Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival 2010

“Not My Son†follows Birmingham resident Carolyn Johnson-Turner, founder of Parents Against Violence, or PAV, and its members over the course of several months.Parents Against Violence Foundation was founded on March 1, 2004 by Johnson-Turner as a result of the anguish she experienced when her 20-year-old son, Rodreckus DeAndrew Johnson, was shot and killed while attending a birthday party.PAV members, mainly women who have lost loved ones to gun violence, are on a personal mission to prevent other deaths. At the same time, their anti-violence activities serve as therapy to deal with their overwhelming grief.“The core of “Not My Son†can be viewed as a microcosm of the violence occurring among young African-American males in the nation’s urban areas,†said Dwight Cammeron, producer/director of “Not My Son†and documentary television program director for the Center for Public Television.Students often work on films and other projects in CPT. Ginger Jolly, a second degree-seeking student in telecommunication and film from Russellville, served as co-producer and co-editor of “Not My Son.â€â€œThis documentary was an eye-opening experience, not only in witnessing a mother’s anguish and determination but also in how powerful and moving a documentary film can be,†Jolly said.