WHEN THE LIGHT'S RED
2007, 11 minutes, HDV video 


"A short, humorous film we enjoyed the hell out of."
- Austin Chronicle


What do you do when you're stopped at an intersection and someone with a sign asks you for money? Do you give them some or do you stare straight ahead pretending they're not there? How do you sum up a person in the span of a red light?

WHEN THE LIGHT'S RED is a poignant and humorous take on one motorist's experience with intersection panhandling. It is an examination of the way in which privilege, power, fact and reality intersect inside our heads and outside our car window.



purchase the film
Now available for educational and institutional sales from New Day Films




 past broadcasts

Houston PBS - as part of The Territory, Season 32
KERA-TV, Dallas PBS


past screenings
New York Underground Film Festival
PDX - Portland Doc & Experimental Film Festival
Director's Guild of America x 2
San Francisco Documentary Film Festival
Hot Springs International Documentary Film Festival
Anthology Film Archives - New Filmmakers Series
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Dallas Video Festival
Chicago Underground Film Festival
Expresion en Corto International Film Festival, Mexico
Oxford Film Festival
Humboldt Film Festival Finalist
Texas Filmmakers Showcase, Director's Guild of America, LA
Phoenix Film Festival
AFI/Dallas Film Festival
Texas Documentary Tour (10 Under 10)
Austin Gay/Lesbian Film Festival
Hi Mom! Film Festival (Best Short Documentary Award)
Cucalorus Film Festival
Lone Star International Film Festival
AFI/Dallas
Alabama Music Box
Mobile Film School (Austin, TX)
Austin Film Festival


the word
"Poignant and often hilarious take on one man’s response to panhandlers.... using the technique of an interior monologue (dialogue, actually, since his inner voices argue incessantly with each other), Wilson reveals the conflicts so many feel as they pull up to a red light and see the man (or sometimes woman) with “the sign.” The director has taken an intractable problem and given it a lot of humor while still looking at the serious side."   
Austin Film Society

"WHEN THE LIGHT'S RED is a quick, humorous and very thought-provoking look at our internal struggles with, and external reactions to, encountering the human faces of social inequality and poverty. It is ideal for use in Sociology courses such as Intro, Social Problems, Social Psychology, and Social Stratification."
Dennis Condron, PhD
Professor of Sociology
Emory University

"I love this short documentary. WHEN THE LIGHT'S RED taps into the complexities of the issue of homelessness. It's a great tool for opening up discussion on homelessness and our response as citizens. I use the film in my Introduction to Social Work class as an icebreaker and conversation starter."
David Jenkins, PhD, LCSW
Department Chair & Associate Professor of Social Work
Texas Christian University

"WHEN THE LIGHT'S RED provides a view into the commonly experienced but often avoided subject of giving money to panhandlers. This is a wonderful video for generating discussion among college students as the thoughts expressed in it will bring up feelings and opinions we have all had on this controversial subject."
Laurie Silver
Dean of Student Life
Prescott College


credits
writer/director/camera/edit.................keith wilson
second camera..............................anthony penta +>
production assistance..............................kim hall
original music....................................arles estes +>
sound design................................brad engleking
 color correction................................elijah parker
post-production supervisor.................susanne kraft


watch a clip
coming soon...


director statement
When I first moved to Austin in the summer of 2006, was amazed at the number of people flying signs at red lights. I realized I was horrified every time I pulled up to an intersection and would have to make so many decisions in such a small amount of time. Who was this person? Can I believe what they are saying? Will I contribute to a problem if I give money? Am I being cheap if I don't?

I went back and forth between compassion and contempt, always feeling guilty about the interaction, or lack thereof. I knew there wasn't a "right" thing to do, but I wanted to make an informed decision about what's best for the flyers. My motivation was also a selfish one, I was tired of going through a guilt laden inner-dialogue at every redlight.

WHEN THE LIGHT'S RED is my attempt to deal with this complicated and frequent scenario. It is  humorous, entertaining and touching. It is an examination of privilege, power, reality and the way in which these forces intersect inside our heads.