Edward Buckles Visits USC for Lunch & Learn Series

by Malcolm Ferrouillet & Taylor Marie Contarino

Filmmaker and activist Edward Buckles visited the Charlotta Bass Journalism and Justice Lab on October 23rd for an inspiring recollection of his career endeavors.

Bass Lab booking producer Malcolm Ferrouillet interviewed Buckles about his debut film: Katrina Babies. Making the film served a formative role for Buckles as an artist dedicated to sharing stories that highlight his communities strength. Also from New Orleans, Malcolm reflects on the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the place they call home and the importance of recalling that memory…

Edward Buckles answers questions about his filmmaking process.

It is not every day that you have an opportunity to bring a piece of home with you to your university, but this dream recently became a reality for me. As a New Orleans native, I have been looking for ways to bring New Orleans’ culture to USC Annenberg. New Orleans birthed so many change-makers whose fantastic work impacts the world, and I believe their stories deserve to be heard by different audiences. One of the first people to come to mind was Edward Buckles, Jr., director of Katrina Babies, an Academy Award-shortlisted HBO documentary. Despite Hurricane Katrina hitting almost twenty years ago, its impact is still felt in New Orleans today. Uniquely, this documentary talked about how the storm impacted the city’s children and forced them into new ways of life. Children’s realities changed, possibly for good, but no one asked them how they were doing or if they were alright. 

When I had conversations with fellow students who did not understand how horrible Katrina’s impact was, I realized we needed to invite Edward Buckles Jr. to speak. They compare it to more recent Hurricanes such as Harvey, but this one affected more lives. Their responses initially frustrated me because when I told them stories about what people went through, they didn’t believe such a thing would happen on American soil.

Attendees watch excerpts from “Katrina Babies.”

“I made this film on barely a shoestring budget… I used tools that I had on my fingertips.”

When Mr. Buckles came, our conversation felt as if we were in a family member’s living room, just talking to each other about life. The conversation felt so natural to me, unlike other interviews I had done where I felt I had to ask questions in a certain way. I was so invested in the conversation that I forgot there was an entire audience of people who also wanted to ask him questions. Despite growing up in New Orleans at two different times, we understood each other and compared our experiences and knowledge of the city. I had seen the documentary Katrina Babies several times before Lunch & Learn, but being able to ask questions and explore thoughts that have been playing in my mind for years was amazing. Most of the people I have talked to about Katrina have been adults. Still, it was powerful to speak to someone who experienced it as a teenager with the complications of returning to school after losing everything.

“New Orleans has survived many hurricanes, and each time I leave, I fear that a natural disaster will take away everything I have ever known.”

My favorite part of the entire Lunch & Learn was after we showed clips of the documentary to the audience. We got so many questions that hit right on the nail. Hearing anger and frustration from audience members after showing clips of children being saved from their rooftops and other traumatic experiences made me feel we fulfilled our purpose. Rarely do you see conversations about Katrina outside New Orleans, but more will occur after this Lunch & Learn. Many were unaware that this documentary has been out since 2022, but this will change. The Charlotta Bass Journalism & Justice Lab teaches us to save, study, and share powerful Black media. This piece of art has impacted the West Coast and will soon touch regions worldwide. 

Malcolm Ferrouillet and Edward Buckles pose for a “Fight On” photo.