New York, NY (Top40 Charts) As evidenced by national media headlines over the last few years, there's a growing tension between many citizens and law enforcement in many areas of the country. But on the streets of Los Angeles' most violent neighborhoods, former L.A. gang leaders are defying their pasts and working in coordination with local law enforcement to rebuild the communities they once helped destroy. Captured in "License to Operate" - Omelet's first feature-length documentary - these men and women are proving that their efforts can be used as a model for other violence-ridden cities nationwide. The film, which first premiered to critical acclaim at the 2015 Seattle International Film Festival has landed a digital video-on-demand deal through FilmBuff and will be available to viewers through iTunes, Amazon, and other outlets starting June 7, 2016. To download "License to Operate" from iTunes, go to https://apple.co/1sJ1eCd.
Now professionally trained community interventionists, the men and women featured in the documentary once hailed from some of the nation's most feared and violent gangs including Bloods, Crips, and Florencia 13. The interventionists are supported by A Better LA, an LA-based organization dedicated to inner-city community transformation to improve the lives of its citizens. Due in significant part to the interventionists' combined efforts with law enforcement, violent crimes in the areas they work in have dropped to a 20-year low.
"We are fired up this film is bringing attention to the important work being done by community interventionists to prevent and reduce violence in communities," said Pete Carroll, Head Coach of the Seattle Seahawks and Founder of A Better LA and A Better Seattle. "Their personal experiences, coupled with training, uniquely positions them to create dialogue and seek peaceful solutions. They are the essential key to this work."
According to the Los Angeles
Police Department, there are more than 450 active gangs in the City of Los Angeles - many of which have been active for more than 50 years - with a combined membership of over 45,000 people.
"'License to Operate' is more than just a film about gang violence; it's a story that really shows the violent reality that people experience in cities nationwide. For us, this was way more than an opportunity to produce a film," said Mike Wallen, Producer of License to Operate and Chief Content Officer of Omelet. "This documentary was the chance for us to educate others on these issues - which are happening in our own backyard - and give a voice to the people who are making real moves to prevent gang violence and reshape their communities, every single day."
"License to Operate" will be available for purchase on June 7 through iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Xbox, and more. The film also plans to be available on broader distribution platforms later this year.
About License to Operate:
Across the country, there is a growing distrust between members of the community and those who are meant to protect it. "License to Operate," Omelet's first feature-length documentary, follows a group of former gang members in Los Angeles who work in partnership with community leaders and law enforcement on a mission to break the cycle of violence that they were once a part of creating. This film is about redemption, hope, and change. It's about rebuilding relationships and forging new alliances. It's about healing the wounds of a community. It's about how the effort of a few can change the direction of an entire city. To learn more about the key subjects and their unified mission, visit https://www.ltomovie.com.
2015 Seattle International Film Festival
2015 African Diaspora International Film Festival
Best Feature Documentary at 2015
Highland Park Independent Film Festival
2016 Screening and Panel Discussion at Johns Hopkins University
2016 Screening at University of Southern California
2016 Screening at Vanderbilt University
2016 Screening at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe's "Reviewing the
State of Safety in World Cities" conference in Geneva
About Omelet:
Omelet is a fiercely independent, full‑service creative agency that works with progressive partners including AT&T, Microsoft, Ubisoft, and Walmart. The Omelet Studio division creates original content for both brands and its own networks.
https://www.omeletla.com
About A Better Los Angeles:
A Better Los Angeles (ABLA) is dedicated to funding and training community intervention workers — many of whom are former gang members. Operating at the forefront of this pivotal work, the organization empowers these men and women in inner city Los Angeles to take charge of their own destinies and create a more prosperous future for themselves and their families. For more information, please go to https://www.abetterla.org.
