Boston, Massachusetts
Documentary Film, Narrative Film

The Call is a personal portraiture piece that examines weaponized 911 calls in the age of white fragility. The calls range from intentional displays of power to implicit bias and genuine concerns about suspicious behavior. By inviting to the conversation social justice experts, humanitarian scholars, 911 dispatchers, law enforcement, victim/survivors and the ever-elusive callers, this project will synthesize the humanity of the current 911 epidemic in America. The film intimately follows the lives of both victim/survivor and callers, depicting the impact these calls have and the ever-changing communities they affect. From remorse and forgiveness to indignation and permanent traumas, the film approaches what has become a national hashtag with compassion and unparalleled access.

Chico Colvard is the founder of C-LineFilms and Assistant Professor of Cinema Studies at Massachusetts College of Art & Design. His award-winning feature, Family Affair, premiered in competition at Sundance and was acquired by Oprah Winfrey for OWN. His film, Black Memorabilia, premiered at MoMA and aired on PBS’s Independent Lens. He is a Guggenheim, Sundance, Firelight Media, and Flaherty Fellow. He produced Spring Valley (2021 SXSW). He is directing The Call, and is a director for an MTV series titled, 9 Things—shorts highlighting forgotten or unknown pieces of Black history.