Bigger Than Water
Extended Trailer
In 2014, under the guise of saving the city money Flint Michigan’s Emergency Manager Darnell Early made the decision to switch from the safe, clean drinking water provided by the Detroit Water & Sewage Department to the polluted and extremely corrosive Flint River. Within weeks the entire city would be exposed to fecal matter, e. coli, cancer causing chemicals and eventually lead.
As the community spoke out against the states corrupt Emergency Manager Law that stripped the power from the people and the brown, foul smelling toxic water coming from their faucets, a few powerful women and men stood out. While Nayyirah Shariff took to the streets with many of her fellow “Flintstones” demanding action and transparency, LeeAnne Walters took to science to prove the water was unsafe. Her work with EPA Regulations Manager Miguel Del Toral and VA Tech. Scientist Marc Edwards blew the lid off a massive cover-up exposing the #FlintWaterCrisis to the entire world!
As many city and state officials, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the EPA aggressively tried to discredit the whistle-blowers, many concerned community members like Pastor Robert McCathern of Joy Tabernacle Baptist Church banned together with grassroots organizations from across the nation to provide safe drinking water and other essential supplies for residents to survive.
Three years later, after many residents suffered horrific side effects from the toxic water including rashes, hair loss, hearing loss, eye strokes, liver damage and lead poisoning not to mention 10 deaths from Legionaries disease, the officials responsible for making the switch have tried to place the blame back on the community.
#BiggerThanWater uplifts the stories of some of the most dedicated and engaged Flint residents who continue to fight for the safety of their community while connecting the dots between Flint’s history and how the interests of a few greedy officials anxious to capitalize from Michigan’s emerging Blue Economy would set the stage for one of the nations most horrific man made disasters.
Meet The Cast
Champions Of Justice
The powerful women and men featured in #BiggerThanWater opened their doors to give us uncensored access during some of the most challenging times in their lives. We are honored to have been given the opportunity to capture their stories! Take a few moments to learn more about these #WaterWarriors and the families they are striving to protect.
Solutions Central
Make Every Dollar Count
#BiggerThanWater is a tool created to both raise awareness about the #FlintWaterCrisis as well as facilitate continued support for #Grassroots organizations putting in the work on the ground. So as awareness spreads, we hope you will help us to ensure the #Support piece comes to fruition!
Justice League NYC
The Backstory
Learn how a mission to provide support for a community in need led us to some of the most resilient folks we ever met, and how a series of PSAs quickly evolved into a feature length documentary. We hope the film will inspire millions of viewers to get engaged and support the efforts of a community striving to recover.
Meet The Crew
The Visionaries
Over the past two years we have been blessed to work with some of the most talented, selfless, and supportive crew that have continually gone above and beyond to ensure these powerful stories get the platform they deserve!
Support The Work
Be Our Hero
In our continued mission to bring stories like Bigger Than Water to the masses, it’s heroes just like you that help pave the way. Beats Rhymes & Relief is a 501c3 nonprofit organization utilizing the arts to raise awareness and support for marginalized communities across the globe and we need your support to continue the mission!
Things To Consider
Unedited
Lifting the vail, cast members provide insight on a host of issues designed to keep the conversation going so that society can learn from this tragedy.
The Producers
It Takes A Village
Beats, Rhymes & Relief documentary films department has partnered with some of the most talented, capable and intentional organizations in the country to ensure that these compelling stories receive the support necessary to secure the furthest reach and highest level of success.
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