New Documentary 'Americans With No Address' Screens at Culver Theater
The Culver Theater hosted a screening of the documentary 'Americans With No Address' on December 5, 2024. Moderated by the Los Angeles Times' Robert Abele, the panel – filmmaker Julia Verdin, narrator William Baldwin, and featured actors Xander Berkeley and Keith Deidrich – discussed their thoughts and experiences during a Q&A.
Julia Verdin, who produced and directed the film, explained how the project began. 'We were going to make a film with a script, but Robert Craig said we should go big and make a full documentary. It turned into a life changing experience and we got to really dig deep into the human story of homelessness.'
The documentary team traveled across the country in a vintage tour bus which Verdin joked was 'not glamorous.' 'We were sleeping in bunk beds and I was afraid I was going to fall out,' she laughed. 'We could wake up in a new place every day and focus on a different community.'
Xander Berkeley, one of the featured actors, talked about how the project changed his perspective. 'It's an honor to be a part of something that might ease the suffering of others,' he said. 'I found my way as an artist to touch lives on a micro level – get food, listen to stories.'
Baldwin added, 'As storytellers we hope our stories touch people,' and emphasized the importance of the artists in bringing attention to homelessness.
Keith Deidrich from the Gathering thanked the team for the collaboration. The film educates the audience about homelessness and inspires action through community engagement.
The film and discussion showed that there is more to homelessness than meets the eye. Verdin said 'It's a gift for a filmmaker to get to explore such great stories and share them.' The screening is a step in challenging the status quo and finding solutions to a big problem.
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Host Elisa Hernandez, from left, Diljeet Taylor, Anna Cockrell and Jordan Chiles at the Nike After Dark Tour in L.A. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) Miles 1-7: The excitement of activations, DJs and cheering fans The first seven miles were the most exhilarating for me. I felt strong and confident about my pace. And for my legs, this stretch was smooth sailing. Hundreds of people were cheering from the sidelines and holding up signs with statements like "You run better than our government," "Hot girls run half marathons" and "Hurry up so we can drink." Drivers along the freeway were honking for us. DJs played upbeat house and hip-hop music. USC's band performed. Between the six- and seven-mile marker, we ran through a tunnel that was filled with flashing red lights and bubble machines. The energy was electric. Supporters cheer and hold signs as runners embark on the Nike After Dark half marathon in L.A. 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Some people gave up on watching the show simply because they didn't have the energy to make it down. The grand finale: Doechii brings the energy By the time I got there, I was disappointed to see that Doechii was already on her final two songs of her 30-minute set, but the energy was so high that I quickly forgot and just enjoyed the moment while I could. The show ended just before 10:40 p.m. while some folks were still running including one of my friends who missed the show and wasn't able to get a pair of Barbie pink Nike slides and socks they were passing out. The night ends and yet the trek continues After the show, we were instructed to exit the stadium — thankfully there was an escalator — but I still had to muster up the energy to go back to the entrance at the other side of the stadium so I could retrieve my belongings from the bag check area. My legs were finished by the time I got to my car. Advertisement Aside from some logistical issues and long wait times, I enjoyed participating in the Nike After Dark Tour. The course was challenging but doable, and running alongside thousands of women and allies of various ages and backgrounds at night felt empowering. Runners received a ton of freebies, particularly at the bib pickup at the Grove, which included a dri-fit T-shirt and makeup from Milk. As someone who typically avoids cardio in my workout sessions, this race has inspired me to continue hitting the pavement and exploring this beautiful city on foot. And who knows, I just might sign up for another race. Runners take off for the women's half-marathon, which started at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) Sign up for The Wild newsletter to get weekly insider tips on the best of our beaches, trails, parks, deserts, forests and mountains. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
