The Power of Art in the Face of Homelessness: Live Q&A with Inocente and Directors Sean & Andrea Nix Fine

by Ruhani Singh

“It is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it”
– Nelson Mandela  

Shine Global Co-Founder, Albie Hecht, in conversation with Directors Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine, and artist Inocente, answer questions following a screening of their film Inocente on December 9th, 2020 as part of Shine Global’s 15th Anniversary Screening Series.

Inocente is both a timeless story about the transformative power of art and a timely snapshot of the new face of homelessness in America: children. The challenges are staggering, but the hope in her story proves that the hand she was dealt does not define her. Instead, her dreams do.

Live Q&A

“We were interested in finding a story that could come to life through the idea of the challenges of homelessness, and kids were the face of that, but no one was really hearing from them.” 

– Andrea Nix Fine (Director) 

This stimulating conversation with the Directors of Inocente, Sean and Andrea Fine, and Inocente herself, helps the audience understand the inner world of Inocente and what she felt as a homeless girl, using painting as an outlet to express her emotions.

“How did you manage to keep up with the pressure of creating those numerous art pieces and then dealing with what was happening in your life?”  Hecht asked.

“A lot of it had to do with the fact that I was 15 years old and had a lot of energy so I had a lot of energy,” Inocente said, her inspiration being Adaptation and adapting her art to her surroundings.

When Hecht asked all three of them what were some of the challenges they faced while creating this influential documentary, Sean and Andrea replied by saying it was figuring out the editing, and how they would tell the story while keeping the focus on the character driving the narrative. Here, it was filming an artist who is creating art about herself.

The panelists then spoke on the issue of homelessness. 3 millions kids are still homeless in just America, with millions and millions more facing this brutal reality all around the world.

“This film will be relevant as long as we have all these issues,” said Inocente. And in order for people to even do their small part, they must start “doing the research and taking initiative with that first question,” she said.

Inocente is another one of the many dynamic films Shine Global has produced to help create awareness about social issues surrounding children, where “the power of the film is the way to help affect social change,” as stated by our Co-Founder, Albie Hecht in the discussion.

Click below to view this thought-provoking conversation after watching the inspiring film of Inocente, a girl with hopes and dreams, and the determination to make them come true against all odds.

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