Lauren Hogg, Samuel Zeif & Jake Lefferman and Emily Taguchi – After Parkland

By starrymag | May 29, 2019

By: Ashlee Dell’Arciprete

 

 

Lauren Hogg

 

Q) First off, thank you for being a part of this project. It’s something that many can’t even imagine, so the fact you were able to even show up at all is incredible. You, your family and friends have been inspirations for others out there, so given that, what inspired you to be a part of this?

A: Absolutely. I think the overarching reason that I wanted to be part of this documentary was for the sole reason that I wanted my friends–a lot of my friends passed away in the high school shooting–I wanted them not to be forgotten and I wanted people to understand that victims and survivors of shooters everywhere are real people. They’re not just characters you see on TV, but they’re actual people with actual lives because a lot of people seem to forget that in the age of mass shootings.

Q) What do you hope for younger students like yourself are able to get out of this documentary? And those living in fear of gun violence, what would you say to them?

A: I would say to any other young person that is either in fear of shootings or just don’t realize their own power, I would make sure that other young people know that no matter who you are you have the power to speak out for what you believe in. And when it comes to gun violence, the only great thing about it is you can speak out on it before you experience it and if you’re scared just try to become those leaders to change these laws. Make sure when you’re eighteen, you register to vote and you do vote because that’s the only way we’re going to see major changes with in regards to gun violence.

Q) You are not old enough to vote yet, but have you been able to still become involved?

A: Yes, unfortunately I can’t because I’m not old enough, but I definitely will as soon as I can. I’ve registered over 100 voters and plan to continue.

Q) Have you also planned to help with legislation towards protecting students from gun violence?

A: Absolutely! So, I am the youngest co-founder of March For Our Lives. We have a ten-point policy plan that we’re working on right now and I’m in DC pretty much every other week lobbying with some other teen lobbyists that are part of the March For Our Lives pushing for this legislation.

 

Samuel Zeif

 

Q) What was it like to be in this documentary? what inspired you to want to be a part of it given everything that has happened to you?

A: I mean, I think what really was behind it was that I’m willing to do anything to spread the message and make the change and the people who did the documentary did a really good job helping us and how to spread our voice in a way that wasn’t like other people. It was great to be a part of this documentary.

Q) Did you ever think you would have the opportunity to share this project at Tribeca?

A: It’s really cool to be here. I feel like I’m around a lot of great people and I don’t even know what to say. It’s just really great to be able to share our stories here.

Q) It must have been incredibly difficult at times, so thank you for having the courage to use your voice. For other students, especially kids younger than yourselves, who have heard about the several mass shootings that keep happening and are scared what advice would you give to them?

A: Don’t be afraid to let your voice be heard. One of my favorite traits about my friend is that he was the person that would say things that other people were afraid to say. And I think that’s really important because if you don’t make yourself heard, no one’s ever going to know what you’re thinking and many people don’t realize that.

Q) You have also been working a lot with the push for legislation to stop gun violence. Can you talk about what outreach you have done and what that has been like?

A: Right. I operate with “Change The Ref,” who’s constantly working towards changing legislation and their main mission is to educate the youth. So, a lot of that goes with telling them who is with their safety, which politician isn’t and more. I haven’t done anything, personally, myself besides tell everyone I know, but I am a registered voter. I voted during the Mid-Terms.

Q) It’s so important today and I voted as well. Thank you so much taking the time to speak with me and having the courage to be a part of this.

A: Thank you. Yeah, a lot of people don’t realize how important it is and your vote really does matter.

 

 

Jake Lefferman & Emily Taguchi

 

Q) What inspired you both to direct this documentary and be a part of these students’ grieving process after this tragedy? What was the process like?

Emily: I think what initially inspired us was we both have been on assignments for mass shootings before and were always left with sort of these questions what would the next week and months look like for these survivors and how they get up the next morning and deal with this reality. So, going to Parkland on assignment we went in with these questions and these families were very receptive to answering them.

Q) And given that, what do you hope the takeaway is for people, especially students, after watching this documentary?

Jake: I think what the students at Parkland did was ignited a conversation. Wherever you land on the political spectrum a dialog is important. That’s what I think we would encourage. We hope this film continues a dialog. It’s an issue that is critical and so we hope these conversations happen.

Emily: It really is; it’s about engagement.

 

 

You can read our review of After Parkland here!

After Parkland premiered at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival and is expected to be released later this year.