New London, Connecticut was awash with grief, fear, and rage after a senseless murder branded the whole town as killers and thugs. In numerous town halls after the murder, people from neighboring towns came forward to cast aspersions on the community as a whole, and several New Londoners refused to accept these judgments. Together with local theater owners, this group of activists turned an idea into reality: What if young people in the area had somewhere to express themselves and find community? Thus, the New London Talent Show was born.
While pride in the community and an exposition of talent were the main goals at the beginning, the talent show soon became a place where those without connections or resources could find what they needed, be it food, shelter, or just someplace to belong. Those People looks at a community that lacked a chance to succeed being given that chance.
Those People can be somewhat surface-level in its analysis at times, but it does serve as a valuable case study in transformative justice and alternatives to punitive crime prevention. All too often, especially in the United States, children have no place to go unless they have money to spend. They are the first to feel the brunt of over-policing when store owners call the cops to disperse children who are just hanging out. Seeing a need for a place for kids to just take up space, many in the New London community came together to give them that space.
Volunteers, children, and some older performers are all given space to discuss their experiences with the New London Talent Show, giving us a qualitative example of how community activism can shape lives for the better. Among them are kids struggling with food insecurity, former addicts, and people who are happy just to be given a chance to help someone. Those People: How a Talent Show Turned Pain into Healing is a very interesting documentary for library patrons or educators interested in creating similar spaces within their own communities. Highly Recommended.
Where does this title belong on public library shelves?
Those People would be well-placed in the documentary section focusing on activism, where it highlights the impact of grassroots community action in response to tragedy. It could also fit within collections on justice, as it serves as an example of transformative justice and positive community interventions as alternatives to punitive measures.
What kind of college instructor could use this title?
Those People would be an excellent resource for college instructors in fields like law and social work. Professors could use it to illustrate how community-based initiatives address and counteract the “polite” forms of systemic racism in society, demonstrating how transformative justice can offer real-world alternatives to conventional, punitive approaches to crime prevention. It could also support courses in community development, sociology, and education, helping students explore the power of community activism in creating safe, supportive spaces for young people.
Click here to learn more about or purchase Those People and Green Planet Films
Director's Bio
Peter Huoppi is the director of multimedia at The Day in New London, CT. He got his start in journalism as a photography intern at the Burlington Free Press in Burlington, VT. After working for seven years as a photojournalist in Burlington, he made the transition to video storytelling in a new position at The Day. His video work has won two New England Emmys, an Editor & Publisher Eppy, and an NPPA Best of Photojournalism award. Peter’s work at The Day ranges from daily video stories to multi-camera live webcasts to full-length audio and video documentaries. Peter was the editor and co-producer of The Day’s podcasts Case Unsolved and Looking for the Todt Family. He was the director and co-producer of The Day's documentary film Those People. He is a graduate of Middlebury College and earned a master's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri.
Accolades
Emmy Nominated
Awards
Best Documentary Feature Mystic Film Festival