Report on film “We Are Wisconsin”, featuring Brian and Melissa Austin; active police officer and a housewife turned activist Story Transcript VOICEOVER: On June 5, Scott Walker managed to hold on to the governorship of Wisconsin. Facing a recall election, he raised an unprecedented $45 million, mostly from out of state, outspending the rival Democrat […]
Author Archives: Brian Austin, Melissa Austin, Aime Williams
Brian Austin is a Madison police officer who became involved very early in the protests in response to what he viewed as an assault on the rights of the people he had taken an oath to protect. As founders of the “Cops For Labor†brigade, Brian and his coworkers worked long shifts on-duty around the Capital, and would return to protest as soon as their shifts ended. Brian slept overnight inside the Capital when it appeared the Walker administration was going to forcibly clear the building and cut off access to the “Peoples’ House.†Brian felt it was extremely important for the police, given their unique role in society, to speak out against the destructive agenda of the Walker administration and the wealthy special interests fueling this attack on labor. Brian and his fellow “Cops for Labor†found that their presence provided a sense of comfort and safety to the other protesters at the Capital.
Melissa Austin was an extremely active participant in the protests and the “Cops for Labor†movement. Melissa went from being a housewife with three children to being a fullfledged activist. Melissa became very involved in the making of the documentary film "We Are Wisconsin". She created a website, sourced music and archive images. She did so much work that she became a Associate Producer and photographer for the film. Melissa has a diverse background, with experience in law enforcement, the private sector, and non-profit foundations. In addition to a labor and human rights activist, she is currently a professional photographer and social media expert. Melissa has also spent the last 10 years raising three wonderful children.
Aime Williams graduated from UCLA’s MFA program in Film Production in 1992. Her award-winning work has focused on giving voice to the margins, while pushing filmic conventions. From labor unions to African AIDS orphans, Amie’s work drives creative ideologies shaped for a world in constant flux. Her work has broadcast on PBS, Al Jazeera English, BBC, and CBC, winning numerous awards, including the IDA David Wolper, Paul Robeson, SONY/Streisand Award for emerging female filmmakers, and the MacArthur Foundation Peace Grant. She was selected to participate in the 2007 Film Independent’s Director’s Lab for her first fiction film “JUA KALI, HARSH SUN†which she wrote, about an AIDS orphan in Kenya. This script was a finalist in the Ultimate Filmmakers Competition, sponsored by Filmmaker’s Alliance. She is the co-founder of Global Girl Media, a non-profit that trains under-served teenage girls in new media journalism, which launched during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. www.balmaidenfilms.com and www.globalgirlmedia.org
