, there was a fight, he got shot, I did a shooting, I went to prison...and the whole time my family suffered. Sometimes it takes tragedy for people to get onto the right path."

Part 3

"Rosemarie is like a mom, so focused on helping."

Carolina

Kimberly

"I'm covered with tattoos, I'm going bald. if I concentrate very well, my voice sounds somewhat feminine, at least androgenous. It surprised me just how well accepted I was in a community when I came out. Each passing day, I just feel more and more myself. I love the person I have become. I'm happy-- for the first time in my life. I'm lucky, I'm blessed."

Special Thanks

to Rosemarie, who touches the lives of many and cultivates a world that is accepting of people from all walks of life.

Phillip

"We use those moments to educate the public. That even though we made a mistake, we did something really horrific. But there's something salvagable about us. Hurt people, hurt people. Healed people, heal people. Until we can heal our own traumas and our own hurts, we can't help anybody else."