Telling the Trayvon Martin Story Part I

Kelechi J. Benet, Filmmaker

My Journey as a Filmmaker

On Monday 3/26/2012, around 1:00 AM my wife and I got in our vehicle and headed to Sandford, Florida from Virginia, a seven hundred forty mile drive. A few before going to Florida, I was going through turmoil; nothing like the parents of the slain youth, Trayvon Martin. My turmoil was that of a filmmaker and the deep desire to go to Sanford Florida to get interviews for a documentary I’m producing about Trayvon Martin. The reality is I had little money to produce a documentary. I did not know anyone in Florida, and I hadn't established a plan as to who I would specifically interview. The one idea I did have was to interview people involved in the march that was taking place on Tuesday, March 26, 2012. As much as I would like to interview Trayvon Martin’s parents, I knew there was a slim chance because they were already inundated with requests for interviews from the major news agencies.

Trayvon Martin

As many independent filmmakers know, you may have an idea and deep passion for something, but if you have little or no money, then the light of opportunity is dim.  Well, dim as it was, I was not going to let that stop me from going to Florida. I packed up my Panasonic 24p camera, wireless mics, a tripod, my Nikon digital still camera, and my Ipad, and oh yea, we packed peanut butter sandwiches, Turkey and cheese sandwiches, carrots sticks, trail mix, bottled water, and some apples.  Well as I said I left early Monday morning on a seven hundred forty mile drive to Sanford Florida. As I drove down highway 58 in Virginia, now almost thirty minutes from my house, I began to think about turning around and going back home. After all I had not lined up anything in Florida. All kinds of thoughts ran through my mind, but I eventually stopped those thoughts, and thought about this, “Faith without works is dead.”

I have to interject something here about my wife, Carolyn. When I said to her on last Friday that “I’ve got to go to Florida” for the Tuesday event, (headed by Rev. Jamal Bryant of Baltimore, Md), her response was, “when do we leave.” That was very encouraging to me for many reasons. You see, my wife has had a blood disease all of her life called Sickle cell anemia. Sickle cell anemia is where the red blood cells form into a rigid sickle shape which can result into a sickle cell crisis. The sickle cell can cause excruciating pain, even to the point of requiring hospitalization. When a person with sickle cell has a crisis it can last up to seven days. If you met Carolyn today you would not know of her condition unless she told you, because she lives in a way that she refuses to let Sickle Cell stop her from living as normal life as she can. Yes she walks by faith. Carolyn assured me that she was feeling fine and wanted to go on this trip with me, and that she did.

From Virginia I drove to I-95 which took us across three other states to Florida; North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. We arrived in Sandford, Fl., around 1:30 PM on Tuesday; the march would start around 4:00 PM. When we arrived at the March starting point people were trickling in. I quickly grabbed my equipment to go and set up. As I was about to cross the street another lady walked up, I introduced myself and told her where I was from and what I was there for. I then asked here would she be open to being interviewed. I was surprised by her answer, “yes I would.” She walked over with me to a church where I would be doing the interviews. While setting up, my wife came over and I introduced them to one another. After the interview she and my wife got acquainted and walked to a nearby store to purchase some skittles. So I began taking pictures. By this time more people began to arrive, some by way of tour bus.  I decided to walk over to the park area near the church to get take some more pictures, and I meet a young man. I introduced myself and asked if he would be open to an interview, and if so I would need his parents’ consent. He proceeds to tell me yes he would do an interview. The he said something I did not expect to hear. “I was one of Trayvon’s friends.” Of course my mouth gaped open and I was temporarily lost for words. When I composed myself, I said this is great and I would love to interview you. The young man left to get his parents. While waiting on him another young man was approaching so I asked him also would he be opened to an interview, to my surprise he told me that he too had been a friend of Trayvon. This young man’s mother was just a few feet away. She signed a consent form and I interviewed the young man, and his mother. I then interviewed the other young and his mother. After the interview one of the mothers told me that Trayvon’s coach was also there, they called him over and I interviewed him along with another coach. One of the coaches tells me about an event being held on Saturday in Florida, that I’m making plans to attend.

My going to Florida with no sure plans was a faith walk, and I’m glad Carolyn accompanied me. She was diligent in getting release forms signed. Many of us talk faith, but how many are walking by faith. Of course it is a challenge to walk by faith, but every believer’s life is to be fueled by their walk of faith. So as I plan to go back to Florida for Saturday’s event, I’m putting my faith in action once again. I’m on a Journey.