All visuals filmed by Patrick de Warren

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15 Years Ago in New York — Listening to America

Fifteen years ago, back in New York City, I began documenting the Occupy Wall Street movement as a creative project.

I began on October 15th, driven by a desire to create, but also to listen and understand — to hear what people were feeling, what worried them, and what they hoped for in the society around them.

What began as a creative exploration became a mission and a year-long adventure of documenting, following, and investigating what was unfolding within the American social and political landscape.

From that body of work came Blind Spot, my first teaser from the documentation.

The project features conversations and appearances with Werner Herzog, Noam Chomsky, Bill McKibben of 350.org, Naomi Klein, Michael Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Thomas DiNapoli, New York State Comptroller, Cornel West, Amy Goodman of Democracy Now!, Michael Hudson, Captain Ray Lewis, Josh Fox, Gary McCarthy, Scott Olsen, Richard D. Wolff, Chris Hedges, Gallagher, Brent Lengel, and Doug Shields and American People from all walk of life.

Then, in 2016, I created American Vertigo — a presentation of the film I envisioned making from this extensive body of documentary material.

Looking at American Vertigo today, I am struck by how current many of the questions, concerns, and voices still feel.

The film was never simply about one movement. For me, it was an attempt to capture a moment in America — to listen, observe, and understand what was beneath the surface.

Fifteen years later, I am revisiting this work and the material I gathered then, with the perspective of time.

A creative project. A year of documentation. A film waiting to be made.