ABOUT THE PROJECT

LOGLINE
OUT HERE chronicles the poignant quest of a Sacramento social worker on the front lines of the homelessness crisis who attempts to help unhoused individuals through empathy and interpersonal connection.

SYNOPSIS
OUT HERE is a documentary short that presents the homelessness issue through the eyes of a social worker who has emerged from his troubled past to find himself working on the front lines of this escalating social crisis in California’s capital city, Sacramento. The film’s protagonist, a social worker Mark, attempts to help unhoused individuals through empathy and interpersonal connection, while navigating institutional challenges and roadblocks.

OUT HERE evolved from the production of the full-length documentary, No Home Here, which provides perspective on homelessness while following a diverse set of impacted characters. While working toward funding the more ambitious project, the No Home Here team consolidated resources and highlighted the social worker’s journey via this shorter production.

OUT HERE provides an intimate look at the homelessness issue from the perspective of Mark, who works to house and improve the lives of the chronically homeless. The film is set in Sacramento, the capital city of the nation’s wealthiest state—and one greatly impacted by the growing crisis. OUT HERE, rather than focusing on political debate and proselytization about solving the problem, shows us images of homelessness not typically seen—revealing the gravity and desperation of the circumstances—yet also unveils a beautiful, conviction-filled city attempting to do right by its least fortunate citizens.

The pace of the film is steady and in constant motion, mimicking the movements of Mark, while periodically interspersing Sacramento’s compelling imagery. The film suggests that taking a good, honest look at homelessness allows us to better understand the problem, and that doing so may be as necessary as the passing of policy when it comes to solving this complex problem.

PROJECT TYPE Documentary Feature

DIRECTOR Lisa Klein
PRODUCER Leslie Silver, Lisa Klein, Doug Blush

WEBSITE outherefilm.com

ID: 397