Commuted

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Film phase:Production

SYNOPSIS

Commuted is an intimate look at the life of Danielle Metz and the familial impacts of long-term incarceration. 

In 1993, Danielle was sentenced to triple life plus twenty years for nonviolent drug offenses. After serving twenty-three years in prison, Danielle’s sentence was commuted in 2016 by President Obama. Now back home, Danielle is trying to help other women avoid her fate. But perhaps Danielle’s toughest challenge is being a united family again with her two children.

Commuted participated in the 2018 Diversity Fellows Initiative (past program) and is a participant of the 2020 (Egg)celerator Lab.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Nailah Jefferson looks at the camera and smiles. Portrait in black and white.

Nailah Jefferson’s acclaimed work includes the documentary Vanishing Pearls, which told the story of the little known African American oyster fishing community in Louisiana following the 2010 BP Oil Spill. In 2017, Nailah was nominated for a National Magazine Award or Ellie Award for directing Essence Magazine’s Black Girl Magic Episode 4. Nailah’s first narrative film, Plaquemines, was awarded the inaugural Create Louisiana $50k Filmmakers Grant and was chosen as an American Black Film Festival HBO® Short Film finalist.