大象传媒

CW: Gun violence in America

Since 2023, there have been in the United States alone, and it has gotten more difficult to face these tragic numbers without despairing, shutting down, or feeling infuriated all over again. Even so, we can channel our strong emotional responses into action taken at any level: participating in a local phone barrage for gun reform or donating to mental health interventions that address extremism and male violence. There are existing communities we can learn from that have taken fervent steps toward gun violence prevention. Filmmaker and visionary Kyra Knox directed a documentary that elevates two such communities in the city of Philadelphia, and one of the platforms these communities use to address violence is a basketball court.

Philadelphia has a long history of gun violence. According to , there have been 1,036 victims of shootings in the city this year alone. Knox took an ironic spin on former president Donald Trump鈥檚 in the 2020 presidential debate by giving her film the title Bad Things Happen in Philadelphia鈥攁 documentary that features both the beauty and terror that exist in Philly. The documentary follows the stories of individuals who lost loved ones to arms-related violence: mothers who lost their sons, and young adults who lost friends and family. Knox also captures Philadelphia鈥檚 gritty and vibrant creativity, strong community ties, and an outstretched resilience that comes from a deep love for the city.

鈥淭his is where I grew up. We鈥檙e filming in the playgrounds where I grew up,鈥� says Knox in an exclusive 大象传媒 interview with Knox, Garry Mills, and Mark Mims. 鈥淲hen I filmed, it鈥檚 not just the bad things that鈥檚 happening in Philadelphia, but also the good shit happening, too. Even though all this chaos is going on around us, it鈥檚 a story of hope that we have not given up on our city, because we love our city. We love Philly. I love my city!鈥�

The Basketball Court as a Playground for Change

The documentary centers three young adults who are a part of (SBNP), an organization founded and primarily run by Garry Mills, with the mission to 鈥渦se basketball as a vehicle to change and save lives.鈥�

During our interview, Mills shares his model for coaching: 鈥淚 consider myself a players鈥� coach,鈥� the type of coach who not only mentors young players, but also builds lifelong relationships with them. 鈥淚 needed to pull back the onions of trauma first. Some [techniques] can鈥檛 even be implemented until I get to the bottom of what and where these kids are coming from.鈥� Mills reflects on what it means to understand each player鈥檚 story, with their varied backgrounds and struggles鈥攚hich sometimes involve losing multiple family members in one year. 鈥淪ome of these things are hard to process because I鈥檝e never been through what these kids are going through yet.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 more complex, because you鈥檇 see random outbursts from kids in the middle of the game, and you wonder where it comes from. And it鈥檚 not like they鈥檙e angry, but that the kid hasn鈥檛 eaten yet or gone to school today.鈥� Mills shares how some kids have to tackle grown-up responsibilities, like taking care of their siblings while their mom works two or three jobs. 鈥淚 try to understand where the child is coming from before we get to the teamwork and sportsmanship piece.鈥� 

that children exposed to gun terror endure negative short- and long-term psychological effects, including post-traumatic stress, unprocessed anger, withdrawal, and desensitization to violence. Certain minors may be at higher risk when they have been injured in gun violence or exposed to high levels of violence in their communities, schools, within close proximity, or in media. Now that children and young adults have protocols in school for when a shooter enters the premises, it鈥檚 no wonder why they are more susceptible to the negative effects of trauma: They constantly fear for their lives. 

In Bad Things Happen in Philadelphia, Kalil Camara, a young member of SBNP, shares that his experiences in Philly shouldn鈥檛 have to be normal for anyone, let alone a young adult. Organizations like Shoot Basketballs Not People are invaluable when inner-city youth are burdened with fear and grief, and the role of play has been core in the organization鈥檚 interventions.

Play is a familiar experience in a person鈥檚 early life. One of our first social interactions is in the context of play. It is our earliest form of communication; even before we develop language skills, we play. Play is vital in our survival and in child development, because it helps with building social skills and releasing energy, which is needed for in little kids. 

that moderate sports involvement for youth鈥攖hree to six hours per week鈥攃ould result in lower depression scores than for the low sports-involvement groups of two hours or less per week. Sports can also be enjoyable and useful for relationship-building. In another interview with 大象传媒, Allen Iverson, NBA legend and one of the executive producers of the documentary, shares his own experience with the power of play in sports: 鈥淏asketball has been a huge part of my life since I was a kid. It鈥檚 helped me deal with a lot of emotions.鈥� He highlights how basketball has been not only a sport to him, but a lifeline: 鈥淲hen I was going through tough times, basketball was a way for me to escape and forget about my problems for a while. It was also a way for me to express myself and feel like I was in control.鈥�

Gun violence prevention doesn鈥檛 have to be at the expense of kids鈥� youth. SBNP does its work against gun terror while letting kids play. The organization has not only been at the forefront of helping kids process trauma through play and intentional mentorship, but according to the young players and parents interviewed in the documentary, it has also been an avenue for saving lives.

Mark Mims, executive producer of the film and co-founder of , an award-winning production company that elevates creators and stories in the margins, also joins our conversation. He shares his thoughts on Mills鈥� work with the youth: 鈥淭hey鈥檙e close. Like, they鈥檙e close. They鈥檙e like family.鈥�

Even after their time at SBNP, young players are still able to access Mills鈥� support. His part in their lives goes beyond his role as coach, according to Mims: 鈥淸Mills] is building family units. You don鈥檛 see that often, which makes Shoot Basketballs Not People so much bigger than basketball. He鈥檚 building community. You don鈥檛 see that anywhere.鈥�

Avoiding the Exploitation of Trauma in Filmmaking

To Knox, Bad Things Happen in Philadelphia is a love letter to her city. With that in mind, she facilitated her interview process with attentive care by avoiding the commodification of trauma stories. She notes that because she grew up in Philly, her neighbors trusted her. 

鈥淚鈥檓 not here to exploit anyone鈥� I鈥檓 not in the business to exploit these stories, but for these stories to be heard.鈥� While filming鈥攌nowing how vulnerable it can be to share personal stories about gun-related crime鈥擪nox frequently asked for consent from interviewees, checking in with them to see if they approved of the footage; when they didn鈥檛, Knox removed the footage her interviewees did not consent to adding to the film. The commodification of trauma is within the film industry, . Knox鈥檚 ethical practices are critical at a time when the entertainment industry makes spectacles out of real suffering.

Mims addresses the complexities of film distribution, and how the entertainment industry tends to view documentaries like this as nothing more than a product, without 鈥渃aring enough about the people in [the] film. It鈥檚 very infuriating鈥� I don鈥檛 play that game,鈥� says Mims. He contends against the commercialization of grief in order to incite an audience response. It shouldn鈥檛 take showcasing a community鈥檚 pain to incite social action. Mims and Knox take these sensitive matters seriously, making it imperative to maintain the humanity of the film. This is especially the case when Knox, Mills, and Mims are immersed in the communities of Philadelphia and have also lost family and friends to gun violence during production.

鈥淚t鈥檚 so hard navigating this space. I鈥檓 dealing with these mega-billion companies that don鈥檛 care about what鈥檚 going on. [Now that] I have something that鈥檚 my own, I鈥檝e been protecting it like a baby, and I don鈥檛 give a shit how much money [executives] are gonna offer me if they鈥檙e not gonna do right by this film, these organizations, these kids, and these mothers,鈥� Knox says. 

Mims calls the documentary 鈥渁 loving tribute to what鈥檚 happening to Philly, but not reducing it to what鈥檚 just happening to Philadelphia.鈥� Iverson hopes the film inspires people 鈥渢o see that despite the bad things that may happen, there鈥檚 always a chance for positive change and growth.鈥� 

When you watch the film, you will see how the relationships within Shoot Basketballs Not People and their connection with the film crew make safe spaces for play possible. May our relationships also rest at the heart of all our movements against injustice and threats to our safety, including gun violence.

To learn more about Shoot Basketballs Not People, you may go to . Mothers in Charge, a violence prevention center, is another community the documentary spotlights. You may learn more about their work .